Week of March 27th, 2017
Mississippi River Basin News
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This Week in Washington

President Trump took the first step in fulfilling campaign pro mise s t o roll back Obama-era commitments to reduce dependence on fore i gn ene r gy Tuesday, March 28. The newl y signed executive order will begin the proc es s of reviewing the Clean Power Plan amid criticism that renegotiating the 2015 Paris Agreement could lead to a breakdown in already delicate ag re em ents with other countries, notably China, to cut carbon-based emissions. The order also rescinds a moratorium disallowing coal mining on U.S. federal l ands. President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to helping the agricultu re sector in a proclamation naming March 21st national Agriculture Day. This commitment however, comes in the aftermath of a budget blueprint that would cut USDA funding by $4.7 billion, or 21%. Trump's selection for Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue expressed concern with the cuts in his nomination hearing.  Perdue was approved by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee on March 23 for consideration by the full Senate for confirmation. President Trump also signed a bill last week which scales back the scope of lands controlled by the Federal Bureau of Land Management. 
 
The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held hearings to consider the "Assumptions, Policy Implications, and the Scientific Method" of climate science. The panel included Professors Dr. Judith Curry and Dr. John Christy, who gave testimonies against anthropogenic climate change as well as testimony from Penn State professor Dr. Michael Mann, a vocal advocate for environmentalism. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife held a hearing on March 28th regarding the introduction of bills S.518, a bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (to expand government assistance to rural town water infrastructure), and S.692, the Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act of 2017.  A testimony from Dennis Steinberg, Director of the Arkansas Rural Water Association, highlighted the importance of both bills to the rural states along the Mississippi River. Additional testimonies were heard from Richard Gray, Mayor of Lancaster, PA, and Erin Crotty, Executive Director of Audubon New York.

News From Around the Basin
McKnight Foundation Announces Revised Program Guidelines and April 14 Webinar
The McKnight Foundation has announced revised program guidelines, and a newly developed Theory of Change and Logic Model, which build on the Foundation's 25-year commitment to restoring the water quality and resilience of the Mississippi River. In a blog post on the Foundation's website, Mississippi River Program Director Mark Muller praises the work of McKnight's grantees working toward this commitment, and discusses the Foundation's new approaches to maintain focus on the key issues of river engineering and agricultural runoff. The blog post also includes information about a related upcoming webinar hosted by McKnight Mississippi River Program staff on Friday, April 14 at 1pm CT (2pm ET).


 
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