This week on the Hill…

Wednesday:

Pavillion, WY EPA groundwater contamination study hearing
House Science, Space & Technology Committee — Energy & Environment Subcommittee
February 1 — 10am; 2318 Rayburn

Thursday:

Energy and revenue provisions for Transportation bill reauthorization markup (includes Atlantic coast drilling)
House Natural Resources Committee
February 2 — 10am; 1324 Longworth

Friday:

EPA science hearing
House Science, Space & Technology Committee — Energy & Environment Subcommittee
February 3 — 10am; 2318 Rayburn

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This week on the Hill…

Both chambers of Congress have returned from recess this week.

Tuesday:

Eminent domain and property rights bill (H.R. 1433) markup
House Judiciary Committee
January 24 — 10:15am;  2141 Rayburn

Final FY12 appropriations

On Friday, December 16, the House approved a final “megabus” package (H.R. 2055) of nine fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills.  On Saturday, the Senate voted to pass the legislation — and it was signed by the President shortly thereafter.

The Senate has left for the holiday recess.  The House will address a tax break extension bill before leaving town.

FY 2012 “megabus” appropriations

UPDATE 12/16:  Late last night, House and Senate conferees signed off on a conference report for the “megabus” package of several FY12 spending bills.  Rather than moving forward with the package released by the House yesterday (and initially described below), both chambers will now consider and vote on the conference report (H.R. 2055) within the next 48 hours or so.  Content of the two versions is nearly identical–only the vehicle is different.  Explanatory information for the bills has also been released and additional details are now included below.

12/15:  Today, the House unveiled its “megabus” proposal (H.R. 3571) for fiscal year 2012 appropriations.  The large package of bills contains 9 pieces of spending legislation, including Energy & Water and Interior & Environment.  Some highlights are below, more will be added as it becomes available.

The current continuing resolution expires at midnight tomorrow — it is unclear if this package will be approved by both chambers of Congress by then, but votes are expected tomorrow, and “votes are possible this weekend and next week.”

Energy & Water:  Provides the US Army Corps of Engineers with $5 billion, $145 billion above FY11. (Explanation)

• Operation & Maintenance: $2.412 billion
• O&M Delaware River: Philadelphia to the sea, $20.989 million; Philadelphia to Trenton, $1.073 million
• Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery: $4.9 million

Interior & Environment:  Provides the US Environmental Protection Agency with $8.4 billion, $233 million below FY11. (Explanation)

• Chesapeake Bay Program:  $57.391 million; $2 million for small watershed grants
• Chesapeake Bay Executive Order:  $1.5 million; directive for an analysis of endocrine disruptors
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund:  $1.469 billion; -$56 million FY11 (State by state breakdown)
• National Estuary Program:  $27.058 million

Provides the Interior Department with $10.3 billion, $310 million below FY11.

• US Fish & Wildlife Service:  $1.5 billion, -$28 million FY11
• North American Wetlands Conservation Act:  $35.554 million, -$2 million FY11
• Land & Water Conservation Fund:  $322 million (needs verification)

Most controversial policy riders that were included in early drafts of these appropriations bills have not been included in the final megabus.

This week on the Hill

The current continuing resolution that has funded the government past the end of fiscal year 2011 while Congress works out funding details for FY 2012 is set to expire on Friday.  Information on the next omnibus appropriations package and/or CR is expected early this week.

Tuesday:

Water infrastructure hearing
Senate Environment & Public Works Committee — Water & Wildlife Subcommittee
December 13 — 10am; 406 Dirksen

Wednesday:

Water infrastructure hearing
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee — Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee
December 14 — 10am; 2167 Rayburn

Thursday:

Marine debris bill (H.R. 1171) hearing
House Natural Resources Committee — Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans & Insular Affairs
December 15 — 10am; 1324 Longworth

This week on the Hill

Following last week’s consideration of two regulatory reform bills, the House will this week address the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act,” or REINS Act, which would require Congressional scrutiny of federal regulation that cause an economic impact greater than $100 million.

Thursday:

Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, Chesapeake Bay Gateways & Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act markup
Senate Environment & Public Works Committee
December 8 — 9:30am; 406 Dirksen

This week on the Hill

The House will likely begin considering a handful of regulatory reform bills this week, including

• “Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011” (H.R. 3010) (requiring cost-benefit analyses of regulation)
• “Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011” (H.R. 527)
• “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act” or “REINS Act” (H.R. 10) (requires Congressional approval of significant agency rules; may be considered in the next few weeks).

The House Rules Committee is currently considering all of the above legislation.

Wednesday:

EPA science reform hearing
House Science, Space & Technology Committee —  Energy & Environment Subcommittee
November 30 — 2pm; 2318 Rayburn

Thursday:

Coastal jobs and Magnuson-Stevens amendments (fisheries) hearing
House Natural Resources Committee
December 1 — 10am; 1324 Longworth