Week ahead (May 22, 2017)
What we are watching this week in D.C.
$$ Budget Rollout on Tuesday: All about the Benjamins
The White House will unveil its first full budget proposal on Tuesday, adding details to the outline released in March that floated steep cuts to environmental and energy agencies. We will be ready to review, looking for cuts or changes to programs that support fish, wildlife and healthy waters.
- TU’s views on the FY18 Budget Outline (March, 2017)
The President’s budget proposal must go through the Congressional appropriations process and members of Congress have been vocally skeptical about drastic cuts surviving congressional review. First congressional hearings on the FY18 budget will begin on Wednesday and Thursday of this week (see list of hearings, below).
Nom Dram: Nomination and Appointment News
Nominations: On Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hear from two Trump nominees for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as his choice for the number two slot at the Energy Department.
Good Times with Good Sams: Good Samaritan (Coal) Hearing
TU CEO/President Chris Wood will testify on Wednesday before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources regarding cleanup of abandoned coal mines.
- Read TU testimony and tune in to watch the hearing, here
Hearings and Events:
Field team visits from Tasha Sorensen (WY), hitting town to talk about Master Leasing Plans and responsible management of public lands. Also Amy Wolfe (PA) will be in town to support Chris Woods’ testimony on Wednesday and catch some meetings re: opportunity for investment in cleanup of abandoned coal mines in the NE and around the country.
Tu.5.23 @ 10a — [EPA Rulemaking] House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Environment, Expanding the Role of States in EPA Rulemaking; Deborah Swackhamer, chairwoman of EPA’s Board of Scientific Counselors will testify
W.5.24 @ 9a — [Rules Gone Wild] House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing on federal land laws have ‘gone astray’
W.5.24 @ 9:30a — House [Budget] House Budget Committee, Hearing on Fiscal 2018 Budget
W.5.24 @ 10a — House [Budget-Agriculture] House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA, Budget Hearing — US Agriculture
W.5.24 @ 10:30a — House [Budget-USACOE and BOR] House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies, Budget Hearing — Army Corps (Civil Works) and Bureau of Reclamation
W.5/24 @ 2p — [Coal Mine Reclamation] House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Legislative Hearing on Discussion Draft of the Community Reclamation Partnerships Act
Th.5.25 @ 9:30a — House [Budget-USFS] House Appropriations Subcommittee for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Budget Hearing — U.S. Forest Service
Th. 5.25 @ 9:45a — Senate [FY18 Budget] Senate Hearing on fiscal 2018 budget
Th. 5.25 @ 10a — [Farm Economy] Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Hearing on farm economy
Th.5.25 @ 10a — [FERC/DOE Nominations] Senate Energy and Natural Resources Hearing on FERC, DOE nominees
Recent, Ongoing:
National Monuments Review:
- Salt Lake City mayor sent a letter to Zinke Friday asking him to retain the existing designations of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments without changes. “Any federal decision to modify acreage or roll back protection of these incredible spaces will have negative and far-reaching impacts on Salt Lake City, as well as our entire state,” she wrote.
- TAKE ACTION: Visit standup.tu.org
