Legislative Update - Week of Sept. 25
Appropriations Action
EPA's funding bill for FY '96 passed the full Senate yesterday,
September 27, by a vote of 55 Yeas to 45 Nays (See bottom for
Senate votes. Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) was the only Democrat
who voted in support of the bill). Although the Senate bill is
more generous than the House bill ($770 million more), the cuts
are still dramatic -- approximately 22% below FY' 95 levels.
Differences between the House bill, which includes a 33% EPA cut
and 17 legislative riders, and the Senate version, with 7
legislative riders, must now be reconciled before a joint
House/Senate conference committee. The final conference report
must then pass both the full House and Senate and be signed by
the President. The White House has previously threatened to veto
the spending bill.
Relevant Amendments
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) offered an amendment to give
Administrator Browner the authority not to implement any
legislative rider that would diminish the protection of human
health or the environment. The amendment was defeated by a vote
of 39 to 61.
A motion to waive the Budget Act and allow consideration of an
amendment by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) to increase funding
for the State Revolving Loan Fund and the Superfund Program was
defeated by a vote of 45 to 54.
An amendment by Senator Simpson to eliminate funding for the SEE
(Senior Environmental Employees) program was withdrawn.
Continuing Resolution
Today, the House passed by voice vote a Continuing Resolution
that will continue to fund government operations until November
13. The Senate is expected to act on the measure tomorrow.
Even though only two of the thirteen appropriations bills have
been sent to the President, the White House and Republican
leaders have agreed to pass the stop gap spending measure to
avert a government shut down on October 1 (See Carol Browner
memo for more details).
Budget Reconciliation
The Senate Budget Committee has extended for one week-- until
September 29-- the deadline for committee reconciliation
markups. Budget staffers say, therefore, it is unlikely there
will be a vote on reconciliation in either chamber until the
second week in October.
The agricultural provisions of the Reconciliation bill are still
being worked out. Members remain deadlocked over how to cut farm
programs by $13.4 billion over 7 years. A proposal by House
Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts to cap entitlements under
commodity programs and end the practice of encouraging farmers
not to farm has generated heated debate. Yesterday, however, the
House Committee reportedly failed to reach any consensus.
Among its changes to farm programs, the Senate is proposing to
amend the Wetlands Reserve program by eliminating permanent
easements and allowing for 20 to 30 year contracts. The Senate
is also proposing to cap the amount of acreage.
Since the Reconciliation bill currently contains a number
objectionable provisions to the President, the White House has
threatened to veto the bill. The Administration opposes, for
example, provisions to allow oil exploration in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Agriculture Appropriations
The Agriculture Appropriations bill passed the Senate last week.
The Senate bill funds the Wetlands Reserve Program at $77 million
with a limitation of 100,000 acres for enrollment. The House
version includes 210,000 for the program. Both the House and
Senate bills contain $1.78 million for the Conservation Reserve
Program. Next step: a House/Senate conference.
Interior Appropriations
Both houses are expected to vote this week on H.R. 1977, the
conference report to accompany the Interior Appropriations bill.
Vice President Gore stated Monday that the President intends to
veto the bill. The bill cuts $6 billion from the Interior budget
and includes a number of controversial provisions, including:
H.R. 1977 places a one year moratorium on listing new endangered
species. Funding for listing is limited, and is restricted to
de-listing or down listing species;
NBS: The bill eliminates the National Biological Survey, and
transfers many of its responsibilities to the United States
Geological Survey.
Forests: H.R. 1977 allows increased logging in the Tongass
National Forest
Columbia River Basin Ecosystem Management Plan: H.R. 1977 cuts
funding for the project and weakens the impact of the Columbia
River study by allowing a draft, rather than final, Environmental
Impact Statement.
Wetlands Markup Delayed
Markup of S. 851, the Wetlands Regulatory Reform Act, introduced
by Senators Launch Faircloth (R-NC) and Bennett Johnston (D-LA )
tentatively scheduled for today, September 28, before the Senate
Environment and Public Works Subcommittee, has been delayed at
the request of Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) Another legislative
hearing will be held sometime in October, followed by a markup of
S. 851.
Commerce Department Dismantling
Several House committees have approved conflicting versions of
legislation to dismantle the Department of Commerce. The House
Commerce Committee proposal, for example, would transfer NOAA's
functions to the Agriculture Department, while the House
Resources Committee would make NOAA a new, independent agency.
After a number of closed-door meetings, House Majority Leader
Dick Armey selected Government Reform and Oversight Committee
Chairman William Clinger (R-PA) to iron out the different
proposals. His recommendation to Armey is expected sometime this
week.
