Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
february 2014
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congress
Landrieu assumes ENR Chair as Baucus is confirmed
Changes caused by the February 6 confirmation of Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) as the next U.S. Ambassador to China rippled through Capitol Hill. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) replaced Sen. Baucus as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), in turn, filled Sen. Wyden’s position as the Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) on February 13.
The role changing will mean new developments for each of the committees. As the Democratic leader in tax policy, Sen. Wyden will aim to extend tax credits and efficiency incentives that expired in 2013, including those for renewable energy industries.
Sen. Landrieu, well known for favoring traditional energy industry policy, is hoping to work with ENR Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) on permitting the Keystone XL pipeline and offshore drilling practices with revenue sharing for state governments, articulated in their bill S.1273, the Fixing America’s Inequities with Revenues Act of 2013. Landrieu also backs natural gas production via hydraulic fracturing on public land, proposed in another of her co-sponsored bills, the Empower States Act of 2013 (S. 1482).
One of Baucus’ goals as Ambassador is to work with China on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Sources: E&E News; the Government Printing Office; Bloomberg News
On February 18, Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) announced that he will not seek reelection at the end of his 2014 term. For eight terms since 1999, Holt has represented New Jersey’s 12th district which includes the state capital Trenton. He previously served on the House Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, and currently serves House Natural Resources Committee as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, and on the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Holt has a PhD in physics from NYU and is former Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. He is praised as the strongest proponent for funding scientific research and education in Congress. He helped get over $22 billion for scientific research in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and co-wrote the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which decreases student loan rates and TEACH grants that provide up to $16,000 of tuition assistance for STEM and foreign language teachers. He has also supported green energy and land conservation issues, including expanding acreage to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, increasing federal funding for rail and transit security funding, and defending renewable energy initiatives.
Holt is one of over two dozen lawmakers to announce retirement this cycle.
Sources: E&E News; New York Times; Representative Rush Holt; Government Printing Office
Rep. Doc Hastings, House Natural Resources Chairman, to retire
Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA) announced this February that he will not run for reelection in November. His retirement comes 2 decades after Hastings was first voted into office in 1994. Hastings has served as chairman for the House Natural Resources Committee since 2011, tackling issues such as expanding domestic energy production and protecting national forests, to providing hawkish oversight of federal agencies. Hastings founded and chairs the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, reflecting issues associated with the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, which is in his district. Hastings is 73 years old.
Source: Politico, Rep. Hastings press release