Funding & Innovative Technologies
BILL NUMBER & TITLE:
H.R.3180, INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES ACT OF 1997
INTRODUCED BY:
Representative Calvin Dooley (D-CA)
REFERRED TO:
House Committee on Commerce
House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
A bill to provide for innovative strategies for achieving superior
environmental performance. The legislation would authorize owners
or operators of facilities subject to Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) rules, requirements, policies or practices to submit
proposals for innovative environmental strategies for achieving
better environmental results to the EPA Administrator. Authorizes
the Administrator to enter into an innovative environmental strategy
agreement with a facility upon approval of the proposal and subject
to specific requirements. Agreements must be limited to five-year
terms, with exceptions.
MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:
02/11/98 - In The HOUSE
Introduced by Dooley and referred to committee
AMSA ACTIONS:
Monitoring
BILL NUMBER & TITLE:
H.R.3866, WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1998
INTRODUCED BY:
Representative Bud Shuster (R-PA)
REFERRED TO:
House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
A bill to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States and for other purposes.
MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:
05/14/98 - In The HOUSE
Introduced by SHUSTER and referred to committee
AMSA ACTIONS:
Monitoring
BILL NUMBER & TITLE:
S.C.R.86, RESOLUTION SETTING FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR
FISCAL YEARS 1999-2003
INTRODUCED BY:
Senator Pete Domenici
REFERRED TO:
No committee referral on introduction
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional
budget for the United States government for the fiscal years 1999,
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and revising the concurrent resolution.
The House of Representatives and the Senate Budget Committees
annually lay out budget allocations to fund federal departments,
agencies and programs. House and Senate Appropriations Committees
are then responsible for deciding how the money is spent within
their particular jurisdiction. Appropriations for the Environmental
Protection Agency is handled through the Appropriations Subcommittees
on VA, HUD & Independent Agencies.
On March 18, the Senate Budget Committee approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 86, which sets funding levels for 1999. The Committee agreed to provide roughly the same level of funds for the Environmental Protection Agency as enacted in FY'98. The Committee rejected President Clinton's $548 million request to fund the Clean Water Action Plan. The funding was rejected because of concerns over the impact it would have on the terms of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
During Budget Committee debate on S.C.R.86, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) proposed an amendment to fund the implementation of the Clean Water Action Plan and other environmental program increases with revenue from a reinstated Superfund tax. Senator Lautenberg's amendment was defeated, but he expected to bring it up again during Senate floor debate on the resolution which begins during the week of March 30.
Senate Budget Committee members are not the only Members of Congress voicing concern over the President's funding proposal for the Clean Water Action Plan. Senator John Chafee (R-RI), Chair of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee and Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD & Independent Agencies have both expressed reservations about the funding request and its impact on budget rules. Additionally, some press reports indicate that there is concern among Senate GOP members that some aspects of the Clean Water Action Plan exceed provided by the Clean Water Act.
MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:
03/17/98 - In The SENATE
Public mark-up held by Senate Committee on
the Budget
Mark-up recessed by Senate Committee on the
Budget
03/19/98 - In The SENATE
Public mark-up held by Senate Committee on
the Budget
Ordered reported by Senate Committee on the
Budget
03/20/98 - In The SENATE
Introduced by Domenici
Original measure reported by Senate committee
on the Budget
Report filed by Senate Committee on Budget
04/02/98 - In The SENATEPassed as amended
Full text of the measure printed in the Congressional Record (CR Page S-3277)
AMSA ACTION:
The AMSA National Office forwarded letters to all Senators on March 27 requesting their support for Senator Lautenberg's amendment during floor debate on this resolution. Senator Lautenberg's amendment would shore up funding for the Clean Water Action Plan in 1999.
The National Office has written to both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees with jurisdiction over EPA's budget requesting support for the Clean Water Action Plan.
BILL NUMBER & TITLE:
S.1480, HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM RESEARCH AND CONTROL ACT OF 1997
INTRODUCED BY:
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
REFERRED TO:
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
A bill to authorize appropriations for the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to conduct research, monitoring, education
and management activities for the eradication and control of harmful
algal blooms, including blooms of Pfiesteria piscicida and other
aquatic toxins.
MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:
11/08/97 -- In The SENATE
Introduced and referred to committee.
05/20/98 - In The SENATE
Public hearings held by Oceans and Fisheries Subcommittee
Hearings adjourned by Oceans and Fisheries Subcommittee
AMSA ACTION:
Monitoring
BILL NUMBER & TITLE:
S.2131, WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1998
INTRODUCED BY:
Senator John Chafee (R-RI)
REFERRED TO:
Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
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.
MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:
06/02/98 - In The SENATE
Introduced by Chafee and referred to committee
AMSA ACTION:
Monitoring
BILL NUMBER & TITLE:
S.2168, DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999
INTRODUCED BY:
Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO)
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
An original bill making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes. On June 11, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $123 million in support of the Clinton Administration's Clean Water Action Plan during fiscal year 1999. The amount is 20% less than the Administration had requested for the Action Plan, but $30 million more than the VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Senate Appropriations Subcommittee had recommended in their bill to the full committee on June 9. The language to increase Action Plan funding was included in a manager's amendment offered by Senator Christopher Bond (R-Mo.), chairman of the Subcommittee. During the June 11 mark-up, Bond said that he promised EPA Administrator Carol Browner, on the Clean Water Action Plan, that "I would try to find more funds for this critical program, and I have." The $30 million increase would be offset by reductions in EPA's Environmental Programs and Management account.
The total appropriation recommended for by the full committee for EPA in 1999 is $7.413 billion, $50 million more than the enacted level in 1998, but $400 million less than requested by the Administration. Superfund received $1.4 billion, which does not include the almost $600 million increase requested. The extra money had been promised to EPA under conditional terms during consideration of the EPA 1998 appropriations bill. EPA would only receive the money if Congress reauthorized the Superfund law by May 15, 1998, which did not happen.
MAJOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO DATE:
06/09/98 - In The SENATE
Public hearing held by VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
Ordered reported by Senate Committee on Appropriations
06/11/98 - In The SENATE
Original measure reported by Senate Committee on Appropriations
Report filed by Senate Committee on Appropriations (S.Rept. 105-216)
Introduced by Bond, no committee referral on introduction
AMSA ACTION:
Monitoring