Oklahomans in the U.S. House were busy this past week dealing with numerous energy-related issues. Dozens of amendments connected to the EPA had to be dealt with before the Representatives could start their weekend, according to Politico’s Morning Energy Report.
Here’s how the ME Report laid out what happened.
“House lawmakers churned through about 70 of the 80 amendments related to EPA and Interior during a debate on a spending package H.R. 3354 (115)Thursday evening. Final votes on the overall measure will now occur next week, but the results so far offer some glimpse into what may happen during the forthcoming December government funding debate, so here are some highlights:
1. There’s love for addressing park maintenance (a priority for Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke)! In a voice vote, lawmakers backed an amendment adding $9.7 million to address the backlog.
2. An effort to restore funding to EPA’s environmental justice program by cutting from the Interior secretary’s budget fell short by a vote of 190 to 218.
3. Rep. John Katko‘s amendment to restore $250 million in Clean Water State Revolving Funds, an infrastructure program that typically enjoys broad bipartisan support, passed by voice vote.
4. Republican Frank LoBiondo and Democrat Don Beyer‘s bipartisan push to block offshore drilling in a host of Atlantic sites came up short on a voice vote.
5. An amendment giving EPA $6 million to implement a long-term monitoring program for water quality of the waters affected by the Gold King Mine spill passed the House 220 to 191.
6. Rep. Scott Perry‘s amendment to block EPA from issuing any regulations under Section 115 of the Clean Air Act, an obscure section of the statute some fear could be used to force carbon rules, passed by voice vote.
Rather extraordinary: Rep. Don Young had to apologize after calling Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal a “young lady” who “doesn’t know a damn thing what she’s talking about” concerning his amendment blocking regulations on sport hunting and trapping in national preserves in Alaska. He apologized later, though his amendment passed 215 to 196. Video here.
Reminder: This bill won’t become law in anything approaching its current form and likely won’t resemble the Senate’s version, so take its contents with a grain of salt. That said, a bunch of amendments will get votes next week.”
