Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
may 2017

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congress

Climate resolutions bill re-introduced in the House

May 3, 2017

Representative John Delaney (D-MD-6) introduced the Climate Solutions Commission Act (H.R.2326), which aims to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, on May 3. Representative Delaney introduced the same bill (H.R.6240) during the previous session of Congress, but it was not enacted.

The bill acknowledges the current extent of extreme weather events and calls for bipartisan support to pursue efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The bill also calls for the establishment of a bipartisan commission, to be known as the “National Climate Solutions Commission,” that would review economically feasible public and private actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and provide policy recommendations to the federal and state governments. The commission would be composed of 10 members appointed by the President, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives.

H.R.2326 was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment on May 5.

Sources: Library of Congress, U.S. House of Representatives

Senate passes Digital Coast bill authorizing NOAA’s Digital Coast program

May 25, 2017

On May 25, the Senate passed the Digital Coast Act (S.110) to help coastal communities prepare for storms, adapt to rising sea levels, and strengthen economic planning efforts. S.110 officially authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Digital Coast program. The bill was introduced by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and cosponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Cory Booker (R-NJ).

NOAA currently assembles and maintains the Digital Coast Project, an online database of coastal management information for both the private and public sectors. It also provides coastal communities with the tools, resources, and trainings needed to manage their resources and make informed decisions and investments. S.110 supports the further development of the Digital Coast Project, which already exists under NOAA, by authorizing the program to integrate the next phase of NOAA’s coastal mapping techniques. The bill increases public access to the most up-to-date information to enhance hazards response and mitigation, and help communities plan for long-term coastal resilience. Specifically, S.110 directs NOAA to “establish public tools that are capable of tracking ocean and Great Lake economy data for each coastal state.”

The bill was received in the House of Representatives on May 26.

Sources: Library of Congress, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Senate