Committee Update

At 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled, “Protecting Public Health and the Environment:  EPA FY2011 Budget Request.”  EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is scheduled to testify.

At 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FY2011 Budget Request.

At 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled, “Restoring America’s Forests and Headwaters: US Forest Service FY 2011 Budget Request.”  Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, is scheduled to testify.

House Legislative Business This Week 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2010
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for morning hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Suspensions (5 Bills):

1. H.R. 4425 - The "Martin G. 'Marty' Mahar Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Tonko / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
2. H.R. 4238 - The "W.D. Farr Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Markey (CO) / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
3. H.Res. 1046 - Recognizing the significance of Black History Month (Sponsored by Rep. Al Green / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
4. H.Res. 1039 - Supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day (Sponsored by Rep. Lee (NY) / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
5. H.Res. 526 - Recognizing the historical and cultural significance of the John Mercer Langston Golf Course and its contributions to achieving racial equality (Sponsored by Del. Norton / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2010 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

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 (8 Bills):

1. H.Res. 1066 - Recognizing the bravery and efforts of the United States Armed Forces, local first responders, and other members of Operation Unified Response (Sponsored by Rep. Meek / Armed Services Committee)
2. H.Res. 1059 - Honoring the heroism of the seven United States Agency for International Development and Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance supported urban search and rescue teams deployed to Haiti (Sponsored by Rep. McMahon / Foreign Affairs Committee)
3. H.Res. 1074 - Honoring the life of Miep Gies, who aided Anne Frank's family while they were in hiding and preserved her diary for future generations (Sponsored by Rep. Kilroy / Foreign Affairs Committee)
4. H.Res. 944 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on religious minorities in Iraq (Sponsored by Rep. Peters / Foreign Affairs Committee)
5. H.Res. 1048 - Commending the efforts and honoring the work of the men and women of USNS Comfort and the United States Navy in the immediate response to those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 (Sponsored by Rep. Tim Murphy (PA) / Foreign Affairs Committee)
6. H.R. 3695 - Billy's Law (Sponsored by Rep. Murphy (CT) / Judiciary Committee)
7. H.Con.Res. 227 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Urban Crimes Awareness Week (Sponsored by Rep. Towns / Judiciary Committee)
8. H.Res. 274 - Expressing support for designation of March as National Nutrition Month (Sponsored by Rep. Castor / Energy and Commerce Committee)

H.R. 2314 - Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Abercrombie / Natural Resources Committee)

H.R. __ - Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Perriello / Judiciary Committee)

H.R. 2701 - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Reyes / Intelligence Committee)

In the News 

Seniors, Senators blast plan to cut campsite discounts
Proposal would drop discount to 10 percent off

By Nate Poppino - Times-News writer | Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010

The U.S. Forest Service is considering allowing private companies that manage many of its campgrounds to charge more to senior citizens and people with disabilities, cutting a long-running discount as the nation grows older.

For years, people holding lifetime Senior and Access passes or the previous Golden Age and Access passes were entitled to 50 percent off the cost of staying at campgrounds managed by concessionaires. But in December, the federal agency proposed shrinking the fee discount to 10 percent. Concessionaires would also have to offer a10 percent discount to those groups at “standard amenity recreation fee” day-use sites they operate.

Forest Service representatives argued in a public notice that the change is necessary to keep concessionaires from raising fees for other campground users and ensure access stays fair for all Americans. Agency staff said Tuesday it may be some time before a decision is made.

The number of senior citizens in the U.S. is expected to rise to more than 20 percent of the nation’s overall population over the next decade, driven by the baby boomer generation, anddiscounted campsites make up a growing portion of camping-fee revenue.

Other hospitality, travel and recreation companies have largely adopted a 10 percent discount in the face of the generational growth, the Forest Service argued. The agency estimates that senior pass holders would pay perhaps $4 to $5 more per site under the new plan. Other campers already pay an extra $1.50 to cover the discount; that would rise by as much as another dollar without any changes.

In south-central Idaho, the proposal would mostly affect campgrounds in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, which often attract out-of-state campers, said Sawtooth National Forest spokeswoman Julie Thomas.

“It’s a travel destination,” Thomas said.

A comment period on the proposal ended Feb. 1, but people are still weighing in — including Idaho’s four-member congressional delegation. On Friday, Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Reps. Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick made public a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell questioning the need for and timing of the cuts. They noted Tidwell has recently received general funding increases and $650 million in federal stimulus funds for capital improvements and maintenance.

Groups such as the Western Slope No-Fee Coalition have criticized the change as benefitting private corporations on public land. But the industry has backed the proposed rules, playing up the advantages private contracts bring to the public sites.

“… Campground operation is not an inherently governmental function,” wrote Derrick A. Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition, in his public comment letter.