Congress Returns; President to Deliver State of the Union The Senate returns for the second session of the 110th Congress today (January 22); the House of Representatives returned for business last week (January 15). President Bush will deliver his final State of the Union address on January 28, and Congress will turn its attention to legislation focused on providing a much-needed stimulus to the American economy. What the package will ultimately include is yet to be determined, with Democrats focused on tax rebates, increases in unemployment benefits and food stamps and Republicans advocating business tax cuts, among other things. Today, the White House encouraged "a quick agreement to pump $150 billion in tax cuts and government spending into the ailing economy to head off a recession." This is larger than what was advocated late last week, but given the severe drop in the markets, the White House said, "more is needed, quickly." President Bush has pledged to work with the Democratically controlled Congress to forge a bi-partisan package.
NE Senators Advocate for Increased LIHEAP Funding to Stimulate the Economy
Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are circulating a letter to the Senate Leadership, requesting that the economic stimulus package include an increase of $3.62 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to fully fund the program at $5.1 billion in FY 2008 and provide an additional $500 million in contingency funding. Reed and Collins are looking for support from their fellow Senate colleagues on the letter. The letter states that "LIHEAP funds will be spent quickly and immediately to stimulate the economy and provide a vital safety net to families and seniors so they do not need to choose between eating and paying their energy bill."
NEPPA members are encouraged to contact their Senators to request that they sign onto the Reed-Collins letter. The staff contact for the letter is Kristen Sarri (email: Kristen_Sarri@reed.senate.gov;) and the deadline for signatures is today, January 22.
Climate Change Outlook in 110th Congress
The environmental community and the financial industry are ratcheting up the pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to act on a climate change bill by "Earth Day" (April 22). It is unclear if Pelosi will work to meet this deadline, but to those close to the issue, it does not seem feasible.
The action thus far this Congress on climate change has been in the Senate. In December, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved an emissions control bill, America's Climate Security Act (S. 2191), sponsored by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA). S. 2191 would impose limits on greenhouse gas emissions while setting up a market-based program for the trading of emissions credits. EPW Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and bill supporters would like to see a floor vote this spring.
With 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster, there now appear to be 45 solid votes for the bill and an additional five to ten likely supporters, with many from both parties uncommitted. In order to pass, the bill will likely have to address concerns of industry and labor, which could weaken environmental support for the bill. In fact, many environmentalists say a better chance to pass tougher legislation will come in 2009, following anticipated gains in Democratic Congressional seats and a new President.
House Subcommittee Holds Climate Hearing; Legislation Proponents Hope for Action
On January 17, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held a hearing on the "Administration Perspectives on United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali." The only witness at the hearing was James L. Connaughton, the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Generally, the arguments put forward by Republicans and Democrats in their opening statements and during questioning of the witness were similar to those that have been presented in prior House and Senate hearings on climate change. Most of the Democrats argued that there needs to be quick, aggressive action on climate change, while Republicans questioned the need to take any action at all, or were very cautious as to what the costs would be to implement a cap-and-trade climate program and whether its implementation would negatively impact the economy.
However, Members of both parties indicated their willingness to work collaboratively on the climate issue. Democrats, especially the Chairman of the full Energy and Commerce Committee, John Dingell (D-MI), voiced his hope that the Bush Administration would be more cooperative with Congress when addressing this issue and stated that his party would work with the White House and with Republicans in Congress to reach an agreement. Many Republicans, for their part, noted that they feel that any climate change effort must focus on encouraging other countries to participate; many acknowledged that China and India are huge greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters and need to be part of any global climate change agreement. Several Republicans indicated that they would be willing to work with Democrats on the climate change issue if there is a way to support global cooperation, clean coal technologies and nuclear energy.
During his testimony and questioning, Connaughton promoted the Bush Administration's efforts at the Bali conference in working with developed and developing countries on climate change. He highlighted the Administration's implementation of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, which has helped to preserve tropical forests globally, which in turn has prevented an increase in GHG emissions. He also discussed the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) program to provide direct incentive payments to groups that are promoting sustainable tropical forest projects.
On ways to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, Connaughton agreed with members of both parties and discussed the Administration's FutureGen program as a way to do it. Connaughton described the FutureGen program as a way to address climate change through the development of carbon capture and sequestration technologies, while also encouraging the further advancement of nuclear energy. Democrats criticized the Administration's meager funding of FutureGen and hydrogen fuel cell programs of prior years, saying that the Administration finally needs to "put its money where its mouth is" and make a commitment to these projects. They noted that the fuel cell programs of the past were funded well initially, but then cut before a breakthrough could be made in the technology.
Five Hundred Jobs at Stake at Yucca Mountain
At least 500 Department of Energy (DOE) employees at the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository could lose their jobs in response to a funding cut contained in the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill passed last month. Most of the job losses will be in Nevada, but some jobs will also be lost at the Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico. The amount of money appropriated this year is $108 million less than what President Bush had submitted in his request. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) praised the budget cut as a step towards closing the site, which is viewed negatively by the Nevada Congressional delegation and Nevada residents.
The nuclear waste director at Yucca Mountain said that, given the severe layoffs, it is now questionable whether DOE will be able to submit a license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the facility by its self-imposed June 30 deadline. However, DOE added that it will continue working towards the application's completion and still hopes to complete it on time.