LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS:
Cellulosic Ethanol Development and Implementation Act of 2007 (HR 395 Salazar / S 167 Boxer)
Cellulosic ethanol is a renewable biofuel and is the same product as corn based ethanol, but it is produced from a wide variety of cellulosic biomass feedstocks. This bill authorizes grants for research, development, and infrastructure needed to bring cellulosic ethanol onto the market for use in automobiles in the United States.
CCE’s memo in support of this legislation
Bill text
Long Island Sound Federal Funding
CCE continues to advocate for the full funding provided for by legislation our organization originally worked to see passed in previous years. Two of these pieces of legislation are the Long Island Sound Restoration Act, which authorizes $40 million a year to protect and restore the Sound, and the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act, which authorizes $25 a year for open space preservation and public access improvements.
CCE's memo in support of full federal funding of the LIS Restoration Act and the LIS Stewardship Act.
Upholding the Promise of Clean Water
With the passage of the Clean Water Act (CWA) nearly 35 years ago, Congress made a promise to protect and improve our nation’s water quality for current and future generations. Since the adoption of the CWA, clean water infrastructure investments have made significant improvements to local water quality, but significant investments are needed, as forty percent (40%) of our nation’s assessed waterways fail to achieve standards. The 110th Congress must direct adequate financial resources and oversight to achieve the goal of making our nation’s waters acceptable for fishing and swimming.
CCE’s memo on federal funding priorities for clean water
Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy Implementation
Despite progress to protect and restore the Great Lakes since the adoption of the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes are currently on the tipping point of ecological collapse. In December of 2005, a comprehensive action plan to protect and restore the Great Lakes was developed by 1,500 stakeholders, including citizens, industry leaders, federal agency officials, Great Lakes governors and mayors, Native American Tribes, environmental and conservation groups, and others throughout the Great Lakes basin. The plan to protect and restore the Great Lakes is known as the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC) strategy.
CCE’s memo of support for implementing and funding the GLRC strategy
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
CCE’s Great Lakes Regional Collaboration campaign page
Bill text of the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act
Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 (H.R. 2421 Oberstar, S. 1870 Feingold)
The Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed 35 years ago, with the goal of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the United States. Recent Supreme Court decisions (SWANCC 2001, Rapanos/Carabell 2006) and subsequent federal guidance changes, have limited and confused the scope of federal protection for our nation’s waters. Polluters now argue that the CWA no longer protects numerous wetlands, streams, rivers, lakes, and other waters historically covered by the CWA. This legislation will reaffirm the original intent of Congress in enacting the CWA, to protect all waters of the United States.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
CCE’s Clean Water Restoration Act campaign page
Bill text
Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act (H.R. 39 Markey)
America’s Arctic Wildlife Refuge is the crowned jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge system. In particular, the Arctic coastal plain provides critical habitat, including the nursery grounds for Porcupine Caribou, largest on-shore denning sites for polar bears, and staging for millions of migratory birds. This critical habitat has been historically targeted for oil development, which would cause permanent and irreversible damage to this unique and sensitive ecosystem. This legislation will provide full wilderness protection for the Arctic coastal plain within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Bill text
Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452 Bishop)
Many communities in New York State, Connecticut, and throughout the nation are served by aging and dilapidated sewage infrastructure. When our sewage infrastructure is not properly operated or maintained, billions of gallons of untreated raw sewage can be released in to the environment before reaching a treatment plant. This legislationwill require sewage treatment operators to implement an effective monitoring and notification program for sewage overflows. This is a common-sense measure that will allow the public to avoid unnecessary exposure to harmful untreated sewage.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Bill text
The 2007 Beach Protection Act (H.R. 2537 Pallone /S. 1506 Lautenburg)
A day at the beach is a cherished American pastime that is increasingly threatened by pollution. This legislation will reauthorize the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH Act) of 2000. When passed, the Act will mandate the use of rapid testing methods to detect beach water contamination in two hours or less so that beachgoers can be notified of public health risks promptly. The Act will also increase the amount of grant money available for states’ testing programs from $30 million to $60 million annually through 2012, and expand the uses of grant funds to include source tracking and pollution prevention.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Ban on Phosphorus in Household Dish Detergent (H.R. 3331 Higgins)
Phosphorus that is discharged in to surface waters contributes to eutrophication, or nutrient enrichment, resulting in excessive growth of green plants, including algae. As these plants die off and decompose, they decrease oxygen levels, cause fish kills, disturb recreational opportunities, and increase the cost of sewage treatment. Today, safe and affordable automatic dishwasher detergents that do not contain phosphorus are readily available for household use. This bill bans the use of phosphorus in household dish detergents.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Bill text
Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 (S. 2994 Levin)
In 1987, the U.S. and Canada identified and committed to restoring the 43 most toxic hot spots within the Great Lakes basin, known as areas of concern, or AoCs. The sediments in Great Lakes AoCs contain high concentrations of toxic chemicals and heavy metals, which threaten humans, aquatic organisms, and wildlife health. The Great Lakes Legacy Act is the most important tool that we have to clean up toxic hot spots in the Great Lakes, and must be reauthorized by Congress before the legislation expires on September 30, 2008.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Bill text
Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2007, or FOARAM Act
Global warming is threatening our oceans by increasing ocean temperatures, raising sea levels, and changing our ocean’s chemistry. Since the Industrial Revolution our oceans have absorbed billions of tons of greenhouse gases, which is shifting the ocean’s basic chemistry. This change is known as Ocean Acidification. Increasing human understanding of ocean acidification through science is essential to informing sound policies to address this harmful impact from global climate change. This legislation empowers NOAA to develop a specific program on ocean acidification, to increase our knowledge base to inform mitigation and adaptation approaches to conserve marine ecosystems.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Updated by mdolan 7/24/08