To read the River Policy Update online, visit American Rivers' Online Newsroom at http://www.americanrivers.org/policyupdates/update.htm and click on "River Policy Update." Week of August 6, 2001 IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE: * Energy policy * Appropriations * Take action * Special river trip deal * Jobs The Senate is in recess until September 4th and the House until September 6th. Before recess, the House and Senate cleared several bills. ENERGY POLICY Energy legislation Last week the House Republican consolidated energy package, H.R. 4, was approved with provisions to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas leasing. The energy bill was approved by a 240- 189 vote. An effort to strip the ANWR provision from the bill was rejected by a 223-206 vote, with 36 Democrats joining a large majority of Republicans in rejecting the amendment. An amendment to increase the required fuel efficiency for sport utility vehicles and light trucks to 27.5 miles per gallon was also soundly rejected by a vote of 269-160. As passed by the House, the energy bill would require new SUVs to reduce gasoline consumption by five billion gallons over six years, which amounts to a very modest estimated increase in fuel efficiency of less than one mile per gallon. The bill does not call for raising fuel efficiency in non-SUVs. The bill also calls for studies on granting oil and gas companies more access to public lands; funding for conservation and alternative energy research; and tax breaks and other incentives for increasing oil and gas exploration, developing new coal-burning technologies, promoting nuclear energy, and encouraging conservation and efficiency. In addition, the energy bill contains provisions affecting hydropower. River advocates are concerned that efficiency language for Bureau of Reclamation hydropower facilities fails to provide for adequate environmental review and would allow implementation of modified operations that might harm river resources. The bill also addresses the non-federal hydropower relicensing process. It would require federal resource agencies to consider less expensive alternatives when developing conservation measures for private dams. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee began its markup of energy legislation last week. Following recess the committee will resume its markup and is expected to address controversial energy issues like ANWR exploration. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle called ANWR exploration "dead on arrival." APPROPRIATIONS Agriculture emergency assistance Last week, the Senate passed the House version of an emergency agriculture assistance bill for FY'01. HR 2213, which awaits the president's signature, would authorize using a $5.5 billion emergency reserve fund set aside in the FY'01 budget resolution to provide supplemental income assistance to farmers facing financial difficulties. Senate attempts to include funding in the emergency assistance bill for FY'02 agricultural conservation programs failed. Status of FY 2002 Appropriations Bills Bills (Status) Agriculture (House) Commerce-Justice-State (House) Defense District of Columbia Energy, water development (House/Senate) Foreign operations (House) Interior (House/Senate) Labor-HHS-Education Legislative branch (House/Senate) Military construction Transportation (House/Senate) Treasury-Postal Service (House) VA-HUD (House/Senate) * Final includes conference committee passage and president's approval. CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR Senate: In recess until September 4th House: In recess until September 6th TAKE ACTION Follow the latest American Rivers' Action Alerts and Press Releases! Take action to help save America's Rivers. Visit http://www.amrivers.org/takeaction/. The River Budget: get involved! Each year, the federal budget has enormous consequences for river restoration and conservation initiatives. Want to learn how? Join American Rivers' Director of Government Affairs and other staff for a free interactive chat session to discuss the River Budget: National Priorities for Local Conservation -- an annual report that recommends to Congress how best to make investments of federal tax dollars to benefit rivers, wildlife, and communities. This is your chance to learn about the River Budget process and present your ideas to American Rivers staff. Register in the River Community at http://www.amrivers.org/community/register.asp to get your password (this is important!). Then, meet us in the chat room on Wednesday, August 15th. Two sessions will be conducted, beginning at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. and 4 p.m. PDT). Join river conservationists from around the nation to ask questions, learn about the budget process as it relates to river conservation, or just listen to what's on your colleagues' minds. Join us in the chat room: Wednesday, August 15th at 2 and 7 p.m. eastern time Learn more about The River Budget here: http://www.amrivers.org/riverbudget/default.htm SPECIAL TRIP DEAL Go rafting in Cataract Canyon! Rapids, waterfalls, and ancient Pueblo ruins, all in the heart of Utah's Canyonlands National Park. Discount rate; several dates are available. A great trip for families! Click here for the itinerary and more information: http://www.away.com/postcards/american_rivers_members JOBS American Rivers currently has a number of job openings. See our employment page for the following opportunities: http://www.amrivers.org/jobs/default.htm * Online Community Manager * Conservation Assistant-Outreach * Organizer/Outreach Specialist-Missouri River Campaign * River Restoration Financing Associate * Development Assistant Questions? Contact Michael Garrity, Conservation Associate, at 202-347-7550. Legislative information taken from sources including: Environment and Energy Daily, Greenwire, Congressional Green Sheets, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and members of the American Rivers conservation staff.
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