Outlook On Federal Environmental Legislation
March 1, 2000
Richard "Rich" Gold- Washington
The only significant action on environmental legislation in 2000 may have
come on February 10th, when the Senate passed a nuclear waste storage bill, S.
1287, by a vote of 64-34. The legislation would govern the short-term disposal
of spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants in 34 states and from
military reactors. However, it is unlikely that this legislation will become law
since it passed by three votes short of the 67 needed to override a promised
Presidential veto. The House has yet to act on companion legislation.
Since 2000 is an election year, Congressional leadership will be pressing
hard to complete the appropriations process quickly in order to allow Members to
return to their districts to campaign. The remaining time in session will likely
be spent debating traditional election year issues such as tax cuts, health
care, and Social Security. As a result, there will be little time to consider
major environmental issues such as Superfund reform, the Endangered Species Act,
and global climate change.
The only chance for any action on these issues would likely be in a smaller
piecemeal approach such as a brownfields bill or a measure focussing on
liability reform for small businesses and municipalities. Senate staff has
recently commented that as a result of not being able to secure enough votes to
move Superfund legislation out of the Environment and Public Works Committee in
1999, that the issue is "effectively shelved."
In order to provide Members with an environmental achievement to campaign on,
both the House and Senate will likely attempt to pass the "Conservation and
Reinvestment Act" (CARA). This legislation would set aside $3 billion a
year from Outer Continental Shelf oil royalties in a permanent fund to buy and
protect environmentally sensitive land and for other conservation programs. The
major opposition to this legislation comes from appropriators and budget writers
who are unhappy with provisions that would take the Land and Conservation Fund
off-budget. In the House, CARA has 304 cosponsors and in the Senate it has 21.
Further complicating the chance of any significant legislative action are the
retirements of two Members who chair committees of significant jurisdiction,
House Commerce Committee Chairman Tom Bliley (R-VA) and Ways and Means Committee
Chairman Bill Archer (R-TX). In addition, the desire of Democratic Members to
seek compromise on contentious issues is limited, given that the GOP holds only
a five-seat majority in the House. If Democrats were to regain control of the
House, it would mean the election of new Democratic chairs for all standing
committees, resulting in a new beginning on many environmental issues.
Related Practices