Recently in Washington

Last week the House rejected legislation intended to raise the debt limit without doing anything to address the deficit or bring the budget into balance.  The House also passed H.R. 2017, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for FY12, as well as H.Res. 292, a resolution reasserting Congress’s constitutional authority with regards to U.S. action in Libya and reaffirming the House’s position that there should be no troops on the ground. 

Simpson Opposes Debt Limit Increase
Idaho Congressman insists on including real reforms to get our nation back on track
Congressman Mike Simpson last week voted against a “clean” debt limit increase proposal.  The bill, never expected to pass, was intended to show that the House will not agree to an increase in the debt limit without significant debt reduction proposals included.  President Obama proposed and 114 House Democrats signed a letter to their leadership asking for a “clean” increase of $2.4 trillion in the debt limit with no spending cuts or debt reduction plans attached.  The House has rejected that notion 97 to 318.

“This vote sets a marker that the House will not pass a debt limit increase without substantial commitments that will show the American people that Congress is serious about reducing the national debt and bringing spending back under control,” Simpson said. “President Obama’s proposal, supported by many House Democrats, won’t pass.”

The current debt limit is expected to be reached on August 2, 2011.

“No one wants to be in this situation,” said Simpson, “but Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, needs to take this opportunity to take stock of past mistakes made by running up record budgets and making little effort to pay for them. The days of record deficits and soaring debts must end. Congress needs to meet this challenge and take another step toward lasting fiscal security for this country.”

Simpson Blasts NRC Handling of Yucca Mountain
Idaho Congressman testifies before House Committee about need for Yucca Mountain to move forward, calls for change at top of NRC
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy last Wednesday held a hearing entitled, “The Department of Energy’s Role in Managing Civilian Radioactive Waste.” Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson was asked to testify about the Administration’s attempt to terminate the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is supposed to serve as an independent watchdog, which is driven by science, not politics,” said Simpson. “Unfortunately, the Chairman of the NRC has lost sight of its mission in order to affect a political outcome and has eroded the reputation of the NRC at a time when public confidence is needed most and he should be replaced.”

Current law designates Yucca Mountain as the nation’s repository to receive spent nuclear fuel and other high-level nuclear waste.  Last year, the Administration requested the license application for Yucca Mountain be withdrawn and the NRC’s licensing board denied that request. Since that time, the Chairman of the NRC, Gregory Jaczko has refused to act on the licensing board’s ruling, essentially stalling the project.

“Let’s be perfectly clear here, we all know why this decision was made. It wasn’t about science or the suitability of Yucca Mountain, or even the need for a geological repository for high-level nuclear waste. It was a promise made during the heat of a presidential campaign – it was pure politics,” Simpson said.  “However, the issue of citing the nation’s nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain is a matter of law, not politics.  It serves as the clearest example of an ever changing policy, which is costing the taxpayers billions of dollars and diminishing our ability to advance a long term energy policy for our country.”

To watch Congressman Simpson’s full testimony visit his YouTube webpage.

House Funding Bill Supports Nuclear Energy
Idaho Congressman says Energy Department funding bill allows progress to continue on nuclear energy research and development
Congressman Mike Simpson last eek praised the work of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development in crafting a bill that increases funding for nuclear energy and continues progress toward the development of new nuclear technologies, including those under development at Idaho National Laboratory. Simpson is a senior member of the Subcommittee, serving as one of its members for over eight years.

“I am very pleased that the Subcommittee has once again demonstrated its support for the development of nuclear energy and provided the resources necessary to continue our nation’s progress on new and promising nuclear technologies,” said Congressman Simpson. “Idaho National Laboratory plays a vital national and international role in leading the development of new nuclear technologies, and this bill will help maintain and expand that role in the future. The Subcommittee had to make some very difficult choices about where to focus limited taxpayer resources, and I am very grateful for the confidence my colleagues have shown for nuclear energy in this bill.”

Simpson also commended a provision in the bill that directs the Secretary of Energy to report to Congress on how investments in science and applied energy programs are consistent with the national goals of increasing the supply and reducing the cost of clean energy.

