AMSA Bill Digest
February 2000
(Current as of January 28, 2000)
The AMSA Bill Digest provides up-to-date summary information for legislation introduced in the 106th Congress. The specific listings include bills which are receiving considerable attention or which are of particular importance to AMSA's membership.
This Digest provides a direct linkage to Congressional legislation through AMSA's web site, allowing members to directly and instantaneously track bills of interest. A complete summary and status of any of the listed legislation can be found in the web version of the Legislative Update. The most recent Update, with the attached Digest, is posted in the What's New section of AMSA's website (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org). The complete text of the bill, as well as detailed status information, can be accessed by double clicking on the bill name. The Digest is linked to the Library of Congress' site located at http://thomas.loc.gov/. Copies of legislation, committee reports and status reports can be downloaded from the site free of charge. Past issues of the Legislative Update can also be found on the AMSA website in the Member Pipeline - Legislative Update section.
The up-to-the-minute status of any of the legislation listed in the Update can be obtained by calling: U.S. Congress, Legislative Status Office at 202/225-1772. For any questions regarding AMSA's position on or activities related to any specific bill, please contact Greg Schaner at 202/296-9836 or by e-mail gschaner@amsa-cleanwater.org.
Clean Water Act & Other Water Quality Issues
Resolution Regarding Federal Decisions, Actions, and Regulations Affecting Water (H.C.R.86), BLUMENAUER (D-OR)
Concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding Federal decisions, actions, and regulations affecting water. This proposed resolution calls on the Federal government to recognize the importance of watershed management in achieving the Nation's clean water, drinking water and flood management objectives.
Municipal Biological Monitoring Use Act (H.R.155), HEFLEY (R-CO)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for the use of biological monitoring and whole effluent toxicity tests in connection with publicly owned treatment works, municipal separate storm sewer systems, and municipal combined sewer overflows, and for other purposes.2 Cosponsors.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendment (H.R.828),BARCIA (D-MI)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require that discharges from combined storm and sanitary sewers conform to the Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes. 47 Cosponsors.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendment (H.R.950), PALLONE (D-NJ)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve the quality of beaches and coastal recreation waters, and for other purposes. 13 Cosponsors.
Beaches Environmental Assessment, Cleanup and Health Act of 1999, (H.R.999) BILBRAY (R-CA)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve the quality of coastal recreation waters, and for other purposes. 10 Cosponsors.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, Amendment (H.R. 1110), SAXTON (R-NJ)
A bill to reauthorize and amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (H.R.1480), SHUSTER (R-PA)
A bill to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes.
Clean Water Trust Fund Act (H.R.1549), VISCLOSKY (D-IN)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a National Clean Water Trust Fund and to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to use amounts in that Fund to carry out projects to restore and recover waters of the United States from damages resulting from violations of that Act, and for other purposes. 52 Cosponsors.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendment (H.R.1712), STUPAK (D-MI)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize an estrogenic substances screening program. 2 Cosponsors.
Duty on Certain Chemicals Used in Water Treatment, Suspension (H.R.2073), TALENT (R-MO)
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on a certain chemical used in water treatment.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendment (H.R.2328), SWEENEY (R-NY)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Clean Lakes Program. 4 Cosponsors.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendment (H.R.2449), NORWOOD (R-GA)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to Federal facilities pollution control. 16 Cosponsors.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, Reauthorization, (H.R.2669), SAXTON (R-NJ)
A bill to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and for other purposes.
Water Regulation Improvement Act of 1999 (HR3294), BACHUS (R-AL)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to exclude from stormwater regulation certain areas and activities and to improve the regulation and limit the liability of local governments concerning co-permitting and the implementation of control measures. 9 Cosponsors.
Water Conservation and Quality Incentives Act (S.188), WYDEN (D-OR)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize the use of State revolving loan funds for construction of water conservation and quality improvements. 2 Cosponsors.
Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (S.507), WARNER (R-VA)
A bill to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes. 6 Cosponsors.
Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health (BEACH) Act of 1999 (S.522)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve the quality of beaches and coastal recreation water, and for other purposes. 7 Cosponsors.
Federal Facilities Clean Water Compliance Act of 1999 (S.669), COVERDELL (R-GA)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to ensure compliance by Federal facilities with pollution control requirements. 5 Cosponsors.
National Estuary Conservation Act of 1999 S.878, TORRICELLI (D-NJ)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to permit grants for the national estuary program to be used for the development and implementation of a comprehensive conservation and management plan, to reauthorize appropriations to carry out the program, and for other purposes. 12 Cosponsors.
Combined Sewer Overflow Control and Partnership Act of 1999 (S.914), SMITH, ROBERT C. (R-NH)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require that discharges from combined storm and sanitary sewers conform to the Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes. 15 Cosponsors.
Coastal Stewardship Act (S.1420), KERRY, JOHN (D-MA)
A bill to establish a fund for the restoration and protection of ocean and coastal resources, to amend and reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and for other purposes. 5 Cosponsors.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1999 (S.1534), SNOWE (R-ME)
A bill to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act, and for other purposes. 1 Cosponsor.
Water Regulation Improvement Act of 1999 (S1706), HUTCHISON (R-TX)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to exclude from stormwater regulation certain areas and activities, and to improve the regulation and limit the liability of local governments concerning co-permitting and the implementation of control measures. 1 Cosponsor.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendment (S1730), CHAFEE(R-RI)
An original bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide that certain environmental reports shall continue to be required to be submitted.
Good Samaritan Abandoned or Inactive Mine Waste Remediation Act (S. 1787) BAUCUS (D-MT)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve water quality on abandoned or inactive mined land. 2 Cosponsors.
Clean Air Act Amendments
Omnibus Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 1999 (H.R.2667), ALLEN (D-ME)
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to establish requirements concerning the operation of fossil fuel-fired electric utility steam generating units, commercial and industrial boiler units, solid waste incineration units, medical waste incinerators, hazardous waste combustors, chlor-alkali plants, and Portland cement plants to reduce emissions of mercury to the environment, and for other purposes. 29 Cosponsors.
Omnibus Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 1999 (S.673), LEAHY (D-VT)
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to establish requirements concerning the operation of fossil fuel-fired electric utility steam generating units, commercial and industrial boiler units, solid waste incineration units, medical waste incinerators, hazardous waste combustors, chlor-alkali plants, and Portland cement plants to reduce emissions of mercury to the environment, and for other purposes. 1 Cosponsor.
Nonpoint Sources/Watershed Management
Farm Sustainability and Animal Feedlot Enforcement (Farm SAFE) Act (H.R.684), MILLER, GEORGE (D-CA)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to control water pollution from concentrated animal feeding operations, and for other purposes. 21 Cosponsors.
National Urban Watershed Model Restoration Act (H.R.839), NORTON (D-DC)
A bill to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a pilot program for restoration of urban watersheds and community environments in the Anacostia River watershed, District of Columbia and Maryland, and for other purposes.
Government Reform
Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act Amendments of 1999(H.R.391), MCINTOSH (R-IN)
A bill to amend Chapter 35 of Title 44, United States Code, for the purpose of facilitating compliance by small businesses with certain Federal paperwork requirements, to establish a task force to examine the feasibility of streamlining paperwork requirements applicable to small businesses, and for other purposes.
Regulatory Right-to-Know Act of 1999(H.R.1074), BLILEY (R-VA)
A bill to provide Government-wide accounting of regulatory costs and benefits, and for other purposes. 49 Cosponsors.
Regulatory Right-to-Know Act of 1999(S.59), THOMPSON (R-TN)
A bill to provide Government wide accounting of regulatory costs and benefits, and for other purposes. 13 Cosponsors.
State and Local Government Participation Act of 1999 (S.352), THOMAS (R-WY)
A bill to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to require that Federal agencies consult with State agencies and county and local governments on environmental impact statements. 8 Cosponsors.
