Tomorrow we will distribute a list of Senate Committee and Subcommittee members and a list of the House Committee and Subcommittee members. To read the River Policy Update online, visit American Rivers' Online Newsroom at www.americanrivers.org/template2.asp? cat=7&page=7&id=0&filter=0 Click on "River Policy Update." For additional information on any bill, visit Thomas at http://thomas.loc.gov American Rivers Policy Update February 5, 2001 * Water Resources * Energy Policy * Other News * Action Alerts * Jobs WATER RESOURCES Six Representatives seek to reform the Army Corps of Engineers, the government's principal agency for water-related construction projects. Representatives Blumenauer (D-OR), Gilchrest (R-MD), Kind (D-WI), Tauscher (D-CA), Shadegg (R-AZ), and Tancredo (R-CO) hope to assemble a 50 to 60 member Corps Reform Caucus within the coming month. In a letter to the colleagues, the Representatives describe themselves as a "bipartisan, geographically and ideologically diverse group that shares a common concern about the Army Corps of Engineers' projects and policies, and particularly their lack of financial accountability and record of environmental protection. ENERGY POLICY This week the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Bob Smith (R-NH), introduced legislation that will encourage the construction of energy efficient homes and buildings. S. 207, the Energy Efficient Building Incentives Act would provide tax credit if energy efficient technologies were used during the construction of a home or building or installed later for long-term use. Bill S. 207 has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax issues. Senators Leahy (R-VT), Kerry (D-MA), Collins (R-ME), Snowe (R-ME) and Helms (R-NC) co-sponsor the bill. OTHER NEWS On February 1, 2001, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Pete Domenici (R- NM) reintroduced a pipeline safety bill identical to last year's bill, which passed the Senate but died in the House. Bill S. 141 requires pipeline companies to conduct regular inspections and allows States to apply greater control in pipeline oversights. There has not yet been committee action on the bill. The eight co-sponsors of the bill include, Commerce ranking Democrat Ernest Hollings (SC) and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA); Jeff Bingaman (D-NM); Sam Brownback (D- KA); John Breaux (D-LA); Pete Domenici (R-MN); Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX); and Gordon Smith (R-OR). On Wednesday, January 31, 2001, the California state Senate passed a bill that will allow the state of California to buy power through long-term contracts and then sell that electricity to utilities within the state. In the Assembly, the bill fell short of the needed two-thirds vote for immediate implementation. Legislative leaders rounded up the extra votes and on Thursday afternoon the measure passed. Within the next week, Senate Republicans are expected to introduce a comprehensive energy bill focused on reducing crude oil imports and increasing domestic energy production. The 259-page draft bill, keeping with President Bush's campaign pledge, heavily emphasizes the need to increase domestic energy production. This bill contains nine titles. These titles include: energy supply and security; clean coal technology; oil and gas deepwater royalty relief; transportation energy efficiency and alternative fuel measures; drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; energy efficiency and conservation; nuclear research and development technologies; wholesale electricity transmission reliability; and a host of tax incentives to promote both energy conservation and production. Senators John Breaux (D-LA) and Craig Thomas (R-WY) will lead the Congressional Oil and Gas Forum in the 107th Congress. Thomas' office stated that "the forum is a bipartisan coalition of senators organized to promote the benefits of a strong domestic oil and gas industry, highlight the impact of existing and proposed laws and regulations, and initiate action to insure adequate and affordable U.S. energy supplies." In support of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act that cleared in the 106th Congress, Representatives John Dingell (D-MI) and Don Young (R-AL) wrote to Bush urging, "[w]ith your active support, we both believe CARA can be enacted early in the 107th Congress." TAKE ACTION Follow the latest American Rivers' Action Alerts and Press Releases! Take action to help save America's rivers. Visit www.americanrivers.org/takeaction today. JOBS American Rivers currently has a number of job openings. See our employment page for the following opportunities: * Online Community Manager * Government Affairs Director QUESTIONS? Contact Jamie Mierau, Assistant to the VP for Conservation, at 202- 347-7550. Legislative information taken from sources including: Congressional Green Sheets, New York Times, Environment and Energy Daily, www.us.senate.gov and www.us.house.gov.
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