Endangered Species Act
A hearing was held last week on the Young/Pombo ESA Reform bill,
H.R. 2275. The bill significantly overhauls the ESA, including
narrowing the definition of an illegal taking and providing
compensation to property owners whose land is devalued by the
law. George Frampston, assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife
for the Dept. of Interior, testified against the bill, arguing
that it " ineffectively repeals the ESA." He also criticized
Congressman Pombo (R-CA) for ignoring recommendations developed
by the Administration and the Western Governor AssSenate Votes on
final passage of EPA Appropriations Bill
Yeas
Abraham (R-MI) Faircloth (R-NC) Lott (R-
MI)
Ashcroft (R-MO) Frist (R-TN) Luger (R-IN)
Bennett (R-UT) Gorton (R-WA) Mack (R-FL)
Bond (R-MO) Gramm (R-TX) McCain (R-AZ)
Brown (R-CO) Grams (R-NM) McConnell (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT) Grassley (R-IA) Murkowski (R-AK)
Campbell (R-CO) Gregg (R-NH) Nickles (R-OK)
Chafee (R-RI) Hatch (R-UT) Packwood (R-OR)
Coats (R IN) Hatfield (R-OR) Pressler (R-SD)
Cochran (R MS) Helms (R-NC) Roth (R-DE)
Cohen (R ME) Hutchison (R-TX) Santorum
(R-PA)
Coverdell (R-GA) Inhofe (R-OK) Shelby
(R-AL)
Craig (R-WY) Jeffords (R-VT) Simpson (R-WY)
D'Amato (R-NY) Kassebaum (R-KS) Smith (R-
WY)
De Wine (R-OH) Kempthorne (R-ID) Snowe (R-ME)
Dole (R-KS) Kerrey (D-NE) Specter
(R-PA)
Domenici (R-NM) Kyl (R-AZ) Stevens
(R-AK)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thompson (R-TN)
Thurmon (R-SC)
Warner (R-VA)
Nays
Akaka (D-HI) Feingold (D-WI) Levin (D-MI)
Baucus (D-MT) Feinstein ((D-CA) Lieberman
(D-CT)
Biden (D-DE) Ford (D-KY) Mikulski
(D-MD)
Bingaman (D-NM) Glen (D-OH) Moseley Braun (D-Ill)
Boxer (D-CA) Graham (D-FL) Moynihan (D-
NY)Bradley (D-NJ) Harkin (D-IA) Murray (D-WA)
Breaux (D-LA) Helflin (R-AL) Nunn (D-GA)
Bryan (D-NV) Hollings (D-SC) Pell (D-RI)
Bumpers (D-AR) Inouye (D-HI) Pryor (D-AR)
Byrd (D-WV) Johnston (D-LA) Reid (D-NV)
Conrad (D-MT) Kennedy (D-MA) Robb (D-VA)
Daschle (D-SD) Kerry (D-MA) Rockefeller (D-
WV)
Dodd(D-CT) Kohl (D-WI) Sarbanes
(DMD)
Dorgan (D-ND) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Simon (D-
Il)
Exon (D-NE) Leahy (D-VT) Wellstone (D-MN)
Baucus Amendment ( 5 Republicans voted yes - Chafee, Cohen,
Jeffords, Roth and Snowe)
Yeas - 39
Akaka (D-HI) Jeffords (R-VT)
Baucus (D-MT) Kennedy (D-MA)
Biden (D-DE) Kerry (D-MA)
Bingaman (D-NM) Kohl (D-WI)
Boxer (D-CA) Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Bradley (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT)
Bryan (D-NV) Levin (D-MI
Bumpers (D-AR) Lieberman (D-CT)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Chafee (R-RI) Moseley- Braun (D-Ill)
Cohen (R-ME) Murray (D-WA)
Daschle (D-SD) Pell (D-RI)
Dodd(D-CT) Pryor (D-AR)
Feingold (D-WI) Reid (D-NV)
Feinstein ((D-CA) Robb (D-VA)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Glen (D-OH) Roth (R-ME)
Graham (D-FL) Sarbanes (D-MD)
Harkin (D-IA) Simon (D-IL)
Inouye (D-HI) Snowe (R-ME)
Wellstone (D-MN)
Nays -61
Republicans
Abraham (R-MI) Faircloth (R-NC) Lott (R-
MI)
Ashcroft (R-MO) Frist (R-TN) Luger (R-IN)
Bennett (R-UT) Gorton (R-WA) Mack (R-FL)
Bond (R-MO) Gramm (R-TX) McCain (R-AZ)
Brown (R-CO) Grams (R-NM) McConnell (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT) Grassley (R-IA) Murkowski (R-AK)
Campbell (R-CO) Gregg (R-NH) Nickles (R-OK)
Hatch (R-UT) Packwood
(R-OR)
Coats (R IN) Hatfield (R-OR) Pressler (R-SD)
Cochran (R MS) Helms (R-NC)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Santorum (R-PA)
Coverdell (R-GA) Inhofe (R-OK) Shelby
(R-AL)
Craig (R-WY) Simpson
(R-WY)
D'Amato (R-NY) Kassebaum (R-KS) Smith (R-
WY)
De Wine (R-OH) Kempthorne (R-ID)
Dole (R-KS) Kerrey (D-NE) Specter
(R-PA)
Domenici (R-NM) Kyl (R-AZ) Stevens
(R-AK)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thompson (R-TN)
Thurmon (R-SC)
Democrats
Warner (R-VA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Breaux (D-LA)
Johnston (D-LA)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Exon (D-NE)
Ford (D-KY)
Heflin (D-AL)
Hollings (D-SC)
Kerrey (D-NE)
Moynihan (D-NY)
Nunn (D-GA)