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June 15, 2009
House Energy and Commerce Committee Approve Climate Bill
FLOOR DEBATE EXPECTED IN NEW FEW WEEKS, SENATE BANKING TO HOLD PANEL ON GREEN COMMUNITIES
After a four day markup, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (HR 2454) was approved on May 21 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in a 33-25 vote. Since its approval, the committee has gone back and held a hearing to look at the allocation policies of the legislation. Eight other committees have jurisdiction over the legislation; all except the Agriculture and Ways and Means Committees are expected to pass on reviewing the bill. The deadline given for these committees to take action is June 19, as House leaders have said they would like to bring the bill to the floor by June 24. The Agriculture Committee held a hearing on relevant provisions of the legislation on June 11.
The transportation planning provision of the bill (Section 222), which requires states to develop transportation greenhouse gas reduction targets and MPOs over 200,000 to develop plans to meet those targets, remained in the legislation through the Energy and Commerce committee mark-up thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Matsui (D-CA, 5). The legislation does not include funding for green transportation projects, however, the funding available to states for energy efficiency can be used for the planning requirements in Section 222.
The Senate Banking Committee is holding a hearing on Tuesday, June 16th on "Greener Communities, Greater Opportunities: New Ideas for Sustainable Development and Economic Growth." The witnesses are Secretary LaHood of the Department of Transportation, Secretary Donovan of the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Administration Jackson from the EPA.
TAKE ACTION: Smart Growth America will continue to work with our coalition members to build support for funding smart growth and green transportation projects with climate revenue in the House and Senate by building support for the CLEAN-TEA legislation. Call your Member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor CLEAN-TEA (HR 1443/S 575). For more information, download this fact sheet or contact Stephanie Potts at spotts@smartgrowthamerica.org or 202-207-3355 x125.
House Appropriations Moving Ahead with FY 2010 Spending Bills
EPA SMART GROWTH PROGRAM GETS INCREASED
Following the release of the Administration's FY 2010 budget proposal, hearings have been scheduled in both chambers to review the requests for various agencies and departments. Subcommittee hearings have been held to examine the details of each spending bill. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies approved the Interior and EPA budgets by a voice vote on June 10. The full committee is expected to take up the spending bill on June 18. Although bill language is not likely to be released before the full committee has had a chance to markup the bill, funding for the EPA smart growth office is expected at just slightly under the $6 million advocated for by several committee members. The bill will likely meet the request of the administration, which was for a total of $5.146 million for the smart growth program. This funding comes in two parts: $3.9 million from Regulatory Innovation and $1.246 million from Brownfields.
Transportation Bill Expected to be Introduced the Week of June 22
MARKER BILLS INTRODUCED IN ADVANCE OF MAJOR LEGISLATION
Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) will release a concept paper in the next week outlining his goals for the transportation bill. The bill itself is expected to be introduced the following week. Rep. Oberstar has publicly stated that he will not support an extension of the current transportation law, SAFETEA-LU, beyond its September 30, 2009 expiration date. However, it is going to be difficult for Congress to pass such a major piece of legislation in that time frame, given the lengthy August recess and the climate and healthcare reform legislation, which have been labeled higher priorities.
In advance of the release of the larger transportation authorization bill, several marker bills have been introduced to guide the way and allow for analysis of new transportation policy. In May, Senators John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced legislation that lays out clear objectives designed to meet the economic, energy, environmental, and social-demographic challenges of the future. A similar piece of legislation, the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009, was released in the House by Representatives Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Rush Holt (D-NJ), and Jay Inslee (D-WA).
Another recent introduction from Rep. Carnahan is a bill that would allow grants for transit operating assistance. Ideally, language from this bill would be included in the larger national transportation bill.
Take Action: Smart Growth America is currently working with Transportation for America to build support for the National Transportation Objectives legislation. Please help us with this effort, get more information and send a message to your Member of Congress on the T4America blog. Contact Will Handsfield, Outreach staff at T4America at will.handsfield@t4america.org or 202-955-5543 x239 to find out more ways you can help.
The Green Act to Address Climate Change Was Reintroduced in Early May
HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE HELD HEARING TO EXAMINE HOUSING AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
On June 11, the House Financial Services Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee held a brief hearing to discuss the details of The Green Act (HR 2336). Sponsored by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), the bill proposes innovative ways to address global warming, the rising costs of transportation and energy, and the impact both those problems have on low-income people. Among other things, the bill aims to make location efficiency (defined as having easy access to public transportation and other services) a part of determining the energy efficiency of homes. This cuts down on both energy and transportation costs that make up a disproportionate percentage of disposable income for those in the lower income levels. The hearing was brief, as there was general consensus among the present subcommittee members that the legislation would have a positive impact.
Legislators Seek Innovative Strategies to Rebuild Competitive Regions
THE COMMUNITY REGENERATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND INNOVATIONS ACT OF 2009 WOULD PROVIDE FLEXIBLE GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS
In February, Senator Charles Schumer (NY) and Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27), introduced the Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act (the Regeneration Act, S. 453 and H.R. 932), legislation that would give aid to cities and regions experiencing high levels of property abandonment and employment and population loss. Cities such as Buffalo, Youngstown, Gary, and Birmingham have long suffered from sustained population losses and vacant property rates far in excess of those now being experienced by boom and bust communities. While increasing mortgage foreclosures, job losses, and business bankruptcies have led to significant vacancy challenges in cities throughout the country, in these cities, and those regions with similar stories, the dual foreclosure and economic crises are compounding a long-term, deep-rooted problem.
The Regeneration Act would create a new pilot grant program, within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, that encourages a holistic regeneration model that promotes and supports policy innovation, experimentation, and environmentally sustainable practices through collaborative efforts to reuse vacant properties in ways that will provide long-term benefits to the public.
Sixteen members of the House have signed on to the House bill, H.R. 932: Rep. Blumenauer (OR-3), Rep. Boccieri (OH-16), Rep. Dingle (MI-15), Rep. Fudge (OH-11), Rep. Gerlach (PA-6), Rep. Higgins (NY-27), Rep. Hinchey (NY-22), Rep. Johnson (TX-30), Rep. Kildee (MI-5), Rep. Kucinich (OH-10), Rep. Maffei (NY-25), Rep. Oberstar (MN-8), (Rep. Perriello (VA-5), Rep. Space (OH-18), Rep. Sutton (OH-13), and Rep. Wilson (OH-6). Senator Brown (OH) has co-sponsored the Senate bill, S. 453.
Take Action: Be sure to contact your Representatives and encourage them to co-sponsor the legislation, or thank them for already signing on! Find your Reps here: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt. Download more information at the vacant properties website.
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