October 1, 2010

The House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) on September 30 by a vote of 228-194 to keep the federal government temporarily funded until December 3.  The CR had previously passed the Senate by a vote of 69-30. After clearing the CR, members immediately left town to campaign for the midterm elections. The CR keeps government operations funded at roughly current spending levels.

Democratic leaders are considering trying to pass as many as 20 bills in the lame-duck session to be held after the November 2 elections. At the top of the list is passage of appropriation bills funding the federal government, extension of Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class, the defense authorization bill which includes a repeal of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced bill S. 3927, establishing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), along with fellow California Democrat Representatives, introduced companion legislation in the house, HR 6329. To help conserve and protect the delta and its communities, the bill establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a National Heritage site.

At a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation-hosted stakeholders meeting Sept. 24 in Washington, D.C., Commissioner Michael Connor informed attendees, including ACWA staff, that $950 million in stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be obligated by the end of the fiscal year — Sept. 30.

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on the impact of green infrastructure on the Nation’s water quality, economy and communities on Sept. 30. In her opening statement, the Subcommittee’s Chair, Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), stated that 30% of clean water and 29% of drinking water funds provided through the Recovery Act were used for green infrastructure, and water and energy efficiency improvements.

The Senate Agriculture Committee held an oversight hearing to examine the impact of EPA regulations, including EPA’s proposed aquatic pesticides rule, on Agriculture on September 23.  Senators from both sides of the aisle admonished EPA Administrator Jackson for not considering the needs of rural America.

House and Senate Republicans held a forum at the House Visitor Center to discuss “Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and initiatives that are hindering job creation and economic expansion in America’s rural communities” on September 27^th.  Possible Clean Water Act regulations, including for water transfers and aquatic pesticides, were a major focus of the forum.

Senators Boxer and Feinstein along with their colleagues Senators Klobuchar (D-MN), Cardin (D-MD), and Sanders (I-VT) introduced legislation to reduce the lead levels allowed in plumbing fixtures.  The bill, S. 3874, mirrors California’s state law and specifies that plumbing fixtures cannot contain more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead. 

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) is pitching his colleagues to take up a small energy bill that includes a Renewable Electricity Standard during the lame duck session following November’s election.  The idea of requiring utilities to obtain 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2021 has bipartisan support.  The 32 co-sponsors of the bill S. 3813 include California’s senior Senator Dianne Feinstein and Republicans Senators Brownback (Kans.), Collins (Maine), Ensign (Nev.) and Grassley (Iowa). 

The House passed the Safe Drug Disposal Act of 2010, HR 5809, by unanimous consent on Sept. 22.  The Senate passed its version of the bill on Aug. 3 (S. 3397), also by unanimous consent.  The two chambers held an informal conference on the bill and the revised bill cleared both bodies on September 30.

Before the Senate adjourned for the fall campaign season, several hearings were held to highlight the importance of infrastructure funding.  The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee kicked things off with a hearing entitled “Investing in Infrastructure: Creating Jobs and Growing the Economy” on September 21.