Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Below are the U.S. Senate activities currently scheduled for this week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources.  The House is in recess for the week, but that chamber has put its Waters of the U.S.-blocking bill, H.R. 1732 (the "Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015"), at the top of its agenda for the week of May 11.

Links are provided to the relevant committee web pages, and to related pieces of legislation.  Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these should be, as well (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.  This page will be updated as warranted.

Tuesday

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Federal government’s role in wildfire management, impact of fires on communities, and potential improvements to be made in fire operations; 10:00 AM, room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Wednesday

• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing to examine the proposed fiscal year 2016 budget estimates for the Fish and Wildlife Service, and to examine several bills to amend the Endangered Species Act; 9:30 AM, room 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building.  The bills to amend the Endangered Species Act include: 

S.855, to permit state governors to regulate intrastate endangered species and intrastate threatened species, 

S.736, to require disclosure to states of the basis of determinations under the Act, 

S.655, to prohibit the use of funds by the Secretary of the Interior to make a final determination on the listing of the northern long-eared bat under the Endangered Species Act, 

S.293, to establish a procedure for approval of certain settlements, 

S.292, to require publication on the Internet of the basis for determinations that species are endangered or threatened, and

S.112, to require the Interior Department to publish and make available for public comment a draft economic analysis at the time a proposed rule to designate critical habitat is published.

• Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting to consider several bills, including S.280, the Federal Permitting Improvement Act of 2015; 10:00 AM, room 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building.