Recently in Washington 

Last week the House passed H.R. 4607, the Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act, by a vote of 264 to 143.  The bill amends the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPRA) to require the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) and each of the federal financial regulators to conduct, a comprehensive review of all regulations prescribed by the council or the regulator.

On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 1917, the Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act of 2017, by a vote of 234 to 180.  The bill addresses the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Brick and Structural Clay Products Manufacturing and for Clay Ceramics Manufacturing published on October 26, 2015. The bill would extend the compliance dates until after judicial review of the final rule is completed. The bill also addresses the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters, New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces, which uses a two phase framework to reduce emissions. The bill extends the deadlines for the second phase of this final rule from 2020 to 2023.

On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 1119, the Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment Act, by a vote of 215 to 189.  The bill will ensure environmentally beneficial coal refuse-to-energy facilities put at risk by EPA rules continue to operate and perform significant cleanup activities in Pennsylvania and other areas of coal country.  Congressman Simpson supported all three bills. 

Simpson Joins Members of Congress to Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Restore and Rebuild Our National Parks

Say bill will help pay for $11 billion National Park maintenance backlog, including buildings, campgrounds, trails and water systems

A group of eight senators and two representatives introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will use revenues from energy production on federal lands to help pay for the over $11 billion maintenance backlog at our national parks.

The senators – U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Angus King (I-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) Joe Manchin (D- W.Va.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Representatives Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) have been working with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on the National Park Restoration Act, which will help restore and rebuild roads, buildings, campgrounds, trails and water systems in the country’s national parks for the next generation of visitors.

“As someone who loves public lands and our National Parks, I am thrilled to be joining Senator Alexander, Senator King, Congressman Schrader, and Secretary Zinke to propose a solution to fixing the backlog maintenance,” said Representative Simpson. “Growing up in Yellowstone’s backyard, it is important that we pay it forward to future visitors that deserve the same quality experience as past generations.  There are many people who deserve credit for bringing this issue to the forefront and I look forward to working with them to advance legislation that fixes our Parks.”

“This legislation will help address the over $11 billion maintenance backlog at our national parks, including the $215 million backlog of projects in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” Senator Alexander said. “The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of America’s greatest treasures – and it has a tremendous economic impact in East Tennessee, attracting nearly twice the visitors of any other national park. Addressing the maintenance backlog will help attract even more visitors and create more jobs for Tennesseans. We must continue to work together to find solutions to the many challenges facing our public lands, and this legislation takes an important step toward doing that.”

National Parks and recreation areas,” said Representative Kurt Schrader. “Our ability to enjoy and appreciate that natural beauty is limited when upkeep on our federal lands isn’t sufficiently funded allowing critical maintenance to fall by the wayside. Not only does that impact our enjoyment of the land, but it poses serious risks to the protection of these areas and hurts our communities that rely on the economic benefit from visitors. Currently, our national parks are in dire need of maintenance with a more than ten billion dollar backlog. Our bill provides an innovative solution by creating the National Park Restoration Fund which will provide mandatory funding from unutilized resources already available to us, to bring that backlog down and ensure our National Park System is well and safely kept for generations to come.”

“For more than a century, our national parks have inspired and amazed countless visitors,” said Senator King. “Unfortunately, these parks don’t take care of themselves – they need maintenance to ensure that future generations can experience the same wonder that so many Americans already have. This bill is a practical step to help clear the existing maintenance backlog, and protect these treasured lands for years to come.”

The National Park Restoration Act:

·         Creates the National Park Restoration Fund to provide mandatory funding for the high-priority deferred maintenance needs that support critical infrastructure and visitor services at our national parks.

·         Provides mandatory funding for the maintenance backlog on top of annual appropriations for operations and construction at the National Park Service.

·         The fund receives 50 percent of onshore and offshore revenues from energy production on federal lands over expected amounts that are not already allocated to other purposes.

·         Protects payments to states, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Reclamation Fund, and all other existing uses of onshore and offshore revenues. These existing uses will receive all of their funding before the National Park Restoration Fund receives any funding.

The backlog of infrastructure projects at our national parks can limit access and impair visitor experiences and recreation opportunities, and without additional funding, the backlog could continue to grow. The National Park Service (NPS) maintenance backlog is nearly four times what NPS receives in annual appropriations. In Fiscal Year 2017 the NPS’ deferred maintenance needs were $11.6 billion – that same fiscal year, NPS received $2.9 million in annual appropriations.

President Trump and Secretary Zinke have made addressing the growing maintenance backlog a top priority.

Committee Schedule 

Wednesday

At 10:00 a.m., Chairman Simpson will host the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation to the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee for a hearing on their fiscal year 2019 budget request.  

Thursday

At 10:00 a.m., Chairman Simpson will host Secretary of Energy Rick Perry for a House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee hearing regarding the Department of Energy’s fiscal year 2019 budget request.

At 10:00 a.m., the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Committee will host Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar for a hearing on the Department of Health and Human Service’s fiscal year 2019 budget request.

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, MARCH 12TH

On Monday, no votes are expected in the House.

TUESDAY, MARCH 13TH

On Tuesday, 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. 4465 - Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. John Curtis / Natural Resources Committee)

2) H.R. 1800 - To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer certain Federal land to facilitate scientific research supporting Federal space and defense programs, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Rob Bishop / Natural Resources Committee)

3) H.R. 3469 - To designate the bridge located in Blount County, Tennessee, on the Foothills Parkway (commonly known as Bridge 2) as the "Dean Stone Bridge" (Sponsored by Rep. John Duncan / Natural Resources Committee)

4) H.R. 4266 - Acadia National Park Boundary Clarification Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Poliquin / Natural Resources Committee)

5) H.R. 1350 - To modify the boundary of Voyageurs National Park in the State of Minnesota, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Rick Nolan / Natural Resources Committee)

6) S. 324 - State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch / Veterans Affairs Committee)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14TH

On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 4909 - STOP School Violence Act of 2018, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. John Rutherford / Judiciary Committee)

2) H.R. 3996 - Protecting Access to the Courts for Taxpayers Act (Sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa / Judiciary Committee)

3) H.R. 506 - Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Tom Rooney / Judiciary Committee)

4) H.R. 3249 - Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Comstock / Judiciary Committee)

H.R. 1116 - TAILOR Act of 2017 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Scott Tipton / Financial Services Committee)

THURSDAY, MARCH 15TH AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK

On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

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

H.R. 4545 - Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Scott Tipton / Financial Services Committee)

H.R. 4263 - Regulation A+ Improvement Act of 2017 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Tom MacArthur / Financial Services Committee)

Additional Legislative Items are Possible