Recent Developments

• Date: 01 May 2019

5-2019 NEWS & ANALYSIS 49 ELR 10493

PUBLIC LAWS

S. 47 (natural resources), which

would provide for the management

of the natural resource s of the United

States, was signed by President Trump

on March 12, 2019. Pub. L. No. 116-9,

165 Cong. Rec. D267 (da ily ed. Mar.

13, 2019).

S. 483 (toxic substance s), which

would extend the Pesticide Registration

Improvement Act, was signed by Presi-

dent Trump on March 8, 2019. Pub. L.

No. 116-8, 165 Cong. Rec. D245 (dai ly

ed. Mar. 11, 2019).

CHAMBER ACTION

H.R. 347 (waste), which would extend

the authorization of the Uranium Mi ll

Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978

relating to the disposa l site in Mesa

County, Colorado, was passed by the

House. 165 Cong. Rec. H2329 (daily

ed. Mar. 5, 2019).

H.R. 762 (energy), which would

amend the Energy Policy and Conser-

vation Act to provide for the dissemina-

tion of information regarding ava ilable

federal programs relating to energy-ef-

 ciency projects for schools, was passed

by the House. 165 Cong. Rec. H2328

(daily ed. Mar. 5, 2019).

H.R. 1138 (toxic substances), which

would reauthorize the West Valley

demonstration project, was passed by

the House. 165 Cong. Rec. H2330

(daily ed. Mar. 5, 2019).

H.R . 1616 (en erg y), which would pri-

oritize the e orts of and enha nce c o-

ordination among U.S. agencies to en-

courage countries in c entral and eastern

Europe to diversify their energy sources

and supply routes, increase Europe’s

energy security, and help the United

States reach its global energ y security

goals, was passed by the House. 165

Cong. Rec. H2771 (daily ed. Mar. 25,

2019).

COMMITTEE ACTION

S. 380 (governa nce) was reported by

the Committee on Homeland Securit y

and Governmental A ai rs. S. Rep.

No. 116-12, 165 Cong. Rec. S1938

(daily ed. Mar. 25, 2019).  e bill

would increase access to agency guid-

ance documents.

S. 395 (governanc e) was reported by

the Committee on Homeland Securit y

and Governmental A airs. S. Rep. No.

116 -14, 165 Cong. Rec. S1939 (daily

ed. Mar. 25, 2019).  e bill would re-

quire each agency, in providing notice

of a rulemakin g, to include a link to a

100-word plain language summary of

the proposed rule.

BILLS INTRODUCED

S. 649 (Cortez Mas to, D-Nev.)

(was te) would require t he Secretary

of Energy to obtain the consent of af-

fected state and local governments

before making an expenditure from the

Nuclear Waste Fund for a nuclear waste

repository. 165 Cong. Rec. S1659 (daily

ed. Mar. 5, 2019).  e bill was refer red

to the Committee on Environment and

Public Works.

S. 674 (Carper, D-Del.) (governance)

would amend Title 23, U.S. Code, to

establish a grant progra m for the in stal-

lation of electric vehicle charging infra-

structure and hydrogen f ueling infra-

structure along the National Highway

System. 165 Cong. Rec. S1705 (daily

ed. Mar. 6, 2019).  e bill wa s referred

to the Committee on Environment and

Public Works.

S. 675 (Udall, D-N.M.) (water)

would authorize DOD to temporarily

provide water uncontaminated with

per uorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and

per uorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) for

agricultura l purposes to areas a  ected

by contamination from milita ry instal-

lations, and authorize the Secretary of

the Air Force to acquire rea l proper ty

to extend the contiguous geog raphic

footprint of any Air Force base that ha s

shown signs of contamination from

PFOA and PFOS due to activities on

the base. 165 Cong. Rec. S1705 (daily

ed. Mar. 6, 2019).  e bill wa s referred

to the Committee on Armed Ser vices.

S. 701 (Cardin, D-Md.) (water) would

amend the FWPC A to reauthorize the

Chesapeake Bay Program. 165 Cong.

Rec. S1733 (dai ly ed. Mar. 7, 2019).  e

bill was referred to the Committee on

Environment and Public Works.

S. 704 (Murphy, D-Conn.) (energy)

would prioritize the e orts of and en-

hance coordination among U.S. agen-

cies to encourage countries in c entral

and eastern Europe to diversi fy their

energy sources and supply routes, in-

crease Europe’s energy security, and

help the United States reach its global

energy security goa ls. 165 Cong. Rec.

S1733 (daily ed. Ma r. 7, 2019).  e bill

was referred to the Committee on For-

eign Relations.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In the Congress

“In the Congress” entries cover activities reported in the Congressional Record from March 1, 2019, through March 31,

2019. Entries are arranged by bill number, with Senate bills listed  rst. “In the Congress” covers all environment-related

bills that are introduced, reported out of committee, pa ssed by either house, or signed by the president. “In the Congress”

also covers all environmental treaties rati ed by the Senate.  is material is updated monthly. For archived materials, visit

http://elr.info/legislative/congressional-update/archive.

Copyright © 2019 Environmental Law Institute®, Washington, DC. Reprinted with permission from ELR®, http://www.eli.org, 1-800-433-5120.