News from Northeast-Midwest Institute

W E E K L Y U P D A T E September 19, 2016

In This Issue

Memorial Service for Rep. Steve LaTourette Set for September 20

Congress Looks to Pass CR

Senate Passes WRDA

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Memorial Service for

Rep. Steve LaTourette Set for September 20

A memorial service for The Honorable Steve LaTourette, former U.S. Congressman from the Ohio 14th District, will be on Tuesday, September 20, at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church, VA.

Mr. LaTourette served with great distinction as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Northeast-Midwest Institute from 2013 until his death in August 2016. He previously was Co-Chair of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives, where his devotion to the regional priorities of the Northeast and Midwest were unparalleled. The Board of Directors of the Institute has expressed its condolences, as well as its deep appreciation, to Mrs. Jennifer LaTourette and the LaTourette Family.

For more information, contact Michael Goff, President and CEO of the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

Congress Looks Towards Finding a Short-Term Spending Deal

The Senate and House are considering a potential continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded after September 30. Currently, leaders in both the Senate and House have indicated that they are hoping to pass a bill keeping the government funded at current levels through December 9, giving Congress time after the election to pass more long-term funding legislation for the remainder of the 2017 fiscal year. Near-term funding issues that also could be addressed by a CR include emergency funding to prevent the spread of the ZIka virus and emergency aid for Louisiana flood victims. Lawmakers are expected to move the twelve annual appropriations bills in a series of "minibus" bills when they return to Washington for a lame duck session after the election.

Additionally, the House could also take up its version of the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) this week. The WRDA bill, which authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers activities and projects, passed the Senate last week by a vote of 95-3. While both the House and Senate bills authorize new Army Corps projects, the Senate passed bill includes provisions that authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and improve drinking water infrastructure, among others.

The following Congressional Committee events are of interest to stakeholders in the Northeast-Midwest region:

Wednesday

The House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a hearing on "The Impacts of the Obama CEQs Final Guidance for GHG Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change" at 10 am in 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will hold a hearing on "An Examination of FEMAs Limited Role in Local Land Use Development Decisions" at 10 am in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will hold a hearing on "The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Current State of the Farm Economy" at 10 am in 328A Russell Senate Office Building.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works' Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife will hold a hearing on, "Reviewing the Proposed Revisions to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mitigation Policy" at 2:30 pm in 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Thursday

The House Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry will hold a hearing on "Rehabilitation of the Chesapeake Bay: Healing in the Bay the Voluntary Way" at 10 am in 1300 Longworth House Office Building.

For more information, contact Matthew McKenna, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program or Jared Mott, Senior Policy Analyst for the Mississippi River at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

Senate Overwhelmingly Passes WRDA Containing Many Key Great Lakes Provisions

The Senate passed its Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) ( S. 2848) last week by a vote of 95-3. Along with authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineer projects, the Senate bill included many priorities of Great Lakes stakeholders. Key legislation that was incorporated into WRDA directly benefiting the Great Lakes include:

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)Act (S. 1024)
The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act of 2015 (S. 1935)
The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (S. 2949)
Legislation creating a Great Lakes Harmful Algal Bloom Coordinator (S. 3319)

Additionally, the Senate bill also includes provisions clarifying the U.S. Army Corps guidance on managing the Great Lakes as a single navigation system, creating a government study on modernizing the St. Lawrence Seaway, and increased federal funding for drinking water infrastructure. The House is expected to take up a more limited WRDA bill this week.

For more information, contact Matthew McKenna , Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

NEMWI: Strengthening the Region that Sustains the Nation