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HIGHLIGHTS
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Military Base Closings
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Wholesale Electricity Markets
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Brownfield Redevelopment
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Community Development Block Grants
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Energy Efficiency
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Weatherization
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LIHEAP
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Invasive Species
Military Base
Closings
The Northeast-Midwest Institute has updated and
re-released its report, entitled Base Closings
and Military Presence in the Northeast-Midwest: The Nation’s
Unguarded Region, with data on reserve and National Guard
forces. Available only to paying members of the Northeast-Midwest
Congressional and Senate Coalitions and states that support the Institute,
the full revised report includes detailed data on a wide range of issues
concerning base closings, Defense Department staffing, and the existing
bases and facilities. A general-circulation version of the new
report, without detailed data breakdowns, is available for download at www.nemw.org/fedspend.htm#reports.
The report argues that the Defense Department and the 2005 BRAC Commission
should steer clear of base closings and deep cuts in military personnel for
the Northeast-Midwest region. Contact: Matt Kane with the Northeast-Midwest
Institute (612/825-0443).
Wholesale Electricity Markets
Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ),
Arlen Specter (R-PA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Susan Collins (R-ME) are
seeking signatures on a letter to the Energy Committee about electricity
issues of importance to states in the Northeast-Midwest region. The
letter argues for an energy bill that supports the development of
competitive wholesale power markets. The signature deadline is
Wednesday, May 4. Contact: Kris Sarri at the
Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition (202/224-0606).
Brownfield Redevelopment
Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), James Jeffords (I-VT),
and Carl Levin (D-MI) are seeking signatures on a letter supporting $250
million in appropriations for the Environmental Protection Agency’s
Brownfields Program. The initiative provides states and communities
with resources to assess, cleanup, and redevelop brownfields. Since
1995, it has leveraged more than $6.5 billion – creating
approximately 25,000 new jobs – from both the private and public
sectors to facilitate cleanup and redevelopment projects. The
signature deadline is Thursday, May 5. Contact: Alice Yates with the Senate
Smart Growth Task Force (202/224-2683).
Community Development Block Grants
Reps. James Oberstar (D-MN) and
Rob Simmons (R-CT) are circulating a letter asking appropriators to provide
level funding – $4.732 billion – for the Community Development
Block Grant program and adequate funding for other HUD programs in fiscal
year 2006. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s
(HUD) community development and housing programs build home ownership,
support neighborhood revitalization and increase access to affordable
housing. The signature deadline is Thursday, May 12. Contact:
Lisa Mark with the
Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition (202/226-5181).
Energy
Efficiency
Reps. John McHugh (R-NY) and
Edward Markey (D-MA) are seeking signatures on a letter supporting the State
Energy Program, Industrial Technologies Program, Energy Information
Administration, Distributed Energy Program, and Equipment Standards and
Analysis Program. These initiatives help mitigate the effects of
soaring energy costs and make energy markets more efficient. The
signature deadline is Wednesday, May 4. Contact: Lisa Mark with the
Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition (202/226-5181).
Weatherization
Reps. Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY),
and Mark Udall (D-CO) are seeking signatures on a letter that supports the
president’s budget request for the Low-Income Weatherization
Assistance Program. The letter calls for $230 million in fiscal 2006 to
help improve the energy efficiency for low-income families throughout the
country and to reduce the energy costs of those least able to afford
them. Contact: Warren
Gunnels with Rep. Sanders (202/225-4115).
LIHEAP
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI),
co-chairs of the Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition, are inviting senators
to join them on a letter requesting $3 billion in regular Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for fiscal 2006 and advanced
funding for fiscal 2007. LIHEAP is a vital safety net for our
nation’s low-income households, for whom home energy costs are
unaffordable. The signature deadline is May 11. Contact: Kris Sarri at the
Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition (202/224-0606).
Invasive Species
Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are
seeking cosponsors for the
National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2005 (S. 770). Aquatic
invasive species harm ecosystems, disrupt food chains, crowd out
native organisms, and also may threaten human health. The U.S.
Commission on Ocean Policy stated, “The most effective weapon against
invasive species is prevention.” S. 770 provides a comprehensive
program to dramatically reduce the threat of aquatic invasive
species. Contact: Joy
Mulinex with the Great
Lakes Task Force or Kris Sarri with the
Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition.
Senators Levin and
Collins also are inviting senators to join them on a letter seeking
appropriations for federal programs that prevent the spread of aquatic
invasive species. Many agencies’ expertise are required to
contain and control the exotic species infestations effectively, including
the Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, and Army Corps of Engineers. The
signature deadline is May 10. Contact: Joy Mulinex with the Great Lakes
Task Force.
Calendar | Media Links | Reports/Periodicals
Northeast-Midwest
Institute
218 D St, SE
Washington DC 20003
Ph. 202 544 5200
Email dickmunson@nemw.org with comments or to unsubscribe
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