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NFC: Fw: River Policy Update, Week of August 6
American Rivers' 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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Thank you robertrice at juno_com for helping to protect and
restore America's rivers.
To contact American Rivers, send an email to Rebecca
Sherman at outreach at amrivers_org or call 202-347-7550.
To update your information, please visit:
http://amriversaction.ctsg.com/profileEditor
Encourge friends to become an online river activist, by visiting
www.americanrivers.org/takeaction. To become a member of American
Rivers, visit www.americanrivers.org/joindonate
Join the nation's online river community at www.americanrivers.org
for free online resources, toolkits, and ways to unite with other
activists on your important issues. AOL Keyword: American Rivers
To unsubscribe from this distribution list, reply to this
email (action at action_amrivers.org) and include "remove" in the subject
line.
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