In Congress

Continuing Resolution

Because Congress still has resolved budget debates and passed appropriations bills, it will need to pass another continuing resolution by March 27. The bill passed by the House of Representatives (H.R. 933) holds non-defense spending at the levels approved in Fiscal Year 2012.

One consequence of this is, at least for the time being, the increased spending on surface transportation programs included in MAP-21 will not be enacted. Senate leaders indicated that they might add transportation spending increases in that chamber.

Related posts and articles

Continuing Resolution Puts Transportation Funds at Risk (Save America’s Infrastructure, Mar. 11, 2013)

House, Senate Transportation Bills Differ

Budget proposals from the House of Representatives and the Senate differ greatly on transportation (as well as other issues). Mainly, the House budget cuts transportation funding, and the Senate budget increases it.

Related posts and articles

Proposed 2014 Transportation Budgets Differ Wildly. Who Will Win? (Infrastructure USA, Mar. 18, 2013)

Ryan budget targets DOT, high-speed rail funding (Liang, K., The Hill, Mar. 12, 2013)

Senate Questions Interior Secretary Nominee

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee posed questions to Sally Jewell, President Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Interior. As you might expect, questions focused on energy development on federal lands and environmental protection related to such projects. Of particular concern was hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas production in western states and oil drilling in the Pacific Ocean and Alaska.

Related posts and articles

US Interior nominee Jewell resists some drilling proposals, calls for 'balance' (Platts, Mar. 15, 2013)

Continuing Resolution Moves to Senate

Earlier this week, IW posted a note about the continuing resolution recently passed by the House of Representatives. The bill cuts total appropriations by $61 billion compared to 2010, including significant cuts to several infrastructure programs.

Senate leaders have attacked the House plan. (The Senate is controlled by Democrats, the House by Republicans.) Even so, some cut are anticipated for the plan to be worked out by the entire Congress. Senators may propose short-term (about a month at a time) resolutions to keep the government funded until a deal can be worked out.

Related posts and articles
House Bill Would Slash Construction Programs
House Passes Appropriations Bill

Bill Watch - 112th Congress

Amended July 28, 2013

H.R. 1—Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
Continuing Resolution Moves to Senate
House Passes Appropriations Bill

H.R. 7 - American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012

Congress Debates Infrastructure, Jobs Bills

H.R. 8 – American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012

Infrastructure in the Fiscal Cliff Deal

H.R. 267 – Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013

Infrastructure & Environment Roundup: Hydropower Bill Reported Out of Committee

H.R. 328 - Safety, Efficiency, and Accountability in Transportation Projects Through Public Inspection Act of 2011
Bill Would Require Public Employee Inspection of Federally-Funded Transportation Projects

H.R. 389 - End the Stimulus Advertisement Act
Still Trying to Axe the Plaques

H.R. 505 – The Balancing Act

In Congress: Balancing Act

H.R. 711 – Highway Trust Fund Reform Act of 2013

Around America: Bills Pile Up While Bills Pile Up

H.R. 765 – Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2013

Around America: Bills Pile Up While Bills Pile Up

H.R. 855 – Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act of 2011
Environment & Infrastructure Bills Introduced in Congress

H.R. 892 – Stop Asian Carp Act
Environment & Infrastructure Bills Introduced in Congress

H.R. 910 - Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011
In Congress

H.R. 935 – Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013 

News Brief: Bill Would Limit Water Discharge Permitting of Pesticides

H.R. 945 - Streamlining America’s Various Energy Needs Act
Energy Bills Introduced

H.R. 947
Bill Would Authorized Reimbursement to States for International Water Projects

H.R. 952 - Energy Critical Elements Renewal Act of 2011
Energy Bills Introduced

H.R. 1079 - Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011
In Congress

H.R. 1123 - TIFIA Expansion Act of 2011
In Congress

H.R. 1189 – Clean Water Affordability Act of 2011
Bill Would Make Water Project Financing More Affordable

H.R. 1705 - Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011
Activity in Congress

H.R 1872 - Employment Protection Act 2011
Activity in Congress
In Congress

H.R. 2018 - Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011
Activity in Congress

