NBC News
Mar. 26, 201
9
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday failed to advance the
Green New Deal
, the ambitious plan to combat climate change proposed by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, after what Democrats said was a politically-motivated show vote.
The measure, which needed 60 votes to clear a procedural hurdle, failed in a 0-57 vote, with 43 Democrats voting present.
Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Doug Jones of Alabama and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona voted with Republicans against the measure, as did Sen. Angus King of Maine, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
Washington Post
Mar. 27, 2019
Clad in a sharp, dark-colored suit, former president Ronald Reagan cuts a striking figure. But his attire isn’t what makes him formidable. He’s riding a velociraptor, which has a tattered American flag clutched in its talons. With a rocket launcher strapped to his back, Reagan fires a machine gun at an unseen foe.
The fantastical depiction of the 40th president of the United States may sound like a hallucination, only it’s not. On Tuesday, thanks to Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the
artwork
made its debut on the Senate floor amid debates over the Green New Deal.
“I rise today to consider the Green New Deal with the seriousness it deserves,” Lee said, just hours before the proposal from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)
failed in the Senate
, with all Republicans and four Democrats blocking the measure.
More . . .
U.S. News & World Report
Mar. 27, 2019
A day after a vote on the Green New Deal overwhelmingly failed in the Senate, Democrats signaled they plan to continue pushing for action on climate change on Wednesday with the formation of a
Special Committee on the Climate Crisis
.
The group of 10 senators formed the unofficial panel after Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., blocked a
resolution
to create an official, bipartisan panel on Tuesday before the Green New Deal vote, which Democrats called a "political stunt" by Republicans.
More . . .
Politico
Mar. 22, 2019
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is circulating a “Green Real Deal” resolution to counter the “Green New Deal” floated by Democrats, according to a
draft copy
obtained by POLITICO.
The resolution acknowledges climate change as a threat to national security and says the government should promote innovation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it does not set any targets for future carbon cuts and calls for keeping the door open to all types of energy production. It would be the most detailed GOP response to the Green New Deal resolution that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced last month.
Republicans say the Green New Deal would invite Big Government solutions and an expansion of public spending, but many in the party are increasingly acknowledging the reality of climate change and looking for alternative approaches.
More . . .
NEW IN CONGRESS
Sponsor: Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL)
Introduced: Mar. 12, 2019
AGENCY ACTION
EPA
Mar. 22, 2019
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Green Power Partnership and Combined Heat and Power Partnership (EPA ICR Number 2173.07, OMB Control Number 2060-0578) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through March 31, 2019. Public comments were previously requested via the
Federal Register
on September 14, 2018 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
HUD
Mar. 22, 2019
Through this rulemaking, HUD proposes to implement the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act of 2010, which added Title VI to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). In addition, HUD proposes to remove certain aspects of HUD's current manufactured housing formaldehyde standards requirements that are not addressed by TSCA, including provisions for a health notice to be posted in every manufactured home, testing of post-treatment panels after certification, and testing of certain plywood materials.
EPA
Mar. 21, 2019
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), EPA's WaterSense Program (EPA ICR No. 2233.07, OMB Control No. 2040-0272), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through March 31, 2019. Public comments were previously requested via the
Federal Register
on August 28, 2018 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
DOE
Mar. 19, 2019
The U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) is initiating a data collection process through this request for information (“RFI”) to consider whether to amend DOE's test procedure for automatic commercial ice makers (“ACIM” or “ice makers”). To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has gathered data, identifying several issues associated with the currently applicable test procedure on which DOE is interested in receiving comment. The issues outlined in this document mainly concern new versions of the industry standards that the current DOE test procedure incorporates by reference; consideration of additional specifications and amendments that may improve the accuracy of the test procedure or reduce the testing burden on manufacturers; and any additional topics that may inform DOE's decisions in a future test procedure rulemaking, including methods to reduce regulatory burden while ensuring the procedure's accuracy. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including topics not raised in this RFI).
DOE
Mar. 18, 2019
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its test procedures for fluorescent lamp ballasts. DOE proposes to update references to industry standards; clarify the selection of reference lamps; provide a second stabilization option for measuring ballast luminous efficiency; provide a test procedure for measuring the performance of ballasts at light outputs less than full light output; and revise the test procedure for measuring standby mode energy consumption. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on the proposal.
DOE
Mar. 18, 2019
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating a data and information collection process through this request for information to better understand whether there are provisions in the Department's test procedures for consumer appliances and industrial equipment that could be improved to produce results that are more representative of average use cycles or periods of use. Over time, many of DOE's test procedures have been amended to account for products' increased functionality and modes of operation. DOE's intent in issuing this RFI is to gather information to ensure that the inclusion of measurement provisions in its test procedures associated with such increased functionality has not inadvertently compromised the measurement of representative average use cycles or periods of use, and made some test procedures unnecessarily burdensome. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document, including topics not directly outlined in this RFI. DOE particularly welcomes comments on any suggestions for reducing or avoiding regulatory burdens within the context of measuring average use cycles or periods of use.
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