LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
- Appropriations and Budget
- After passing a budget resolution for the first time in years, appropriators pulled together an Omnibus bill to continue government funding through FY2014 and avoiding another government shutdown.
- NEMWI put together a summary of the Omnibus bill in regards to important regional programs, including the State Revolving Funds, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
- Water Resources Conference Committee
- Work on the Conference Committee slowed over the holiday break and during January, with the large emphasis on the Farm Bill and the Omnibus Appropriations. Discussions between the House and the Senate are expected to resume.
- The Conference Committee includes Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chair, Rep. Candice Miller (MI-10), as well as delegation member, Rep. Rick Nolan (MN-08)
- NEMWI released a summary comparison of the Senate and House bills
- Farm Bill PASSED!
- On January 29, the House passed the Conferenced Farm Bill, 251-166. The Senate passed the measure the following week, on February 4, 68-32.
- This NEMWI Blog post provides more details and links to the Farm Bill’s journey through regular order.
BRIEFINGS
Findings of the Great Lakes-Mississippi River Interbasin Study Findings
On Wednesday, January 8, 2014, the NEMWI coordinated a briefing on the Great Lakes-Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS), focused on prevention of Asian Carp and other aquatic nuisance species transfer between the two megabasins. The report was released on January 6, 2014. Col. Frederic Drummond, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District, and Dave Wethington, GLMRIS Project Manager, presented at the briefing providing background on the study, its process, and results, and highlighting the shared responsibility of implementing any of the alternative options. Next steps for the GLMRIS report include public meetings within the Great Lakes and Mississippi River regions, as well as an open comment period through March 3, 2014. Mr. Wethington noted the Corps stands ready to facilitate a conversation about the alternatives and future direction with stakeholders, partners, Congress, other decision-makers and non-federal sponsors.
Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chairs, Sens. Carl Levin (MI) and Mark Kirk (IL) and Reps. Candice Miller (MI-10), John Dingell (MI-12), Sean Duffy (WI-07), and Louise Slaughter (NY-25), served as honorary co-sponsors of the NEMWI briefing.
Economic impacts of the propane shortage
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, the House Energy and Commerce Committee hosted a bipartisan briefing on the large economic impacts of the propane shortage in the Northeast-Midwest region. The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration presented information to staff on the extent of the issue and the Administration’s response. The Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition assisted with notifying staff of the last-minute announcement of the briefing. The propane shortage has had large economic impacts on the region as the polar vortex has sent temperatures and wind chills into negative double digits, according to news reports.
REPORTS/LETTERS
Regional Support for FY2015 LIHEAP Funding
Senate and House regional members sent letters to President Obama, requesting at least $4.7 billion in FY2015 for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides temporary heating and cooling assistance to 8 million low-income households across the country. The 2013-14 winter extreme temperatures had put a strain on the funding, the last of which was released January 30, 2014. The House letter garnered 124 signatures, 26 of whom represent districts within the Northeast-Midwest region. Total LIHEAP funding for FY2014 was $3.4 billion.
ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its Great Lakes-Mississippi River Interbasin Study on January 6, 2014. The study focused on prevention of Asian carp and other aquatic nuisance species transfer between the two megabasins, primarily the Chicago Area Waterway System. The report was released on January 6, 2014. Congress authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake the GLMRIS study in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, and provided additional focus and an accelerated timeline in the Surface Transportation Bill of 2012, MAP-21. The report arrays eight alternatives with conceptual costs and no priority ranking. Of the eight alternatives, six involve structural options that incorporate new proposed technologies, including the GLMRIS Lock and treatment plants to remove aquatic nuisance species from the water (ANS Treatment Plants). The other two alternatives include a no new action scenario in which current invasive species actions are maintained, and a non-structural alternative, using such options as monitoring and education. Of the six structural alternatives, two include technology to create control points within the system, minimalizing impact to navigation; two involve hydrological separation and mitigation measures for the resulting impacts on water quality and flooding; and two involve a combination of separation and technology. The Corps also noted that additional considerations, such as residual risks of invasive species entering the lakes through other non-aquatic pathways, could impact the success of the proposed alternatives. All of the alternatives would involve participation and actions of partners and jurisdictions outside of the Corps. An NEMWI summary of the report and some key findings, as well as a chart for comparing the costs, proposed activities, and impacts on the threat of invasive species is available by emailing Danielle Chesky. The Corps held multiple public meetings in January and has extended the public comment period until March 31, 2014.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Great Lakes Day Congressional Breakfast | Thursday, March 7, 2014 | Washington, DC
Details to follow
THE GREAT LAKES “FUNNY”
Too cold to make an outdoor ice rink? Welcome to winter in the Great Lakes