“I think it’s important that the Administration and Congress acknowledge the DOE’s core mission of energy independence and refocus priorities to reduce our reliance on unstable energy supplies,” said Simpson. “It is my hope that this report will help us re-establish the right priorities for limited funding and set us on an enduring path to energy independence.” 

The fiscal year 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill includes $733.6 million for the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, an almost $8 million increase over the FY2011 funding level of $725.8 million. Nuclear energy research and development programs that receive funding within the $733.6 million allotment include:
• The Idaho Facilities Management account, which covers infrastructure maintenance and improvement at Idaho National Laboratory;
• The Next Generation Nuclear Plant program, a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor designed to allow nuclear power to provide process heat for industrial applications;
• The Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies program, including the Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility at the INL;
• Reactor Concepts Research and Development;
• Fuel Cycle Research and Development;
• University Research Programs;
• Small Modular Reactor Development and Licensing Support;
• Light Water Reactor Sustainability programs, which promote the continued safe operation of America’s existing nuclear reactors.

The bill also provides $382.8 million for cleanup activities associated with the Idaho Cleanup Project and the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project co-located on the Idaho desert with Idaho National Laboratory.  The funding level of $382.8 million is level with the President’s request and allows the significant cleanup activities currently underway to continue their progress.

Overall, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill provides $30.6 billion dollars for the functions of the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and a number of independent agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Bonneville Power Administration. This level of funding represents a reduction of $1.04 billion below the FY2011 amount and $5.9 billion below the President’s request.

“If energy supply and price instability have taught us anything, it is that our nation needs to improve its focus on developing clean, safe, and domestic sources of energy and that nuclear energy must be a strong component of our nation’s energy portfolio,” said Simpson

The bill was unanimously approved last Thursday by the Subcommittee and is expected to be considered by the full Appropriations Committee next week.

Simpson Co-Chairs Sugar Caucus and Joins Specialty Crops Caucus    
Bi-Partisan congressional caucuses build coalitions for ag commodities by educating Members and staff about issues impacting the industries
Congressman Mike Simpson will once again serve as a Co-Chairman of the House Sugar Caucus, and he has also joined the House Specialty Crop Caucus. Both organizations serve as informal groups providing a forum for Members and staff to discuss issues affecting both the domestic sugar industry and specialty crops.

“Idaho is the third-largest producer of sugarbeets in the United States, and it is critical to stay on top of issues that may impact the industry,” said Simpson. “I look forward to working with Members on both sides of the aisle in order to create a productive dialog that pertains to domestic sugar.”

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) will serve as the other Co-Chairman for the House Sugar Caucus, and other members include:  Rep. Dennis Cardoza, Rep. Jim Costa, Rep. Grace Napolitano, Rep. Bob Filner, Rep. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Cedric Richmond, Rep. Jeff Landry, Rep. Rodney Alexander, Rep. Bill Cassidy, Rep. Charles Boustany, Rep. Dave Camp, Rep. Dale Kildee, Rep. Candice Miller, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, Rep. Collin Peterson, Rep. Dennis Rehberg, Rep. Adrian Smith, Rep. Eliot Engel, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Kurt Schrader, Rep. Greg Walden, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, and Rep. Cynthia Lummis.

The specialty crops industry supports tens of thousands of jobs nationwide and helps sustain hundreds of rural community economies. Specialty crops also make up a large portion of Idaho’s agriculture industry. Some of the largest specialty crops produced in Idaho include potatoes, dry edible beans, onions, apples, mint, nursery stock, and vegetable seed.

“American farmers grow high quality, safe fruits and vegetables that are enjoyed both domestically and worldwide,” said Simpson. “Our specialty crop growers face challenges similar to other agriculture sectors, such as business trade and labor policies. It is important to form ag caucuses in order to share information, develop policy strategies for efforts impacting specialty crops, and coordinate our efforts to represent our constituencies.”

Congressman Doc Hastings and Congressman Dennis Cardoza will serve as the Co-Chairs of the House Specialty Crops Caucus and other members include: Rep. Steve Southerland, Rep. Michael Michaud, Rep. Pete DeFazio, Rep. Kurt Schrader, Rep. Rick Larsen, Rep. Jim Costa, Rep. Jeff Denham, Rep. Jean Schmidt, Rep. Alcee Hastings, Rep. Vern Buchanan, Rep. Greg Walden, Rep. Bill Owens, Rep. Gregorio Sablan, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Rep. Bill Huizenga. 

