NEMW Coalition Co-Chair Mike Kelly Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Conserve Open Spaces     

The bill would make permanent an enhanced deduction for contributions of capital gain real property for conservation purposes for individuals, farmers, and ranchers. A qualified conservation contribution is a contribution of a real property interest to a qualified organization (usually a land trust organization), exclusively for conservation purposes. A previous tax incentive expired at the end of 2014. NEMW Senate Coalition member Stabenow is expected to introduce a bipartisan companion bill in the Senate. Land conservation will help assure future food production, while allowing hunting, fishing, and hiking in intact woodlands.  

Other NEMW Congressional Coalition members co-sponsoring this bill include Reps. Charlie Dent, David Joyce, Marcy Kaptur, Ron Kind, Jim McGovern (NEMW Coalition Co-chair), Richard Neal, Niki Tsongas, and Chris Collins. The Ways and Means Committee is expected to mark up the bill this week.

For more information, please contact Sam Breene, Legislative Director of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition. 

Today, Tuesday, February 3, 2015, the NEMWI will host its annual regional reception in the Capitol Visitor Center - North Capitol Room from 5:00-7:00 pm. NEMW Coalition leadership will speak to regional legislative priorities, and NEMWI Board members will introduce NEMWI's new President, Michael Goff, Ph.D. For over 37 years, the NEMWI, working closely with regional stakeholders, has actively, creatively, and effectively generated regional information and analysis for the NEMW Congressional and Senate Coalitions and states to support their significant joint efforts to improve federal, state, and local policy responses to the region's needs. The NEMWI is especially skilled in the areas of economic development in the context of resource conservation and restoration. Areas of focus include water resource restoration and protection, energy efficiency, community redevelopment, advanced manufacturing, transportation improvement, public health protection, and workforce development. Please join us to celebrate the remarkable NEMW region and the bipartisan NEMW Coalitions and state offices that work to improve it. We will have fine regional libations and tasty appetizers!

For more information, contact Hope Ratner, Administrative Manager at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.   

Two Sets of Revitalization-Related Grants for Communities Awarded: NEMW Region Winners      

The Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), respectively, recently announced the recipients of grants and technical assistance for a range of community revitalization-related purposes. The table below provides more detail:

For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Sr. Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.     

Last week, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce announced the opening of the round two designation competition of the  Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP). The competition is an Administration-wide initiative coordinated by the U.S. Commerce Department that rewards communities that demonstrate best practices in attracting and expanding manufacturing by bringing together key local stakeholders and using long-term planning that integrates targeted public and private investments. The initiative is designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in communities nationwide. The IMCP designation elevates communities in consideration for $1.3 billion in federal dollars and assistance from 10 federal departments and agencies. In addition, each designated community will receive a federal liaison and branding and promotion as a designated Manufacturing Community to help attract additional private investment and partnerships. The Secretary of Commerce announced the  first 12 communities to receive a designation under IMCP in May 2014; half of them are located in the NEMW region. The deadline for receipt of the latest round of applications is April 1, 2015. More information is available in the federal register here.

Three Water-Related Hearings Among the Week's Congressional   

Committee Activities 

With the conclusion of January's Congressional committee organizational activities, some water-relevant meetings and hearings have started to appear on committee calendars, including three hearings this week. On Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee-House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a joint hearing on the "Impacts of the Proposed Waters of the United States Rule on State and Local Governments," at 10:00 AM, in room 210 HVC. Witnesses will include EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy; Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy; Oklahoma State Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt; Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam; El Paso County, Colorado, District 3 County Commissioner Sallie Clark; Clear Creek, Colorado, District 1 County Commissioner Timothy Mauck; and Lemuel Srolovic, chief of the Environmental Protection Bureau in the New York State attorney general's office.    

Also on Wednesday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will convene the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, at 2:30 p.m. for a hearing entitled, "The Impacts of Vessel Discharge Regulations on our Shipping and Fishing Industry." The hearing will focus on existing regulations governing ballast water discharge and other discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels. At present, state and federal vessel discharge regulations are inconsistent, and in some cases scientifically and technologically impossible to meet.  Subject matter experts will testify about the effects of regulations on workers and job creators and how nationally uniform and environmentally sound standards could simplify the complicated patchwork of state and federal regulations that currently govern the management of discharges.  

On Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a hearing on H.R. 212, the "Drinking Water Protection Act," "to provide for the assessment and management of the risk of cyanotoxins in drinking water." The bill is intended to increase federal agency and drinking water utility ability to deal with algal-based toxins, and will be held at 10:00 AM, in room 2123 of the Russell House Office Building.

For more information, contact Mark Gorman, Policy Analyst, Northeast-Midwest Institute.