Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
april 2016

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environment

LWCF reauthorization passes the Senate

April 21, 2016

 

On April 20, the Senate voted to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) within bipartisan energy reform legislation (S. 2012) sponsored by Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

Established by Congress in 1964, the LWCF supports the purchase and protection of federal public lands and waters and voluntary conservation on private lands. LWCF receives funds from offshore oil and gas leasing that it invested in securing public access, improving recreation activities, and conserving ecosystems on public lands. The LWCF has allocated more than $3.9 billion through a matching grants program that has supported more than 40,000 projects, the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, and the Forest Legacy Program. The fund temporarily lapsed last year after not being renewed in the fiscal year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill.

Before LWCF can be permanently authorized, S. 2012 must first go to conference with the House where it will most likely be merged with their version of the bill (H.R. 8), which does not include a LWCF provision.

Sources: Congress.gov, Department of the Interior, E&E News

New bipartisan climate change caucus

April 21, 2016

The new House bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus held its first meeting this week. Formed out of concern for rising sea levels in their home state of Florida, Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Carlos Cubelo (R-FL) created the 10-member caucus to openly discuss options for addressing climate change and eventually create a bipartisan climate policy.

Made up of five Democrats and five Republicans, the caucus differs from the all-Democrat Congressional Safe Climate Caucus. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), a member of both caucuses, spoke to reporters about the first meeting of the bipartisan climate caucus, claiming that it went very well.

This inaugural meeting occurred in the midst of Republican criticism on the Senate floor over the recent Paris climate agreement signing in New York this week. Senators James Inhofe (R-OK) and John Barrasso (R-WY) spoke out on what they consider to be the illegality of the U.S. signing onto the United Nations agreement on climate change action.

Source: E&E News