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In Memoriam: Representative
John Dingell 1926-2019
"Dean of the House," Former Michigan Congressman John Dingell Passes Away
Flags throughout the country were at half-mast on Friday. Representative John Dingell, who served as a United States Representative from Michigan from 1955 to 2015, and was the longest serving member in the history of the House, died at his home, in Dearborn, Michigan, on Thursday, February 7, 2019.
Congressman Dingell was adored by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as by the press and former occupants of the Oval Office. He had served as a long-time co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force and as a member of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition. He was a continuous proponent of public policies that advanced the Great Lakes and the Northeast-Midwest region. During his 59 years of service to Southeast Michigan, Congressman Dingell was a key leader in pushing forward important environmental policies, including the creation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a program that has dedicated more than $2.5 billion to protect and restore the health of the Great Lakes.
Congressman Dingell, who upon his retirement in 2015 was the Dean of the House, served in many powerful positions, including chairing the Energy and Commerce Committee during his Congressional tenure. He
was also a passionate advocate for civil rights, expanding healthcare, and eliminating corruption.
Congressman Dingell's brilliant wit, booming voice, and charming demeanor will be remembered by all who crossed his path. Even more, the strength of character that motivated his life of service to his country, his state, and his district will never be forgotten. He was truly a great man and he will be sorely missed.
Before he passed away, Congressman Dingell dictated his final reflections for the country to his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. He is survived by her, a brother, a sister, three children, and three grandchildren.
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NEMWI Hosts Great Lakes Environmental Summit
The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMWI) hosted its annual Great Lakes Environmental Summit on Thursday, February 7, convening approximately 40 Great Lakes stakeholder groups for a high-level briefing about the Great Lakes. Dr. Michael Goff, President and CEO of NEMWI, and Matthew McKenna, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program, kicked off the event highlighting the wide range of priorities on the day's agenda. Issues on the docket included water quality, transportation policy, infrastructure, farm bill implementation, and much more.
Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force, spoke to attendees about important issues currently facing the Great Lakes. She underscored the importance of managing the Asian carp problem, protecting the Lakes from harmful algal blooms, and upgrading infrastructure throughout the Great Lakes. Rep. Kaptur also discussed her new role as the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water. She emphasized that this new Congress presents a great opportunity for the Great Lakes, as five out of the twelve Appropriations' subcommittees will be chaired by Members from the region.
Staff from the Congressional Task Force on PFAS and the Congressional Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) provided background and updates on action Congress is taking on contaminants in drinking water and on climate change. Additionally, staff from the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Senate Environmental Works Committee, and the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee provided updates on the key priorities of their committees in the new Congress. These included conservation provisions that were included in the farm bill that was passed at the end of 2018; the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI); the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds; climate change; and comprehensive infrastructure legislation.
Scott Cameron, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget Office at the Department of Interior, described the department's efforts to reorganize so that regional priorities are better met. He emphasized that Interior's efforts to reorganize based on geographical location will help streamline many of the Interior's responsibilities, and better serve the Great Lakes region.
NEWMI staff also provided updates on the remaining FY 2019 appropriations bills and a brief overview of the upcoming FY 2020 bills. Dr. Sri Vedachalam, Director of the NEMWI's Safe Drinking Water Research and Policy Program, discussed recent activity related to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) in FY 2018 and FY 2019 appropriations as well as changes to the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). He also stated that upcoming water regulations, including the proposed lead and copper rule and the PFAS management plan, have been delayed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), citing the government shutdown.
Dr. Vedachalam also highlighted the range of research currently on NEMWI's agenda as important legislation is considered in the new 116th Congress. NEMWI is currently undertaking research and policy work related to the water affordability crisis. Water affordability is an enormous problem for American consumers and looms as an overwhelming financial burden in the decades ahead. According to data collected by the Circle of Blue, which has been tracking water rates in large U.S. cities since 2010, the Northeast-Midwest region experienced a 54% increase in average water rates during 2010-2018, with Chicago experiencing the largest increase of 93% over the eight-year period.
For more information, contact Matthew McKenna, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute, at
mmckenna@nemw.org.
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Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee Holds First Hearing of the 116th Congress
At the first hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment and Climate Change for the 116th Congress, the main topic was mitigating the effects of climate change. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and all the attending witnesses agreed that climate change was both a real and imminent problem. They disagreed, however, on what actions need to be taken in order to combat the issue. Members from both parties also stressed the importance of working in a bipartisan manner to ensure that they are able to quickly deal with the current and future impacts of climate change.
New Subcommittee Chairman Paul Tonko shared his agenda for the 116th Congress, which included an emphasis on investing in infrastructure, finding viable pathways toward decarbonization, and working with members of the opposite party to achieve these goals. Congressman Pallone, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, shared in these views and added that state and local governments are stepping up, but the federal government needs to do more to achieve these vital goals.
Ranking member John Shimkus underscored the need to find a way to tackle climate change in a cost-effective manner. He and other Republicans on the subcommittee have agreed climate change is real but want to address the issue by innovating new ways to combat it and then exporting these innovations to other countries. Representative Greg Walden, who is Ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, stated, "[c]limate change is real, the need for energy innovations is real and the need to keep a strong, robust economy is real."
For more information, please contact Eric Heath, Senior Policy Counsel for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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116th Congress: Committee Leadership Profiles
As the 116th Congress gets into full swing in the coming weeks, the Northeast-Midwest Institute will profile the Chair and Ranking Member of the Congressional committees most relevant to the region. This newsletter will include the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee:
Peter DeFazio is the U.S. Representative for Oregon's 4th Congressional district. Rep. DeFazio has been serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1986 and is now the longest-serving House member in Oregon's history. He was also a member of the United States Airforce from 1967-1971. The Congressman served as Chairman or Ranking Member of four of the six Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittees including Aviation, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Highways and Transit, and Water Resources and Environment. Rep. DeFazio's website states that as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he "will continue to fight for infrastructure investment that results in job creation, increased safety, economic efficiency and strategic growth."
Rep. Sam Graves, Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee:
Samuel Graves is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's 6th Congressional district. Rep. Graves has been serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001 and previously served as a State Senator for Missouri's 12th district. Graves also previously served as the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee from 2011-2015. Currently he serves as the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is also a member of the House Committee on Armed Services. According to Graves's website, "his role in transportation is critical as he works on behalf of Missouri's 34,000 highway miles and 10,400 bridges in need of maintenance and repair as well as the 6th Congressional District's two major rivers - the Missouri and the Mississippi."
For more information, please contact
Eric Heath
, Senior Policy Counsel for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute
.
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This Week in Washington
In the Senate:
In the House:
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NEMWI: Strengthening the Region that Sustains the Nation
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