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Energy and Electricity Reform

BILL NUMBER & TITLE:
H.R.655, ELECTRIC CONSUMERS' POWER TO CHOOSE ACT OF 1997

INTRODUCED BY:
Representative Dan Schaefer (R-CO)

REFERRALS:
House Committee on Commerce

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
A bill to give all American electricity consumers the right to choose among competitive providers of electricity, in order to secure lower electricity rates, higher quality services, and a more robust United States economy, and for other purposes. According to reports, House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) had planned for House consideration of the legislation in late April. AMSA support and the support of its members is crucial to the success of the legislation as proposed.

MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:
02/10/97 -- In The HOUSE
Introduced and referred to committee
10/21/97 -- In The HOUSE
Public Hearing held in the Energy & Power Subcommittee
10/22/97 -- In The HOUSE
Public Hearing held in the Energy & Power Subcommittee

AMSA ACTION:
AMSA has written to Congressman Shaefer in support of his inclusion of "biomass" in the legislation's definition of "renewable energy." Biomass includes gas from POTW digesters. Its inclusion in the legislation supports the efforts of POTWs currently recycling digester gas for energy and may encourage other municipalities to do the same.

The National Office forwarded Legislative Alert 98-2 to all members requesting that they write to their Representative's supporting this legislation. Also included was an application form to join the Americans for Affordable Electricity (AAE). AAE was recently formed to support this legislation and members are encouraged to join this coalition. AAE members include commercial, industrial, institutional and residential users of electricity.




BILL NUMBER & TITLE:
H.R.859, PLUMBING STANDARDS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1997

INTRODUCED BY:
Representative Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI)

REFERRALS:
House Committee on Commerce

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
A bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to eliminate certain regulations of plumbing supplies. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act required the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures in new construction.

MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:
02/27/97 -- In The HOUSE
Introduced and referred to committee

AMSA ACTION:
AMSA wrote to express support for maintaining requirements that promote the conservation of water. Additionally, the Association joined an organization of water professionals to support water saving requirements. AMSA's was recently informed, through the organization, that H.R.859 would not be considered this year. Credit was given, part, to AMSA's support for water conservation.



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