Recent Developments

• Date: 01 December 2019

12-2019 NEWS & ANALYSIS 49 ELR 11163

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In the Congress

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

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

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

also covers all environmental t reaties ratied by the Senate. is materia l is updated monthly. For archived materials, vi sit

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

Public Laws

AIR

S. 16 3, which would prevent cata-

strophic failure or shutdown of remote

diesel power engines due to emission

control devices, was signed by President

Trump on October 4, 2019. Pub. L.

No. 116- 62, 165 Cong. Rec. D1105

(daily ed. Oct. 15, 2019).

WATER

S. 1689, which would permit states to

transfer certain funds from t he clean

water revolving fund of a state to the

drinking water re volving fund of the

state in certain circumstances, was

signed by President Trump on Octo-

ber 4, 2019. Pub. L. No. 116-63, 165

Cong. Rec. D1105 (daily ed. Oc t. 15,

2019 ).

Chamber Action

GOVERNANCE

H.R. 3055, which would make appro-

priations for the Department of Com-

merce, DOJ, FDA, DOI, EPA, and

other related agencies for the sca l year

ending September 30, 2020, was passed

by the Senate. 165 Cong. Rec. S6311-22

(daily ed. Oct. 31, 2019).

LAND USE

H.R. 823, which would provide for the

designation of certa in wilderness areas,

recreation management area s, and con-

servation areas i n the state of Colorado,

was passed by the House. 165 Cong. Rec.

H8698-H8704 (daily ed. Oct. 31, 2019).

H.R. 2181, which would provide for

the withdrawal a nd protection of cer-

tain federal la nd in the state of New

Mexico, was passed by t he House. 165

Cong. Rec. H8622-40 (daily ed. Oc t.

30 , 2019).

NATURAL RESOURCES

H.R. 1373, which would protect the

watershed, ecosystem, a nd cultural

heritage of the Grand Canyon region

in the state of Arizona for cu rrent and

future generations, was pa ssed by the

House. 165. Cong. Rec. H8640-45

(daily ed. Oct. 30, 2019).

Committee Action

ENERGY

S. 16 02 was reported by the Commit-

tee on Energy and Natura l Resources.

S. Rep. No. 116-135, 165 Cong. Rec .

S5965 (dai ly ed. Oct. 22, 2019). e

bill would amend the United States

Energy Storage Competitiveness Ac t of

2007 to establish a resea rch, develop-

ment, and demonstration program for

grid-scale energy stora ge systems.

S. 1751 was reported by the Commit-

tee on Energy and Natura l Resources.

S. Rep. No. 116-140, 165 Cong. Rec.

S6091 (daily ed. Oct. 23, 2019).

e bill would amend the Reclama-

tion Project Act of 1939 to authori ze

pumped storage hydropower develop-

ment utilizing multiple Bureau of Rec-

lamation reser voirs.

S. 18 21 was reported by the Commit-

tee on Energy and Natura l Resources.

S. Rep. No. 116-141, 165 Cong. Rec.

S6091 (daily ed. Oct. 23, 2019). e

bill would amend the Energy Indepen-

dence and Security Act of 2007 to pro-

vide for research on and the develop-

ment and deployment of marine energy.

S. 2094 was reported by t he Commit-

tee on Energy and Natura l Resources.

S. Rep. No. 116-136, 165 Cong. Rec.

S5965 (dai ly ed. Oct. 22, 2019). e

bill would amend the Energy Policy

and Conservation Act to provide feder-

al nancial a ssistance to states to imple-

ment state energy security pla ns.

S. 2095 was reported by the C ommit-

tee on Energy and Natura l Resources.

S. Rep. No. 116-147, 165 Cong. Rec.

S6155 (daily ed. Oct. 24, 2019). e bill

would provide for certain programs and

developments in DOE concerning the

cybersecurit y and vulnerabilitie s of the

electric gr id.

S. 213 7 was reported by the Commit-

tee on Energy and Natura l Resources.

S. Rep. No. 116-143, 165 Cong. Rec.

S6091 (daily ed. Oct. 23, 2019). e

bill would promote energy savings in

residential buildings a nd industry.

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