Recently in Washington

On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 1101, the Small Business Health Fairness Act, by a vote of 236-175. This legislation amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to allow small businesses to join together in association health plans across state lines through bona fide trade associations to become larger purchasers of health insurance.  On Wednesday, the House also passed H.R. 372, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2017, by a vote of 416-7.  This legislation levels the playing field for all health care industry participants and applies uniform federal antitrust laws to the potential sale of health insurance across state lines.  Congressman Simpson supported both bills.

Committee Schedule

Wednesday

At 10:00 a.m., the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee on Appropriations will hold a hearing with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Tom Price.

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, MARCH 27TH
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 1117 - To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an emergency or disaster (Sponsored by Rep. Vicky Hartzler / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

2) H.R. 1214 - Disaster SAVE Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Lou Barletta / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

3) H.R. 654 - Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

TUESDAY, MARCH 28TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

S.J.Res. 34 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake / Energy and Commerce Committee)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29TH AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.

H.R. 1430 - Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act of 2017 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith / Science, Space, and Technology Committee)

Additional Legislative Items are Possible

In the News

Idaho Power, lands group smooth the way for transmission line across Birds of Prey area

By Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman, March 27, 2017

The two compromise routes to run the Gateway West Transmission Line through the Morley Nelson-Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, long supported by most of the parties, finally has a path to approval.

A deal struck between Idaho Power and the Conservation Lands Foundation would use routes next to existing power lines that already cross the conservation area south of Kuna. Those routes have long had consensus among local officials, the utility, Idaho and conservation groups.

To make the deal work, the land under the power lines would be removed from the conservation area. In exchange, another 4,800 acres near Interstate 84 would be added to the national conservation area, and given enhanced restoration work.

Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson brokered the deal that will come in the form of legislation co-sponsored by the entire Idaho congressional delegation and expected to be introduced Monday.

“I applaud the Conservation Lands Foundation and Idaho Power for their pragmatic approach to a complex issue which will result in both savings for Idaho ratepayers and conservation benefits to the Birds of Prey National Conservation Area,” said Simpson.

The Conservation Lands Foundation had first opposed the routes across the Birds of Prey area, fearing that approving infrastructure construction there would set a bad precedence for the protection of other lands within the Bureau of Land Management’s National Conservation Area system established in 2009.

Local BLM officials already had brought counties, conservationists, Idaho and others together behind the two routes, and the local BLM resource advisory committee made the two routes its preferred alternative.

But in the last days of Obama’s presidency, the administration and the BLM instead identified as its preference and decision two routes south of the Birds of Prey that go through critical sage grouse habitat opposed by nearly everyone.

Idaho Power and the Conservation Lands Foundation already had been talking about this compromise.

Danielle Murray, senior director at the Conservation Lands Foundation, thanked Simpson, Idaho Power and the BLM. “This legislation expands protections for raptors and eagles while allowing for the development of much-needed energy infrastructure,” Murray said.

“We thank BLM for all their work to protect this region and to Rep. Mike Simpson and Idaho Power for their willingness to engage with stakeholders to develop a sensible solution to a complex problem.”

Idaho Power Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Jeff Malmen pointed to the previous work of Idaho, local officials, ranchers, environmental interests and project supporters for laying the groundwork.

“The folks from the Conservation Lands Foundation have also been great partners and their work has been extremely valuable,” he said.

This is the last stretch of Gateway West, jointly proposed by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power, that needs federal approval. The two utilities hope to construct and operate 1,000 miles of high-voltage transmission line across Wyoming and Idaho.

If built, the powerline would create more than 1,200 jobs and entail a $3.5 billion in economic investment, Simpson said. It could deliver to western energy markets up to 1,500 megawatts of transmission capacity in southern Wyoming and Southern Idaho — enough to power 975,000 homes.

Simpson said he appreciated BLM efforts. They agency “helped create this vision and will ultimately be tasked with the heavy lifting of implementation.”

The bill must go through the House Natural Resources Committee, where Idaho Republican Rep. Raul Labrador sits. He said he was looking forward to working with Simpson and the Idaho two senators “to see this project to the finish line.”

The bill could be attached to the funding bill that must be done by April 28, or perhaps to a future infrastructure bill.

Gateway West also must still get approval from each Idaho county it crosses, a challenge because Power and Cassia counties have balked at the routes through their counties.

At the end of the process, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission also will have a decision-making role. The PUC will determine if ratepayers will shoulder the burden of paying for the transmission line construction. The Gateway project route could be approved, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on studies and plans, and yet never get built.