April 16, 2010

On April 15, the House T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing on implementation of WRDA 2007 and prospects for a WRDA 2010 bill. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.) chaired the session with Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.) serving as Ranking Member. Prospects for a WRDA 2010 bill coming together were downplayed by comments on earmarks by full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.).

The House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up legislation known as the HomeStar bill on April 15.  The HomeStar bill offers rebates to homeowners for the purchase and installation of EnergyStar labeled products including insulation and water heaters.  ACWA, along with other members of the “water coalition” including the Alliance for Water Efficiency, American Rivers, Irrigation Association, Lowes, Kohler, and Moen, is working to add rebates for WaterSense products to the bill. 

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) plan to unveil the climate change bill they have been working on for months on April 26.  The proposal is anticipated to set a series of greenhouse gas emission limits for different sectors of the economy and expand oil, gas and nuclear power production.  In order to allow for more flexibility during the negotiations process, the trio will release a discussion draft rather than introduce a formal bill.

On April 12, Clean Reliable Water for California released a statement quoting Senator Feinstein (D-Calif.) endorsing the 2010 water bond.  She said the bond is a “responsible, balanced approach to begin making long-overdue repairs to our state’s water system.”

On Wednesday, April 14, the House Appropriations Energy and Water subcommittee held an oversight hearing on President Obama’s proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget for the Bureau of Reclamation. The President has requested $1.1 billion overall, with $913.6 million for the Water and Related Resources account. Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Anne Castle, and Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor, appeared at the hearing for the Department of Interior.

On Tuesday, April 13, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Peter Silva met with agricultural representatives, including ACWA, and outlined the EPA’s priorities in the coming months.