Regulatory Improvement Act of 1999 (S.746), LEVIN, CARL (D-MI)
A bill to provide for analysis of major rules, to promote the public's right to know the costs and benefits of major rules, and to increase the accountability of quality of Government. 20 Cosponsors.
Congressional Accountability for Regulatory Information Act of 1999 (S.1198), SHELBY (R-AL)
A bill to amend Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, to provide for a report by the General Accounting Office to Congress on agency regulatory actions, and for other purposes. 14 Cosponsors.
Biosolids Management/Interstate Transportation Initiatives/Solid Waste Disposal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Amendment (H.R.261), SERRANO (D-NY)
A bill to amend the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the egg, meat, and poultry inspection laws to ensure that consumers receive notification regarding food products produced from crops, livestock, or poultry raised on land on which sewage sludge was applied. 3 Cosponsors.
Endangered Specis
Endangered Species Act of 1973, Amendment (H.R.1763), CALVERT (R-CA)
A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that the cost of mitigation required under that Act for a public construction project may not exceed 10 percent of the total project costs. 1 Cosponsor.
Endangered Species Act of 1973, Amendment (H.R.2131),CALVERT (R-CA)
A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the imposition under that Act of any requirement to mitigate for the impacts of activities that occurred in the past.
Common Sense Protections for Endangered Species Act (H.R.3160 ), YOUNG, DON (R-AK)
A bill to reauthorize and amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973. 31 Cosponsors.
Endangered Species Act of 1973, Amendment (S.1100), CHAFEE (R-RI)
A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that the designation of critical habitat for endangered and threatened species be required as part of the development of recovery plans for those species. 2 Cosponsors.
Energy & Electricity Reform
Plumbing Standards Improvement Act of 1999 (H.R.623), KNOLLENBERG (R-MI)
A bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to eliminate certain regulation of plumbing supplies. 99 Cosponsors.
Funding & Appropriations
National Infrastructure Development Act of 1999 (H.R115), DELAURO (D-CT)
A bill to facilitate efficient investments and financing of infrastructure projects and new job creation through the establishment of a National Infrastructure Development Corporation, and for other purposes. 7 Cosponsors.
Environmental Priorities Act of 1999(H.R.341), ANDREWS (D-NJ)
A bill to establish a Fund for Environmental Priorities to be funded by a portion of the consumer savings resulting from retail electricity choice, and for other purposes.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendment (H.R.2720), KELLY (R-NY)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds, and for other purposes. 49 Cosponsors.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendment (HR3039), BATEMAN (R-VA)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to assist in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, and for other purposes. 12 Cosponsors.
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Amendment (H.R. 3309), CRANE (R-IL).
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the private activity bond rules to deter unwarranted hostile takeovers of water utilities.
Clean Water Infrastructure Financing Act of 1999 (S1699), VOINOVICH (R-OH)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for state water pollution control revolving funds, and for other purposes.
Superfund/CERCLA/RCRA
Recycle America's Land Act of 1999(H.R.1300), BOEHLERT (R-NY)
To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to promote brownfields redevelopment, to reauthorize and reform the Superfund program, and for other purposes. 145 Cosponsors.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, Amendment (H.R.1750), TOWNS (D-NY)
A bill to assist local governments in assessing and remediating brownfield sites, to amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to encourage State voluntary response programs for remediating such sites, and for other purposes. 171 Cosponsors.
Children's Protection and Community Cleanup Act of 1999 (HR2956), PALLONE (D-NJ) A bill to reauthorize the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. 33 Cosponsors.
Brownfields and Environmental Cleanup Act of 1999 (S.20), LAUTENBERG (D-NJ)
A bill to assist the States and local governments in assessing and remediating brownfield sites and encouraging environmental cleanup programs, and for other purposes. 24 Cosponsors.
Safe Drinking Water Act
Safe Drinking Water Act, Amendment (HR124),ENGEL (D-NY)
A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to allow public water systems to avoid filtration requirements, and for other purposes.
