In conjunction with his statement today, the President has released his Climate Action plan.
A short overview of the plan can be found here, while the longer version can be found here – POTUS Climate Change Action Plan.
Category: Environmental Research & Sustainability
Senate Confirms Pritzker
Today, the Senate confirmed Penny Pritzker as Secretary of Commerce by a vote of 97-1.
Pritzker, a member of the family that owns Hyatt Hotels, was the national finance chairwoman of President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and the national co-chairwoman of his reelection campaign.
The Commerce Department is comprised of of 12 different agencies responsible for everything from weather forecasts to patent protection, including:
President Unveils Climate Change Agenda
President Barack Obama will unveil his climate change agenda during a speech around 2 p.m. Eastern this afternoon. The agenda is expected to combine both Executive Orders and a call to Congress to enact legislation.
The new climate initiative will impose deadlines for EPA to write rules throttling carbon dioxide emissions at U.S. power plants, part of a series of efforts that could hit the coal industry hard both at home and abroad – but also create jobs and spark the economy according to the administration. The plan features updated versions of the President’s first-term emphasis on tightening vehicle emissions standards, fostering the development of “clean coal” technology, and offering billions of dollars for green energy, as well as a renewed push to lead international climate talks. It will seek to push solar and wind energy on federal lands and subsidized housing, as well as encourage coal users to switch to natural gas. Again, it takes aim at the oil and gas industry tax breaks that Obama has unsuccessfully urged Congress to kill.
Last term, Congressional Republicans easily defeated the President’s proposal by arguing the proposed changes would increase taxes and costs on consumers.
The Office of Federal Relations is tracking this issue and will provide updates as available.
House Defeats Farm Bill
The House voted down the farm bill by a vote of 195-234 early this afternoon. Sixty-two Republicans voted against the measure while 24 Democrats voted for the measure.
With that, the House is adjourned for the week.
It is unclear major legislation, including student loans or appropriations measures, that the House will consider next week. Incidentally, next week is the last work week before the July 4th Recess.
House Proceeds on Farm Bill as White House Threatens Veto
The House will begin consideration of the Farm Bill (HR 1947) today and finish consideration on Thursday. While the House Rules Committee is still determining which amendments will be made in order, 220 amendments have been submitted to the Rules Committee.The House Rules Committee has proceeded with a rare two day consideration of the rule to determine which amendments should be made in order. The bulk of these amendments pertain to the SNAP program.
Continue reading “House Proceeds on Farm Bill as White House Threatens Veto”