Weekly Legislative Activities Report

The Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs puts out weekly reports on hearings, new legislation and other activities on the Hill. The following is the May 15th summary.

In order to obtain the full text of any of the bills that appear below, click on the following link: http://thomas.loc.gov/ . That will take you to Thomas, the Library of Congress legislative tracking system. Enter the bill number in the “Search Bill Text” block, being sure to also click on the “Bill Number” option below the block.

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New Public Laws

No new laws.

Floor Action

No floor action.

Committee Activity

On May 11th, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Costa) held an oversight field hearing on "Solar Energy Development on Federal Lands: The Road to Consensus".  The witness was Jim Abbott, Acting California State Director, Bureau of Land Management.

On May 13th, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved the nomination of Rhea S. Suh, of California, to be Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget of the Department of the Interior.

On May 13th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies held a hearing on the DOI Budget for FY 2010.  The witness was Secretary Ken Salazar. 

On May 14th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies held a hearing on the National Park Service Budget for FY 2010.  The witness was Acting Director Dan Wenk.

On May 14th, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on the following bills of interest to the National Park Service.  The DOI witness was Steve Whitesell, Associate Director for Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands:

• H.R. 1471 (Bishop, S.), To expand the boundary of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in the State of Georgia, to redesignate the unit as a National Historical Park.  The bill would authorize the addition of properties to the Jimmy Carter historic site that would help broaden public understanding of the life and work of President Carter and enhance the visitor experience in Plains, Georgia.  The Department supports the bill.
• H.R. 1641 (Inslee), a bill to amend the National Trails System Act to provide for a study of the Cascadia Marine Trail.   The bill required the Secretary to coordinate with State and local governments and private entities in the preparation of the study and to look at nearby sites of recreational, scenic, or historic significance that are not connected by the trail.  The Department supports the bill with one technical amendment. 

• S. 1017 (Landrieu, D-LA) - A bill to reauthorize the Cane River National Heritage Area Commission and expand the boundaries of the Cane River National Heritage Area in the State of Louisiana.
• S. 1018 (Landrieu, D-LA) - A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to construct a curatorial center for the use of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, and the University. 
• H.R. 2383 (Fleming, R-LA) -To reauthorize the Cane River National Heritage Area Commission and expand the boundaries of the Cane River National Heritage Area in the State of Louisiana.
• H.R. 2384 (Fleming, R-LA) - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to construct a curatorial center for the use of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, and the University.
• H.R. 2430 (Hastings, D-WA) - To direct the Secretary of the Interior to continue stocking fish in certain lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.
• S. 1051 (Casey, Jr., D-PA) - A bill to establish the Centennial Historic District in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• H.R. 2219 (Platts, R-PA) -  To amend the Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act of 2000 to permit certain annuitants of the retirement programs of the United States Park Police and United States Secret Service Uniformed Division to receive the adjustments in pension benefits to which such annuitants would otherwise be entitled as a result of the conversion of members of the United States Park Police and United States Secret Service Uniformed Division to a new salary schedule under the amendments made by such Act.