|
|
NEMWI Launches Staff Expertise Directory
The Northeast-Midwest Institute has launched a
Staff Resources and Specialization Directory highlighting its staff's areas of policy and scientific specialization and providing easily-accessible contact information. The directory guides journalists, governmental staffers, and regional stakeholders with policy questions to NEMWI analysts who can provide information in response to queries.
The release of this new resource is part of NEMWI's continued commitment to bridging the gaps between policy makers, the public, and regional stakeholders. From water quality and safe drinking water, to Farm Bill conservation provisions, to the Great Lakes, to government reform initiatives, NEMWI's policy analysts and scientists are engaged in addressing some of the biggest issues facing the region. Before coming to the Institute, many NEMWI staff served as legislative staffers and government relations specialists, and hold special insights into regional developments from lawmakers' perspectives.
|
EPA Moves to Repeal Clean Power Plan
Last week EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
announced that the agency would be repealing the Clean Power Plan. The Plan, a regulation issued by the Obama administration in 2014, aimed to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants by 32% by 2030 compared to emissions in 2005.
However, the repeal does not address the EPA's previous conclusion that carbon dioxide emissions are linked to global warming, a conclusion also known as the "
endangerment finding."
Without repealing the endangerment finding, it is likely that the EPA will attempt to replace the Clean Power Plan with a scaled-back version, rather than attempting to avoid regulating carbon emissions entirely.
The announced repeal also does not address a regulation considered a companion to the Clean Power Plan, one which governs new, rather than pre-existing, power plants. It is unclear if the EPA will try to repeal this in the future.
For more information, contact
Joe Vukovich, Senior Policy Analyst for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
|
Summit Tomorrow: Manufacturing
a Better Paying Pennsylvania
October 17, 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM
60 Boulevard of the Allies, Floor 13
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
The Century Foundation's High Wage America Project will be co-sponsoring a summit featuring addresses by United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard and Pennsylvania State Senator Kim Ward.
Two panels, featuring leaders from government, business, workforce and community development, and labor, will lay the groundwork for a bold agenda to build an advanced and inclusive manufacturing economy--showcasing examples of economic growth already underway in Pennsylvania and other similar communities across the country.
For more information and to register, please click
here
.
|
This Week on Capitol Hill
The Senate returns from its recess and will continue negotiating the passage of a budget resolution that would include reconciliation instructions allowing for the passage of tax reform with a simple majority instead of the usual 60-vote threshold. The House has already passed their budget resolution and, should the Senate pass theirs, the two chambers must conference before passing the final budget resolution (the President does not need to sign the resolution).
The Oct. 17 Senate Appropriations Subcommittee markup of the FY18 interior, environment, and related agencies appropriations bill has been postponed because Chairman Thad Cochran is seeking medical treatment in Mississippi. The Subcommittee markup has not been rescheduled nor has the Oct. 19 full Committee markup been postponed as of this writing.
The House will be in recess all of this week. It will reconvene on Monday, October 23.
A list of key Congressional committee activity that impacts the region can be viewed below:
Thursday, October 19
- There will be a Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the FY18 interior, environment, and related agencies appropriations bill at 10:30 AM in 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
|
|
NEMWI: Strengthening the Region that Sustains the Nation
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
