Recently in Washington

Recently the House passed the conference report for H.R. 3138, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.  The House also passed S. 1707, the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009.

Major Increases for INL Facilities and Cleanup Included in Bill Headed for Final Passage
Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and an appointee to House and Senate negotiations on a final Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bill, announced the inclusion of 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 was approved last week by House and Senate conferees on a voice vote.
 
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 many provisions, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill also includes:

• Level funding from Fiscal Year 2009 for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant of $169 million. The NGNP is designed to produce both electricity and heat for industrial applications. INL is the Department of Energy’s lead laboratory on research and development of the NGNP.
• $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.

“The provisions of this bill will expand reactor development, continue fuel cycle research, and push the development of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies,” said Simpson. “The new funding in this bill can only be seen as a complete endorsement by Congress of the leadership role INL is playing in our nation’s nuclear renaissance.”

Four Idaho Projects Approved in Final Energy and Water Funding Bill
Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and an appointee to House and Senate negotiations on a final Fiscal Year 2010 Subcommittee funding bill, announced the inclusion of funding for four Idaho projects as part of a final negotiated bill funding the Department of Energy and Army Corps of Engineers. The legislation was approved last week by a House and Senate Conference Committee by a voice vote.

Among its many provisions, the legislation includes funding for the following Idaho projects:

• $100,000 for efforts to rehabilitate 1.5 miles of a channel along the Little Wood River that flows within Gooding city limits. Large portions of the existing lava rock walls that line the Little Wood River through the city are structurally unserviceable and many have failed and fallen into the channel. This rate of deterioration has increased at an alarming rate. The project will remove and replace the existing rock wall and the boxed culverts that severely restrict the stream channel flow. 
• $1.5 million for a Medical Isotope Production Program at Idaho State University’s Idaho Accelerator Center. The program will help meet our nation’s demand for medical isotopes and greatly increase the nuclear research and education capabilities of Idaho State University in an area of immense importance – nuclear medicine.
• $1 million for the City of Boise’s Geothermal System Expansion Project. The Project is an ongoing effort to extend the existing geothermal system to facilities at Boise State University and encourage development of non-university areas along Capitol Boulevard. Boise State University is already making improvements to existing buildings that would allow them, and future buildings, to utilize geothermal heat.
• $3.875 million for the rural Idaho community water system improvement program through the Army Corps of Engineers Section 595 program. This is an ongoing program that has assisted numerous Idaho communities with repairs, expansion, or replacement of aging water and wastewater infrastructure.

“My staff and I have visited each one of these projects and met firsthand with those who brought them to our attention. These are good projects that meet a specific state, local, or national need and bring real value to Idaho communities,” said Simpson. “I want to thank Mayor Duke Morton of Gooding and Mayor Dave Bieter of Boise, along with ISU President Art Vailas, for working with my office to identify these projects and advocate for them on a federal level. The outstanding efforts and vision of these three individuals and their staff are what made the award of this funding possible.”

The bill was passed by the House last week and now heads to the Senate for final approval.

U.S. Lumber Benefits from Trade Ruling:  International trade panel denies Canada’s remedy for Softwood Lumber Agreement Violation
Idaho’s Congressional Delegation welcomed a ruling by an international arbiter in an ongoing dispute over Canadian softwood exports.  The tribunal sided with the U.S. this week over an appeal related to Canada’s proposed remedy for a Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) violation.  As a result of the ruling a 10 percent duty on Canadian softwood imports may remain in effect.
 
“Our trade agreements and rules must be upheld to better ensure Idaho and American softwood lumber companies and workers can compete in a just market,” said Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick.  “This ruling is an important step in correcting unfair trade practices impacting the U.S. lumber industry already hard hit by the decrease in homebuilding in the current economic climate, and the Administration’s efforts on this case are commendable.  Work must continue to ensure the SLA is properly upheld, but this ruling is an important action in this effort.”
 
The Softwood Lumber Agreement between the U.S. and Canada was the basis for arbitration initiated by the U.S. two years ago over volume caps and related taxes.  In this case, a tribunal previously determined that Canada violated the SLA and directed Canada to cure its breach.  When Canada did not execute measures to compensate for the breach, the United States imposed 10 percent customs duties on imports of softwood lumber from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  Canada sought a determination of whether Canada’s offer to provide a $36,660,000 payment to the U.S. government cured the breach, which was the subject of the ruling.

Simpson asks Obama to Increase Border Agents
In a letter addressed to President Obama, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, along with other Members of Congress, requested the President increase the number of border agents to ensure that we are able to protect our nation’s borders.

