Recently in Washington

Recently the House passed the conference report for H.R. 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010. The House also passed H.R. 2442, the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009.

Three Idaho Post Offices Will Remain Open
Congressman Mike Simpson praised the decision by the United States Postal Service to no longer pursue consolidation of three post offices in Idaho.  After considering every factor, and after outcry from customers and local leaders, the USPS declared it would no longer consider closing the Pocatello Bannock Station, the Boise Collister Station or the Boise Airport Station. 

“The USPS made the right decision,” said Simpson. “These particular post offices are of significant importance to their respective communities. The Pocatello Bannock Station is not only a big part of the culture in the Old Town area, but its closure would have created difficulties for many local businesses. Similarly, the closure of the Boise Collister Station and Airport Station would have created major inconveniences for people who have used those reliable stations for years.”

After hearing from a large number of Idahoans, Simpson wrote a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter urging him to keep all three locations open and operating.  He wrote “While I understand that USPS has serious financial problems and must take action to streamline their operations, I believe these stations should remain open.”

Congressman Simpson’s Statement on Yellowstone Snowmobile Decision
“While I have not yet had a chance to fully review the announcement of the Park Service, I am concerned that this decision goes too far in limiting access and may be unwise for a country doing all it can to reinvigorate a moribund economy” said Congressman Mike Simpson, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment which funds the National Park Service. “Yellowstone National Park has remained one of America’s most important and spectacular public places for over 125 years while accommodating a broad range of visitor activities, including snowmobiling. I intend to meet with senior officials at the National Park Service about this decision over the coming days to hear their reasoning and share with them my concerns.”

House Legislative Business This Week 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009
On Monday, the House is not in session.

TURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Suspensions (6 Bills):

1. H.R. 3763 - To amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide for an exclusion from Red Flag Guidelines for certain businesses (Sponsored by Rep. Adler / Financial Services Committee)
2. H.R. 3319 - The "Army Specialist Jeremiah Paul McCleery Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. McClintock / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
3. H.R. 3819 - To extend the commercial space transportation liability regime (Sponsored by Rep. Gordon / Science and Technology Committee)
4. H.Res. 793 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week (Sponsored by Rep. Reyes / Science and Technology Committee)
5. H.Res. 558 - Supporting the increased understanding of, and interest in, computer science and computing careers among the public and in schools, and to ensure an ample and diverse future technology workforce through the designation of National Computer Science Education Week (Sponsored by Rep. Ehlers / Science and Technology Committee)
6. H.Res. 797 - Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to raising awareness and enhancing the state of cyber security in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of the sixth annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month (Sponsored by Rep. Clarke / Science and Technology Committee)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

Suspensions (12 Bills):

1. H.R. 3792 - Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 (Sponsored by Rep. Pallone / Energy and Commerce Committee)
2. H.R. 3632 - Federal Judiciary Administrative Improvements Act of 2009 (Sponsored by Rep. Johnson (GA) / Judiciary Committee)
3. H.Con.Res. 177 - Raising the awareness of the need for crime prevention in communities across the country and expressing support for designation of October 1, 2009, through October 3, 2009, as "Celebrate Safe Communities" Week, and October as "Crime Prevention Month" (Sponsored by Rep. Reichert / Judiciary Committee)
4. H.Res. 811 - Expressing support for designation of October 2009 as "National Principals Month" (Sponsored by Rep. Davis (CA) / Education and Labor Committee)
5. H.Res. 837 - Recognizing Kentucky Wesleyan College for their service as an institution of higher education for over 150 years (Sponsored by Rep. Guthrie - Education and Labor Committee)
6. H.Res. 660 - Recognizing the distinguished history of the Laurinburg Normal Industrial Institute (Sponsored by Rep. Kissell / Education and Labor Committee)
7. H.Res. 836 - Expressing support for Teen Read Week (Sponsored by Rep. Roe / Education and Labor Committee)
8. S.Con.Res. 43 - Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to former Senator Edward Brooke (Sponsored by Sen. McConnell / House Administration Committee)
9. H.Res. 823 - Expressing deep condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those killed and injured in the attack on the United Nations World Food Program office in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 5, 2009, and support for the WFP's mission to bring emergency food aid to the most vulnerable people of Pakistan and around the world (Sponsored by Rep. DeLauro / Foreign Affairs Committee)
10. H.Res. 761 - Remembering and commemorating the lives and work of the Jesuit Fathers on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their deaths at the University of Central America Jose Simeon Canas located in San Salvador, El Salvador on November 16, 1989 (Sponsored by Rep. McGovern / Foreign Affairs Committee)
11. H.Res. 672 - Calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect Internet freedom (Sponsored by Rep. Loretta Sanchez / Foreign Affairs Committee)
12. H.Res. 175 - Condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights (Sponsored by Rep. Kirk / Foreign Affairs Committee)

H.R. 3585 - Solar Technology Roadmap Act of 2010 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Giffords / Science and Technology Committee)

H.R. 3619 - Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Oberstar / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

In the News

New Funding at Idaho Nuclear Lab
Rep. Mike Simpson brings sustained funding for key nuclear energy R&D programs
by Dan Yurman on October 11 2009, http://theenergycollective.com/TheEnergyCollective/49492
 
Funding in the next federal government fiscal year (2010) for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will take a jump thanks to the legislative accomplishments of Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) (right).  Simpson's district, which stretches across southeastern Idaho, includes the lab and almost all of its employees.  The lab supports nuclear energy R&D.  Also, taking place at the lab are two large nuclear waste cleanup contracts and the continuing operations of the Naval Reactors Facility.

Simpson, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced Sept 30 substantial increases in funding for the Idaho National Laboratory and the Idaho Cleanup Project as part of legislation funding the Department of Energy.

The legislation includes an increase of $33 million over current funding levels for new facilities and other infrastructure improvements at INL bringing total infrastructure funding to $173 million. Just two years ago, the budget requested just $104 million for Idaho infrastructure funding.

The additional funding is available for a variety of uses including new buildings, renovation of existing buildings, equipment purchases, and the Advanced Test Reactor’s operation as a National Scientific User Facility. Simpson has made additional funding for new infrastructure at INL a top priority over the past three fiscal years.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of those who work at INL, substantial new resources are headed Idaho’s way to improve facilities and expand the capabilities of some of the lab's premier resources,” said Simpson. “This funding is the second installment of a multi-year commitment by the DOE and Congress to revitalize the INL’s infrastructure to support the revival of nuclear energy in the United States.”

Among its provisions, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill also includes:
Level funding from Fiscal Year 2009 for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) of $169 million. The NGNP is designed to produce both electricity and heat for industrial applications.

$10 million for INL’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program. The Program focuses on maintenance and life extension of our nation’s current fleet of nuclear reactors.
$464.168 million for cleanup activities at INL, which is a $59 million increase over President Obama’s FY2010 requested amount.

A $20 million increase for the treatment of Sodium Bonded Fuel at INL. The treatment will include fuel originally used in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II and fuel transferred from Hanford, WA.

$1 million for equipment purchases at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at INL.
Simpson said in a statement the funding shows Congress supports the nuclear R&D work taking place at the lab and the progress being made by the cleanup contractors.