Energy & Transportation Update
An Information Service of the AFI Energy and Transportation Committee
April 25, 2002
Volume III, Number 8
Committee Approves National Defense Rail Act
On April 18, 2002, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved legislation (S. 1991), introduced by Committee Chairman Ernest Holdings, (D-S.C.) that would extend Amtrak's authorization for five years and repeal the operating self-sufficiency requirements. The legislation would authorize $1.5 billion annually for corridor development, $35 billion in loan guarantees, $1.3 billion for repair and upgrade in the Northeast Corridor and $515 million for Amtrak's security enhancements and requires competitive bidding for new high-speed rail projects. After debate on language that would mandate 100 percent of federal funding be used on high-speed rail projects, an amendment was adopted that would allow states to participate in the funding if they were able. S. 1991 was approved by a wide margin in committee, but floor passage is not certain. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) stated at the hearing that he was opposed to S. 1991 because it "is long on money, and short on reform." If the bill reaches the Senate floor, Senator McCain threatens to offer amendments that would tie up the bill for an extended amount of time. The administration has not taken a position on the issue.
Senate Invokes Cloture on Energy Bill
After rejecting a Republican effort to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil and gas exploration, the Senate added a Finance Committee approved a $15 billion tax incentive package and then on April 23, 2002, voted to invoke cloture on the energy bill. Senator Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) offered the amendment that proposed to lift the ban on drilling in ANWR. The House Republican Conference issued a statement saying, "The House passed an energy bill that included ANWR exploration in an overwhelming vote. It is doubtful that the House would accept a bill without this important, bipartisan provision to create jobs and lessen out dependence on foreign oil." The Senate approved an amendment proposed by Senator Murkowski that would provide new incentives to companies to build a trans-Alaskan natural gas pipeline. Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.) expressed his support for the pipeline calling the project "one of the most significant ways to improve our nation's energy security." After defeating proposals that would allow ANWR drilling, Democrats were quick to support the pipeline project, hoping the provision could provide political protection if energy troubles heat up this summer. The $15 billion tax package provides tax incentives for fossil and renewable energy programs and was seen as one of the final hurdles in the energy bill passage. Because cloture was invoked, the Senate now must limit the energy debate to 30 hours with more than 100 amendments left to consider. The energy package final vote is expected the evening of April 25, 2002.
The Budget Resolution's Fate Uncertain
The full House and the Senate Budget Committee partially plugged the $8.6 billion gap in highway and highway safety funding for next year in separate actions last month. The full House passed its FY2003 budget resolution, H Con.Res 353, on March 20. H Con Res 353 sets FY2003 highway funding at $27.7 billion, $4.4 billion over the level forced by the idiosyncrasies of the TEA-21 formula. Two days later, the Senate Budget Committee set a $28.9 billion highway obligation ceiling in its version of H Con.Res 353. While neither hits the $31.8 billion appropriations level in place for FY2002, these actions are vast improvements resulting from intensive advocacy efforts involving NCSL and many others.
April 15, 2002, was the deadline for Congress' completion of its annual budget resolution process. There are few signs that both houses will agree to a FY2003 budget resolution. The Senate budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 100) which includes a $28.9 billion highway obligation ceiling, remains unscheduled for floor debate. Senate Democratic leadership has placed several other bills ahead of it, leaving its fate in doubt. And, with House and Senate members in disagreement over a necessary hike in the federal debt ceiling and a $27 billion FY2002 supplemental appropriations request from the President, the budget resolution has dropped off the radar screen. If Congress fails to pass a budget resolution, appropriators will move into their subcommittee markups next month without any guidance or spending allocations normally provided in the budget resolution.
House Action on Nevada Nuclear Waste Site
On April 18, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held a hearing on Yucca Mountain nuclear waste depository. Congressional action on the Yucca Mountain project was spurred when Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn (R) vetoed President Bush's approval of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham's recommendation to use Yucca Mountain as the nation's high-level nuclear waste site. Both the Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and ranking member John Dingell (D-Mich.) stated at the hearing that they were in full support of the development of Yucca Mountain. The subcommittee plans to vote April 23 on legislation (H.J.Res. 87) that would allow the Energy Department to move forward with the project. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) has expressed support of the Yucca Mountain project and plans to take up H.J.Res. 87 on the House floor soon. Congress can override the Nevada Governor's veto by a majority vote in both chambers, according to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.
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NCSL Staff:
Eileen Doherty
Committee Director
AFI Energy and Transportation Committee
(202)624-8687
Laurie Holmes
Committee Assistant
AFI Energy and Transportation Committee
(202)624-8695 |