The letter stated the need for securing our borders is a top national security priority. It expressed that the border agents who patrol the southern border play an instrumental role in this effort and urged the President to allocate the number of border agents necessary to protect the border.

“Our borders are not secure and they are not safe,” said Simpson. “In July, Border Agent Robert Rosas was murdered near the border while tracking illegal immigrants. A few weeks ago, a human smuggler tried to run over an agent.  We must put an end to this needless and reckless violence and secure our borders.”

The U.S.-Mexico border is 1,954 miles long. During a hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Todd Owen estimated that only 697 miles of the Mexican border are under effective control. That leaves more than 1,200 miles of our southern border vulnerable to illegal crossings by drug smugglers, terrorists, human traffickers and other criminals. 

Members of Congress urged the President to not reduce the number of agents, writing, “Now is not the time to reduce the number of agents protecting the United States along the border with Mexico. We are concerned about this crisis and are willing to work with you to ensure that the Border Patrol has the workforce necessary to accomplish its mission, including reducing border violence and stopping the flow of illegal immigrants.”

House Legislative Business This Week 

Monday, October 5, 2009
On Monday, the House is not in session.

Tuesday, October 6, 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 (8 Bills):

1. H.Res. 741 - Expressing support for designation of October 8, 2009, as national Jumpstart's "Read for the Record Day" (Sponsored by Rep. Markey (CO) / Education and Labor Committee)
2. H.Res. 167 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of Campus Fire Safety Month (Sponsored by Rep. Pascrell / Education and Labor Committee)
3. H.Res. 707 - Expressing support for Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (Sponsored by Rep. Polis / Education and Labor Committee)
4. H.Res. 650 - Recognizing that country music has made a tremendous contribution to American life and culture (Sponsored by Rep. Stearns / Education and Labor Committee)
5. H.Res. 795 - Honoring the people of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Flight 93 Ambassadors for their efforts in creating the Flight 93 temporary memorial and encouraging the completion of the National Park Service Flight 93 National Memorial by the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 (Sponsored by Rep. Shuster / Natural Resources Committee)
6. H.Res. 701 - To recognize the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve (Sponsored by Rep. Moran (VA) / Natural Resources Committee)
7. H.Res. 710 - Supporting the goals and ideals of "National Estuaries Day" (Sponsored by Rep. Castor / Natural Resources Committee)
8. H.Res. 567 - Congratulating the University of California, Irvine's men's volleyball team (Sponsored by Rep. Campbell / Education and Labor Committee)

Wednesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 8, 2009
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

Suspensions (7 Bills):

1. H.R. 3590 - Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act (Sponsored by Rep. Rangel / Ways and Means Committee)
2. H.R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (Sponsored by Rep. Filner / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
3. S. 1717 - To authorize major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2010 (Sponsored by Sen. Akaka / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
4. H.R. 3547 - The "Rex E. Lee Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Chaffetz / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
5. H.R. 2174 - The "Clyde Hichborn Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Michaud / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
6. H.R. 2092 - Kingman and Heritage Islands Act (Sponsored by Del. Norton / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
7. S.J.Res. 12 - A joint resolution proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously (Sponsored by Sen. Durbin / Judiciary Committee)

Conference Report on H.R. 2997 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. DeLauro / Appropriations Committee)

H.R. 2442 - Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. George Miller / Natural Resources Committee)

Possible Consideration of the Conference Report on H.R. 2892 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Price (NC) / Appropriations Committee)

Possible Consideration of the Conference Report on H.R. 2647 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Skelton / Armed Services Committee)

Friday, October 9, 2009
On Friday, no votes are expected in the House

In the News

The Post Register, “Cheers and Jeers”
October 2, 2009

Cheers to Idaho's congressional delegation for, well let's be honest, bringing home the bacon.

Awaiting President Barack Obama's signature is a bill that contains good news for Idaho National Laboratory: a $33 million increase for new buildings and infrastructure; $1 million for equipment purchases at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies in Idaho Falls; $460 million for cleanup; and a $20 million increase for treatment of fuel originally used in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II.

Congressman Mike Simpson gets the biggest share of praise. He sits on the House budget-writing committee and was on the conference committee that negotiated the final bill. But this was a team effort and we'd be remiss to leave out Sens. James Risch and Mike Crapo.
Let's not kid ourselves, folks. Small government rhetoric aside, INL is a big reason eastern Idaho is riding out this recession better than most places in the state. We expect our delegation to fund the site. And to their credit, they did.