Safe Drinking Water Act, Amendment (H.R.2108), PALLONE (D-NJ)
A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to increase consumer confidence in safe drinking water and source water assessments, and for other purposes. 7 Cosponsors.
Drinking Water Right-To-Know Act of 1999(S.1149), LAUTENBERG (D-NJ)
A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to increase consumer confidence in safe drinking water and source water assessments, and for other purposes.
Environmental Crimes & Citizen Suits
Environmental Crimes Act (S.481), SCHUMER (D-NY)
A bill to increase penalties and strengthen enforcement of environmental crimes, and for other purposes.
Miscellaneous Municipal Issues
Children's Environmental Protection Act (H.R.199), MORAN, JIM (D-VA)
A bill to protect children and other vulnerable sub-populations from exposure to certain environmental pollutants, and for other purposes.
Private Property Protection Act of 1999 (H.R.294), SWEENEY (R-NY)
A bill to ensure that Federal agencies establish the appropriate procedures for assessing whether or not Federal regulations might result in the taking of private property, and to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to report to the Congress with respect to such takings under programs of the Department of Agriculture.
Defense of the Environment Act (H.R.525), WAXMAN (D-CA)
A bill to provide for the defense of the environment, and for other purposes. 102 Cosponsors.
Peer Review of Scientific Data, Requirement (H.R.574), POMBO (R-CA)
A bill to require peer review of scientific data used in support of Federal regulations, and for other purposes. 9 Cosponsors.
Testing of Certain Computer Systems for the Year 2000 Computer Problem, Provision (H.R.1447), FORD (D-TN)
A bill to provide for the coordinated end-to-end testing and disclosure of the readiness of certain Federal and non-Federal computer systems for the year 2000 computer problem. 9 Cosponsors.
Year 2000 Act (H.R.1502), BARCIA (D-MI)
A bill to minimize the disruption of Government and private sector operations caused by the Year 2000 computer problem. 12 Cosponsors.
Environmental Justice Act (H.R.1510), LEWIS, JOHN (D-GA)
A bill to promote environmental justice, public health, and pollution reduction efforts. 20 Cosponsors.
Year 2000 Compliance Assistance Act (H.R.1599), DAVIS, THOMAS (R-VA)
A bill to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the purchase of information technology related to the Year 2000 computer conversion by State and local governments through Federal supply schedules. 3 Cosponsors.
Toxic Chemical Disclosure, Provision (H.R.1657), WAXMAN (D-CA)
A bill to disclose environmental risks to children's health and expand the public's right to know about toxic chemical use and release, and for other purposes. 137 Cosponsors.
Chemical Safety Information and Site Security Act of 1999 (H.R.1790), BLILEY (R-VA)
A bill to provide for public disclosure of accidental release scenario information in risk management plans, and for other purposes.
National Environment Policy Act of 1969, Amendment (H.R.2029), RADANOVICH (R-CA)
A bill to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to require that Federal agencies consult with State agencies and county and local governments on environmental impact statements. 16 Cosponsors.
Y2K State and Local Government Assistance Programs Act of 1999 (S.174), MOYNIHAN (D-NY)
A bill to provide funding for States to correct Y2K problems in computers that are used to administer State and local government programs. 6 Cosponsors.
Private Property Fairness Act of 1999 (S.246), HAGEL (R-NE)
A bill to protect private property rights guaranteed by the fifth amendment to the Constitution by requiring Federal agencies to prepare private property taking impact analyses and by allowing expanded access to Federal courts. 2 Cosponsors.
Earth Day Act (S.864), BINGAMAN (D-NM)
A bill to designate April 22 as Earth Day. 10 Cosponsors.
Dealing with Losses Arising from Y2K Problem-Related Failures, Provision (S.1138), MCCAIN (R-AZ)
A bill to regulate interstate commerce by making provision for dealing with losses arising from Year 2000 Problem-related failures that may disrupt communications, intermodal transportation, and other matters affecting interstate commerce. 13 Cosponsors.