GLIN==> Northeast-Midwest Weekly Update -- 29 October 2001

[Glenn Starnes <gstarnes@nemw.org>]

H E A D L I N E S

*  LIHEAP
*  Natural Gas Security
*  Soil Erosion and Sediment Control in the Great Lakes
*  Web Site Redesigned and Augmented


LIHEAP
------
        Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Paul Wellstone (D-MN), and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) are circulating a letter that asks Senate leaders to include language in the economic stimulus legislation that would immediately release $300 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as provided in the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2001 approved in July.  The senators also request that emergency LIHEAP funding be provided to help low-income families and individuals affected by the slowing economy and lay-offs.

        The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a LIHEAP hearing on Tuesday, October 30, at 9:30 a.m. in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

        CONTACT:  Kris Sarri at the Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition (224-0606).


NATURAL GAS SECURITY
--------------------
        The Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition and American Gas Association on Tuesday, October 30, will host a luncheon briefing on security of critical natural-gas infrastructure.  The session will highlight the safety and reliability measures taken by the industry in light of recent events.

        The October 30 briefing will run from 12:00 noon until 2:30 pm in room HC-8 of the U.S. Capitol.  Buffet lunch will be provided.

        CONTACT:  Olwen Huxley at the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition (226-9497).


SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL IN THE GREAT LAKES
----------------------------------------------------
        The Senate Great Lakes Task Force is circulating a letter to the Senate Agriculture Committee in support of authorizing the Great Lakes Basin Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Program in the 2001 Farm bill.  The Basin Program, a federal/state partnership run by the Great Lakes Commission, is designed to improve water quality by controlling the millions of tons of topsoil that erodes into the Great Lakes and its tributaries every year.  Nearly 60,000 acres in the Great Lakes basin are under some form of conservation treatment as a result of this program.

        CONTACT:  Joy Mulinex at the Senate Great Lakes Task Force (224-1211).


WEB SITE REDESIGNED AND AUGMENTED
---------------------------------
        The Northeast-Midwest Institute recently renovated its web site.  Drop-down menus have been added to nearly 100 pages in order to facilitate  navigation of the site.  A new site search tool can assist users in their research efforts.

        A new Agriculture page provides frequently updated farm bill information, with a focus on conservation, as well as links to summaries of related Northeast-Midwest briefings, recent reports, and sustainable agriculture resources.  A new Rural Development page provides links to reports and contacts for rural issues, including education, health, housing, and infrastructure.

        The Brownfields and Forests pages have been extensively revised to include additional policy and background information.  A new Transportation page has sprouted from the Transportation & Trade page.  It includes a “primer” on transportation legislation, as well as coverage of transportation issues by mode.

        All the above sections can be accessed from the “Policy Studies” drop-down menu on the Northeast-Midwest Institute home page.