May 14, 2010

On Wednesday, May 12, the Obama Administration unveiled a “Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed” that many observers believe will serve as a model for watershed cleanups throughout the nation, including California’s Bay Delta.

On Thursday, May 13, 2010, the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures examined proposals to create infrastructure banks.

Representative Henry Waxman (D-30), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment released a draft of the Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2010 (AQUA), reauthorizing EPA’s drinking water state revolving fund on May 10.  Following the release of the bill, the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on May 13.

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) released their long awaited energy bill, the American Power Act, on May 12.  The release of the bill was originally planned for Earth Day, but Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) withdrew his support for the bill and the Senators delayed its unveiling until now.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing today to highlight the many benefits of projects authorized by the Water Resources Development Act.

The hearing kicked off the Committee’s effort to develop a 2010 WRDA bill authorizing U.S. Army Corp of Engineers projects. In her opening Statement, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) voiced her commitment to “move forward with WRDA this year,” saying she was “hopeful we can repeat the success of 2007.”