H.R. 2055 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012
Bill Quickies

H.R. 2594 - European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011T&I Committee Marks Up, Approves Bills

H.R. 2738 - Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2011
Water News

H.R. 2845 - Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011
T&I Committee Marks Up, Approves Bills

H.R. 2887 - Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011
Congress Passes Bill to Extend Transportation Programs
House Passes Transportation Bill

H.R. 2924 – 414 Plan Act of 2011
Bill Would Suspend Requirements for Highway Projects

H.R. 3259 - National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2011
National Infrastructure Bank Bill

H.R. 3638 – Act for the 99%
Bill Quickies

H.R. 3680 - Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2011
Bill Quickies

H.R. 3864 - American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Financing Act of 2012

Congress Debates Infrastructure, Jobs Bills

H.R. 4348 – Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century Act (MAP-21)

A Look Back, 112 Congress Passed Transportation Bills

S. 335 – Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2013

Around America: Bills Pile Up While Bills Pile Up

S. 402 – National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2011
A Real National Infrastructure Bank Proposal

S. 471 – Stop Asian Carp Act
Environment & Infrastructure Bills Introduced in Congress

S. 630 - Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Promotion Act of 2011
Activity in Congress

S. 652 – Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-Term Development
The BUILD Act
In Congress

S. 1108 - 10 Million Solar Roofs Act
Bill Quickies

S. 1115 - Green Infrastructure and Clean Water Act of 2010
Activity in Congress

S. 1142 - Geothermal Exploration and Technology Act of 2011
Bill Quickies

S. 1292 - Employment Protection Act 2011
Activity in Congress
In Congress

S. 1343 - Energy and Water Integration Act of 2011
Congress Keeps Rolling

S. 1510 - Clean Energy Financing Act of 2011
Bill Would Create Clean Energy Deployment Agency

S. 1525 – An original bill to extend Federal-aid highway programsPresident Calls for Transportation Funding to Stimulate Jobs Growth

S. 1549 – American Jobs Act of 2011
American Jobs Act

S. 1550 – National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2011
National Infrastructure Bank Bill

S. 1720 – Jobs Through Growth Act
American Jobs Act

S. 1775 - Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act of 2011
Energy Bill Has Unusual Name, Other Energy Proposals

S. 1786 – Long-Term Surface Transportation Enhancement Act of 2011
Congress Passes Bill to Extend Transportation Programs

S. 1795 – A bill related to Missouri River management
Missouri River Priorities Contested

S. 3388 – Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act

Sewer Overflow Bill Introduced

S. 3626 – Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2012

In Congress

Bill Watch—111th Congress

111th Congress Wrapping Up

Congress Wants Noisier Hybrids
Congress has passed the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 (S. 841). The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue rules that would require hybrid and electric cars to create enough noise to alert blind pedestrians of their presence. The bill must be signed by the president to become law.

Bill Introduced to Extend Hours of Service Rules to Yardmaster Employees
Outgoing Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar introduced the Railroad Hours of Service Act of 2010 (H.R. 6519). The act would extend hours of service rules for railroad employees to yardmaster employees.

House Votes to Reauthorize Transportation Program for One Year
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution that would authorize continued spending on transportation programs at the current level through the end of the fiscal year. It will be up to the incoming Congress to work out a new transportation bill.

Related posts and articles
Bill Watch—111th Congress

111th Congress Wrapping Up

Congress Wants Noisier Hybrids
Congress has passed the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 (S. 841). The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue rules that would require hybrid and electric cars to create enough noise to alert blind pedestrians of their presence. The bill must be signed by the president to become law.

Bill Introduced to Extend Hours of Service Rules to Yardmaster Employees
Outgoing Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar introduced the Railroad Hours of Service Act of 2010 (H.R. 6519). The act would extend hours of service rules for railroad employees to yardmaster employees.

House Votes to Reauthorize Transportation Program for One Year
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution that would authorize continued spending on transportation programs at the current level through the end of the fiscal year. It will be up to the incoming Congress to work out a new transportation bill.

Related posts and articles
Bill Watch—111th Congress