GLIN==> NEMW/Great Lakes Hill Update

[Rochelle_Sturtevant@levin.senate.gov (Rochelle Sturtevant)]

     GLIN-folks!

    It's been a busy month so far for Great Lakes here on the Hill...

    The House passed H.R. 2328 reauthorizing the Clean Lakes Program 420-5.    
The bill has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and  
Public Works.

    The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on  
Water Resources and Environment, held a hearing on "Great Lakes Sediment   
Remediation" - Representative Oberstar's H.R. 3670 and Representative   Ehlers'
H.R. 4283.  

    On March 23, the Senate passed S. 1731 to reinstate the Great Waters Report 
(only).  On April 3 the House passed H.R. 4052 which reinstates the Great  
Waters Report, a NOAA report on Great Lakes Research Needs, EPA report on  
progress in implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and  
numerous water and transportation related reports.  H.R. 4052 has been  placed
on the Senate calendar.  H.R. 3904, which has some overlap with H.R.    4052 was
also passed by the House on April 3.

    On April 6, Representative Hoekstra and others from the region introduced  
H.R. 4191, the Great Lakes Ecology Protection Act of 2000, which seeks to  
strengthen protections against the introduction aquatic invasive species to    
the Great Lakes via ballast water.

    On March 30, the Senate passed S. 835, the Estuary Habitat and Chesapeake  
Bay Restoration Act of 2000.  On April 4, the House Committee on   
Transportation and Infrastructure report on its companion legislation, H.R.    
1775, Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act of 1999.  H.R. 1775 has   been
referred to the House Committee on Resources until June 9.  S. 835  includes
reference to Great Lakes Estuarine Research Reserves. A Resources   Committee
amendment in progress would expand the estuary restoration  component of the
program to include Great Lakes coastal wetlands. The House  Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure also reported the related     H.R. 1237,
reauthorizing the National Estuary Program, which does not  currently include
the Great Lakes.  

    On April 13, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported 
on H.R. 999, the Beaches Environmental Awareness, Cleanup, and Health Act   of
1999, originally passed by the House on Earth Day 1999. The Committee   also
reported the related S. 522, the Beaches Environmental Assessment,  Closure and
Health Act of 1999.  The Great Lakes are included in the    definition of
coastal recreation waters used in both bills.

    On April 13, Senator Hollings introduced S. 2327, the Oceans Act 2000, 
which includes the Great Lakes.

    Both House and Senate introduced versions of the Pipeline Safety and   
Community Protection Act of 2000 (S. 2409 and H.R. 4276).

    Both House and Senate have introduced bills to amend the Clean Water Act to 
establish a program for fisheries habitat protection, restoration, and 
enhancement (S.2441/H.R.4278).  

    The Senate Committee on Commerce reported S. 1089, a Coast Guard   
authorization bill, which includes authorization of $118 million for   
replacement of the icebreaker Mackinaw over fiscal 2001-2002.

    On April 12, the House passed H.R. 2884 to extend the Energy Policy    
Conservation Act through 2003.  The bill has been placed on the Senate 
Calendar.

    On April 11 the House Committee on Commerce discharged H.R. 1742,  
authorizing appropriations for EPA Office of Research and Development and  
Science Advisory Board.

    On April 5, the House passed H.R. 3671, the Wildlife and Sport Fish    
Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000.  The bill has been referred   to
the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

    On April 13, the Committee on Environment and Public Works ordered S. 2297, 
reauthorizing the Water Resources Research Act, to be reported.  

    

     
     Rochelle Sturtevant
     Coordinator, Senate Great Lakes Task Force
     459 Russell Senate Building
     Washington, DC 20510
     Rochelle_Sturtevant@levin.senate.gov
     
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