Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
october 2017
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congress
Climate Solutions Caucus hits 60 members
October 4, 2017
On October 4, the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus hit a record 60 members, with the addition of Representatives Mimi Walters (R-CA-45) and Pete Aguilar (D-CA-31). The Caucus requires new members to join in pairs from both sides of the aisle. The “Noah’s Ark” caucus, which showcases the developing bipartisan support for action against the effects of climate change, is known as one of the fastest growing caucuses in the House of Representatives.
Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) and Carlos Curbelo (R-FL-26) co-founded the Climate Solutions Caucus in February 2016. The mission of the Caucus is to educate members on economically-viable options to reduce climate risk and to develop bipartisan policy solutions that address the causes, effects and challenges of changing climate and extreme weather.
Sources: U.S. House of Representatives, National Climate Assessment
Congress passes $36.5 billion aid package for recent natural disasters; more funds needed
October 26, 2017
Responding to the widespread destruction from three catastrophic hurricanes, massive wildfires, and a bankrupt federal flood insurance program, the House passed a $36.5 billion disaster aid package (H.R.2266) on October 12. The aid package includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, $16 billion for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), $576.6 million for combating wildfires, and $4.9 billion in low-interest, community disaster loans to Puerto Rico to help the government pay its employees. Additionally, Puerto Rico would receive the same emergency nutrition assistance as other states struck by the hurricanes. This relief package follows $15 billion approved last month for immediate relief after Hurricane Harvey and is more generous than the $29 billion request from the White House.
The Senate passed H.R.2266 without amendment on October 24, and the President signed the aid package into law on October 26.
Lawmakers anticipate continued assistance will be needed in the near future. On October 5, Texas officials sent a letter to congressional appropriators outlining their state’s need for $125 billion to recover and rebuild from the damages caused by Hurricane Harvey. The following day, the Florida congressional delegation sent a similar letter requesting $27 billion for Hurricane Irma’s statewide impacts. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Nevares also sent a letter to congressional leadership on October 7 expressing the U.S. territory’s gratitude for the federal emergency management assistance provided thus far and indicating that they will require supplemental funds to cover an anticipated total of $95 billion in damages – approximately 150% of Puerto Rico’s Gross National Product.
Meanwhile, wildfires continue to ravage the northwest. In 2017 alone, wildfires have already burned more than 8.5 million acres of land, damaging popular recreation sites, producing hazardous air quality, threatening national parks, destroying hundreds of structures and prompting nearly 20,000 people to evacuate their homes. The Partner Caucus on Fire Suppression Funding Solutions, representing over 200 conservation and outdoor recreation groups, has urged congressional leaders to find a comprehensive solution to the wildfire suppression funding issue, specifically pushing for passage of the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act (WDFA), which was introduced by Representative Michael Simpson (R-ID-2) in the House (H.R.2862) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in the Senate (S.1842).
Sources: CNN, E&E News, Library of Congress, Puerto Rico Report, U.S House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, White House Office of Management and Budget
Senate hearings on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill canceled
October 19, 2017
The Senate Committee on Appropriations has four major appropriation bills remaining to consider for fiscal year (FY) 2018, including an appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. The bill determines the FY 2018 budget for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), among other agencies. During the week of October 17, both the subcommittee and full committee hearings to consider a Senate appropriations bill were canceled. Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Committee, was not available to lead the scheduled hearings due to votes on the Senate floor and illness. The hearings have not yet been rescheduled.
Independent introduction and committee consideration of a Senate appropriations bill for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies may not occur before the December 8 deadline for Congress to pass all discretionary spending for FY 2018. However, appropriators suggest that it would not be unusual to have this bill wrapped into a year-end spending deal before consideration and amendment at an open Committee on Appropriations hearing.
The House of Representatives passed all 12 of their FY 2018 appropriations bills in September and is waiting on the Senate to complete action on its slate of bills.
Sources: E&E News, Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations