H E A D L I N E S
* Hearing: Invasive Species
* Update: Gross State Product
*
Legislation: Brownfield Financing
* Briefing: Sustainable Forest
Management
HEARING: INVASIVE SPECIES
--------------------------
The House Science
Committee’s environment subcommittee on Thursday, June 20, will hold a hearing
on research priorities associated with aquatic invasive species. Allegra
Cangelosi of the Northeast-Midwest Institute will testify.
Efforts are underway to reauthorize the National Invasive Species Act, which
expires in September. The panel’s hearing will focus on the research needs to be
addressed in the new legislation.
The June 20 hearing will begin at 10:00 am in 2318 Rayburn House Office
Building.
Contact: Allegra Cangelosi at the
Northeast-Midwest Institute (202/544-5200).
UPDATE: GROSS STATE PRODUCT
----------------------------
The
Northeast-Midwest Institute this week updated it’s gross state product tables to
reflect the release of data for year 2000. The tables include total GSP, GSP by
major sector, and sectoral share of state's total GSP. Tables include the nine
major sectors for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The tables can be accessed at http//www.nemw.org/data.htm#business
or
http//www.nemw.org/mfg.htm#data.
Contact: Glenn Starnes at the
Northeast-Midwest Institute (202-544-5200).
LEGISLATION: BROWNFIELD
FINANCING
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Reps. Jack Quinn (R-NY) and
Marty Meehan (D-MA), co-chairs of the Northeast Midwest House Coalition,
together with Reps. John McHugh (R-NY), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Dale Kildee
(D-MI), and Rob Simmons (R-CT), introduced the Brownfields Site Redevelopment
Act (H.R. 4894). The bill would authorize $60 million for the Economic
Development Agency (EDA) in the Department of Commerce to establish a grants
program for brownfields-related economic development activities. EDA currently
funds brownfields out of its general authorization, but brownfields must compete
with other EDA activities for this funding.
Contact: Olwen Huxley at the
Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition (226-9497).
BRIEFING: SUSTAINABLE FOREST
MANAGEMENT
----------------------------------------
The Northeast-Midwest
Institute and Coalitions on Wednesday, June 26, will sponsor two briefings on
efforts to promote and implement sustainable forest management practices. The
panelists -- representing nonindustrial private landowners, community-based
groups, state foresters, and Indian tribes -- will describe specific management
practices they have carried out; their successes and challenges in fostering
forest sustainability; the ways in which federal programs, policies, and
regulations support or hinder their efforts; and the types of federal
initiatives that could help advance sustainable forest management.
The House briefing will run from 1:00 pm until 2:15 pm in 2456 Rayburn House
Office Building. The Senate-side session will begin at 3:00 pm in 220 Russell
Senate Office Building.
Contact: Barbara Wells at the
Northeast-Midwest Institute (202/464-4019).
LETTER: STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
FUNDING
-------------------------------------------
Senators Patrick Leahy
(D-VT) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) are circulating a letter requesting increased
fiscal 2003 appropriations for key State and Private Forestry programs. The
letter highlights the Forest Legacy Program, Forest Stewardship Program, Forest
Health and Cooperative Fire programs, International Forestry program, and
Foerstry Inventory and Analysis program. This annual letter was endorsed by 43
senators in fiscal 2002 and 41 in fiscal 2001. Deadline for signatures is
Wednesday, June 26.
Contacts: Michael Knipe with Sen. Lugar (224-5928) or Sarah Lewis with Sen.
Leahy (224-4242).