Simpson Joins Colleagues Expressing Concerns about Forest Planning Rule
Bipartisan letter urges the USDA Forest Service to produce a new forest planning rule that is understandable and defendable in court
Congressman Mike Simpson, Chairman of the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, joined his colleagues in writing to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing concern over the Proposed National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. Members fear the language in the proposed rule will result in an abundant of unnecessary lawsuits at the cost of the taxpayer.

“The Forest Service should be issuing clear, concise and less cumbersome rules to manage our natural resources effectively,” said Simpson. “Instead, this rule would make local management decisions much more difficult, and I am confident that it would only create a slew of frivolous lawsuits, costing taxpayers millions at a time when we are working to rein in spending and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and for their intended use.”

In February, the United States Department of Agriculture released a proposed planning rule, “National Forest System Land Management Planning” (36 CFR Part 219 RIN 0596-AC94) to guide land and resources management for all units of the National Forest System (NFS) under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976. The proposed rule sets forth process and content requirements to guide the development, amendment, and revision of land management plans of the nation’s 155 national forests and 20 grasslands. This is the fourth attempt to implement a new planning rule since 2000 and the proposed rule, as written, would likely be devastating to the multiple uses currently on NFS lands.

“I’m particularly concerned about the viability provision in the proposed rule that requires the Forest Service to survey every species—vertebrate and invertebrate—in the National Forest System,” said Simpson.  “Not only does this provision alone stand to bog the agency down with litigation, but it is simply impossible for the agency to implement in the current budget environment.”

The letter outlines the Members’ concern over many provisions included in the proposed rule and request it be amended or removed prior to releasing the final rule. A copy of the letter can be found at Congressman Simpson’s webpage.

In the News

Wisely, Salazar makes ‘wild lands' a local decision
Magicvalley.com opinion, The Times News, June 3, 2011
Few things rankle Western sensibilities more than the federal government deciding what happens to public land thousands of miles from Washington, D.C.

It's been that way since 1943, when President Franklin Roosevelt invoked the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create Jackson Hole National Monument, the forerunner of Grand Teton National Park. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter used the same law to set aside 56 million acres of national monuments in Alaska.

On both occasions the outcry from the West was loud, and memories out here are long. So Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar - a former U.S. senator from Colorado - did the right thing this week when he backed away from a plan to make millions of acres of undeveloped land eligible for federal wilderness protection.

Salazar said Wednesday his agency will not unilaterally designate any of those public lands as "wild lands," and instead will work with members of Congress to develop management proposals for the land. Western congressmen - Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, prominent among them - had been pressuring the administration not to move forward with the "wild lands" proposal.

"The protection of America's wilderness for hunting, fishing and backcountry recreation should be a unifying issue that mobilizes us to a common purpose," Salazar said. "We will focus our effort on building consensus around locally supported initiatives."
Realistically, that policy decision was probably not Salazar's first choice - and his ruling angered environmentalists. But it was the right thing to do.

GOP lawmakers complained that the plan would circumvent Congress' authority and could be used to declare a vast swath of public land off-limits to oil-and-gas drilling.
Republican governors in Utah, Alaska and Wyoming, filed suit to block the plan, saying it would hurt their state's economies by making federal lands unavailable for mineral production and other uses.

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said he was grateful that Salazar was "stepping back to reconsider the implications of his wild lands policy."

As chairman of the Western Governors' Association, Otter said he also was grateful that Salazar was seeking input from governors and local land users to find a path forward. "I'm going to keep working to make sure everyone understands the economic consequences to our communities and our state of advancing a top-down wilderness agenda," he said.

Bob Abbey, director of the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management, said the proposal should not have required protection for any particular areas. Designation as wild land could only be made after public comments and review and would not necessarily prohibit motor vehicle use or the staking of new mining claims.

Still, there's no question that just as Roosevelt's designation of Jackson Hole National Monument 68 years ago, the "wild lands" policy would have created a mechanism for Washington - not Westerners - to make the call about setting aside Western land.

Salazar was wise to put a stop to it.