Congress is departing for the 2024 election season, and on its way out the door, passed yet another Continuing Resolution to keep the government funded. Speaker Johnson promises it won’t turn into a “Christmas Omnibus" but what will happen when Members are trying to get home for the holidays? That remains to be seen.
Earlier this month, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee hearing on three bills that seek to amend the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), by eliminating red tape that is needlessly thwarting much-needed infrastructure, forestry, and infrastructure projects. We are hopeful that the House will resume consideration of these bills in the lame-duck session and that they can be reconciled with Senator Manchin (D-WV) and Barrasso’s (R-WY) efforts in support of meaningful permitting reform.
Last week, the House did pass H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, sponsored by Roosevelt Conservation Caucus member and House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Representative Scott Peters (D-CA). The legislation promotes active forest management, healthy forests, and wildfire resiliency by increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration.
In case you missed it, we hosted a webinar this month on S.2781, “Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024,” which recently passed the U.S. Senate. This bipartisan legislation would make it easier for Good Samaritans such as state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and other groups, to clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned hard-rock mines. This is an issue we’ve been passionate about for a while, as seen here, here, and here.
Our Fellows were busy in September, focusing on nuclear as a clean energy source in two pieces for the National Review: California’s Environmental Policies Are Backfiring and The Real Three Mile Island Disaster Was Shutting It Down. They also wrote about natural gas for Real Clear Energy.
This time of year might mean cooler weather and shorter days, but it also brings great opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting, and a whole host of other outdoor activities. We’d love to see what you all are up to, so when you post your photos to Facebook, be sure to tag us (@conservamerica), and we can share them.
Enjoy the changing weather, stay safe, and have fun!
