Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works - SHARP Network

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Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

About the Committee

This committee has jurisdiction over environmental regulation and policy, including air pollution and water quality, as well as highway construction, public works, and nuclear energy. 

View Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Website 

View Majority Website • View Minority Website

Subcommittees

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Contents

[edit] Issues in the 110th Congress

[edit] Global Warming

Global Warming has been on the top of the committee's agenda, with hearings on the current science of global warming (see 7/22/08 and 4/3/2208) and two hearings on the Endangered Species status of the Polar Bear, whose habitat is shrinking due to the ice melt associated with global warming (see 4/2/08 and 1/30/08). Climate change is one of the most divisive issues in this committee. There are many differences between the Majority position of Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and the ranking Minority member James M. Inhofe (R-OK). Boxer is generally supportive of legislative efforts to reduce the effects of global climate change and is for listing the Polar Bear as an Endangered Species[1]. Inhofe, in contrast, states that he is trying to "combat global warming alarmism" and worries that "measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions would lower the quality of life and reduce economic well-being for future generations."[2]

[edit] Clean Air

This committee is active in regulating air emissions. On May 21, 2008, the committee passed a bill to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to deny California a waiver that would allow it to set automobile fuel standards that are more strict than those set by the federal government. The measure passed 10 to 9.[3] In an accompanying press release, Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer said "Administrator Johnson's decision to deny the waiver was not supported by the facts, by the law, by the science, or by precedent. Just this week we learned of more evidence that the Bush White House intervened to kill the waiver for California. Today's action in the Environment Committee brings us one step closer to giving a green light to California and the other states so they can begin tackling global warming pollution from vehicles."[4] The committee has also discussed bills regulating mercury emissions (see 5/13/08) and the emissions from marine vessels (see 2/14/08).

[edit] Clean Water

The 110th Congress has considered legislation on water quality, including regulating the amount of perchlorate and TCE in drinking water (see 5/6/08). The Committee has also considered H.R.2417 The Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 (see 4/9/08). This bill was introduced to amend the Clean Water Act to replace the term "navigable waters," throughout the Act, with the term "waters of the United States"[5]. This act was introduced in response to recent Supreme Court decisions that have eroded wetlands protection and the federal protection of some isolated waters.[6]

[edit] Committee Hearings on Science and Technology

July 23, 2008 The Midwest Floods: What Happened and What Might Be Improved for Managing Risk and Responses in the Future
This hearing focused on infrastructure improvements that could help prevent damage from future extreme weather events. View archived webcast and transcripts.
July 22, 2008 An Update on the Science of Global Warming and its Implications
This hearing featured testimony from three scientists on the current evidence for and against human caused global warming and suggestions for legislation to address climate change. View archived webcast and transcripts.
May 13, 2008 Hearing on Mercury Legislation
This hearing included testimony on three bills addressing mercury air emissions and the banning of mercury exports. View archived webcast and transcripts.
May 6, 2008 Perchlorate and TCE in Water
This hearing focused on regulating the amounts of two harmful chemicals in drinking water, perchlorate and TCE. Perchlorate interferes with the thyroid and hormone systems that control development, which makes pregnant women and children especially vulnerable to its effects. TCE is a toxic chemical and potential carcinogen. View archived webcast and transcripts.
April 29, 2008 Oversight on EPA Toxic Chemical Policies
This hearing focused on the EPA's toxic chemical policies and potential interference by the Bush administration. View archived webcast and transcripts.
April 10, 2008 Hearing on the Nomination of David R. Hill to be Assistant Administrator (General Counsel) for the Environmental Protection Agency
This hearing was an opportunity for the committee to interview the nominee for General Counsel for the EPA, David R. Hill. View archived webcast and transcripts.
April 9, 2008 Legislative Hearing on S. 1870, the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007
This hearing focused on the Clean Water Restoration Act which would restore some of the protections of the 1972 Clean Water Act that have been jeopardized by recent court rulings. Opponents of this bill argue that putting "all waters of the United States" under the jurisdiction of this bill instead of the original "navigable waters" will extend Congressional power too far[7] . View archived webcast and transcripts.
April 3, 2008 Examining Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions at U.S. Colleges and Universities
This hearing discussed possible strategies colleges and universities can take to reduce their carbon footprints and included testimonies by the chancellors of UC Berkeley and the University of Minnesota, Morris, and the President of Yale. View archived webcast and transcripts.
April 2, 2008 Oversight on the Listing Decision for the Polar Bear Under the Endangered Species Act
This hearing focused on the evidence for and against listing the Polar Bear under the Endangered Species Act. The Bush Administration has been accused of delaying the listing of the polar bear. View archived webcast and transcripts.
March 11, 2008 Examining the President’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2009 Budget for the Civil Works Program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Implementation of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007
This hearing was called to review the President's Budget request for flooding prevention infrastructure and wetlands restoration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. FY2009's budget request was a cut from the previous year's funding. View archived webcast and transcripts.
February 27, 2008 Hearing on the President’s Proposed EPA Budget for FY 2009
This hearing focused on the President's proposed FY2009 budget for the EPA which is a 4.4% cut from last year's budget. View archived webcast and transcripts.
February 14, 2008 Legislative Hearing on the Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act of 2007, S.1499
This hearing reviewed a bill, S.1499, that would cut emissions from large ocean going vessels to help improve air quality at large ports. View archived webcast and transcripts.
January 30, 2008 Examining Threats and Protections for the Polar Bear
This hearing discussed listing the polar bear as an endangered species. View archived webcast and transcripts.
January 24, 2008 Oversight of EPA’s Decision to Deny the California Waiver
This hearing discussed the EPA's decision to deny California's waiver to set emissions reductions on cars that are stronger than the federal law. View archived webcast and transcripts.

[edit] Endnotes

  1. ↑ Majority Global Warming Issues Page, Barbara Boxer, http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=709f6a0e-802a-23ad-4822-24fe5a3f6e55&CFID=3729719&CFTOKEN=99798462
  2. ↑ Minority Global Warming Issues Page, James M. Inhofe, http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=88388d58-7e9c-9af9-7d66-62e366f3f189&CFID=3729719&CFTOKEN=99798462
  3. ↑ Senate panel overturns EPA on state's effort to curb greenhouse gas, The Associated Press, May 22, 2008, http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-greenhouse22-2008may22,0,1890401.story
  4. ↑ Bill to Reverse EPA Denial of California Vehicles Waiver Passes Senate Environment Committee, Press Release, May 21, 2008, http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Majority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=0cbdf5b7-802a-23ad-41d4-585de34b24c9&Region_id=&Issue_id=
  5. ↑ H.R.2417 THOMAS Page, http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02421:@@@L&summ2=m&
  6. ↑ Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007, Congresspedia, http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Clean_Water_Restoration_Act_of_2007#_note-2
  7. ↑ Minority Opening Statement, James M. Inhofe, April 9, 2008, http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Statement&Statement_ID=a0e0a960-ed6f-44ce-85b6-bacc7d040287
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