Posts

Posted on

U.S. Sen. Menendez, Gov. Murphy, Congressman Pallone, and N.J. State Sen. Gopal Mark Start of Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority Project

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

MONMOUTH BEACH, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined with Governor Phil Murphy, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.-06), and New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal to highlight the commencement of the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA) sewer/pump station project, to which the Murphy Administration will commit $20 million in federal grant funding. The two-part project in Monmouth County will replace more than 3,000 feet of sewer line and relocate a critical main pump station. Together, these measures will bolster the resilience of crucial wastewater and stormwater infrastructure while safeguarding the station and surrounding communities from future storms.

“The reality is that because of climate change, we’re seeing what were once 100-year floods more and more frequently.  In some cases, we’ve seen them in consecutive years or even more often, and we simply can’t afford to be playing those odds with our critical infrastructure,” said Sen. Menendez. “This federal and state investment for the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority will play an essential role in ensuring that coastal communities in Monmouth County are protected for generations to come. I was proud to advocate along with Congressman Pallone for this federal funding of $20 million to support the project.”

TRWRA’s water treatment and collection systems serve 90,000 people in six member towns (Fair Haven, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Shrewsbury, and West Long Branch), six customer towns (Eatontown, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury Township, and Tinton Falls), and two military bases. Its facilities include 200 miles of sanitary sewer mains, 18 pump stations, and nine meter chambers.

[embedded content]

“Thanks in no small part to the tireless work of FEMA and our congressional delegation, this project will help protect tens of thousands of New Jerseyans from future storms and flooding,” said New Jersey Governor Murphy. “Crucially, by committing federal dollars toward the overhaul of this critical infrastructure, the State will realize a considerable return on its investment of FEMA resilience funding without imposing additional taxpayer burdens. It’s smart, forward-looking investments like these that will better prepare and protect our local communities and economies against the worsening impacts of climate change.”

“New Jersey’s resilience against the effects of future storms has been one of my top priorities ever since Superstorm Sandy devastated our state over ten years ago,” said Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. “This funding will help make critical improvements to the sewer line and pump station that will safeguard our rivers and surrounding waters from a devastating sewage spill and future flooding events. I’m grateful to Governor Murphy, Senator Menendez, and Senator Gopal for their support of this project and our coastal communities.”

“We need 21st century infrastructure to support the Monmouth County of the future and protect us against extreme weather events like major flooding,” said Senator Vin Gopal. “These projects are fundamental to keeping our communities clean, healthy and prepared. Thanks to this infusion of funding, Monmouth County will have a modernized infrastructure to safeguard our communities and natural resources. This will be instrumental during storm events to keep our homes, businesses and beaches disaster free.”
 
“The Authority is eager to start this critical project and appreciates the Governor and Legislators working for Two Rivers to get this Grant to decrease the impact on our ratepayers,” said Michael Gianforte, Executive Director of TRWRA.

Sen. Menendez has long been a leader in the fight to increase flood protections for New Jersey residents. In May, Sens. Menendez and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced a combined total of $8.8 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to mitigate flood risks in the City of Bayonne and in Rutherford, NJ. In March, Sen. Menendez joined with Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. to hold a groundbreaking ceremony with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for the Union Beach flood control project to reduce flooding and better protect the area from rising seas and future catastrophic weather events. In March, Senators Menendez and Kennedy introduced the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Consultant Accountability Act of 2023 to protect homeowners who are victims of natural disasters from working with third parties that are found guilty of property damage assessment fraud.

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing in April, Sen. Menendez emphasized the importance of keeping flood insurance affordable to lower housing costs for working families and highlighted the reintroduction of the bipartisan National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Reform (NFIP-RE) Act coming soon. In the same month, Sens. Menendez, Cory Booker, Kristen Gillibrand and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced the New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act to improve water quality and increased flood protections for residents near these vital water resources.

Sen. Menendez has been the leading advocate in Congress for an overhaul of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), since Superstorm Sandy devastated New Jersey 10 years ago. The NFIP-RE Act, which Sen. Menendez plans to reintroduce soon, would extend the program for five years, while implementing a series of sweeping reforms to address the waste, abuse and mismanagement plaguing the system. Sen. Menendez first exposed the problem of widespread lowballing of flood insurance claims during Congressional hearings, he chaired in 2014, and then successfully pushed FEMA to reopen every Sandy flood insurance claim for review, which compensated Sandy victims with more than $260 million in additional payments they were initially denied.

Sen. Menendez authored the Superstorm Sandy Relief and Disaster Loan Program Improvement Act, which extended and expanded access to federal disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). His Homeowner’s Flood Insurance Affordability Act was signed into law in 2014 to address skyrocketing rates many Sandy survivors were encountering. In 2013, the Senator shepherded the original $50 billion federal Sandy aid package through Congress.

For event photos, click HERE.

###

Posted on

ICYMI: Manchin, Romney, Sullivan, King Introduce Legislation to Expose China’s Defense Spending

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

June 06, 2023

Washington, DC — Last week, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME) to introduce the China Defense Spending Transparency Act, bipartisan legislation requiring the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to publish a comprehensive report exposing the true extent of China’s defense-industrial build up.

The report must take into account the military-civil fusion present in the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) and will provide policymakers and the American public a clearer understanding of the real value of Chinese military expenditures. Official reports and statistics coming out of China about their own defense spending cannot be taken at face value, and the lack of an accurate accounting leads to these misleading figures being cited and reported—ultimately distorting the public debate about our own defense spending.

“For America to win against the People’s Republic of China and their growing military threats, we must publicly refute their dishonest defense budget and demonstrate how much they are actually spending in comparison to the United States,” said Senator Manchin. “I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation that will create an accurate and transparent report of the PRC’s defense budget so we can make better decisions about how to invest in our defense capabilities. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense proposal to strengthen our response to the PRC and protect American interests.”

“The Chinese Communist Party is undertaking a rapid and strategic military buildup in its quest to become the world’s superpower,” said Senator Romney. “We cannot for one second trust CCP pronouncements regarding its defense spending—or allow this misleading information to influence U.S. policymaking. It’s critical for our national security that we accurately understand the PRC’s military investments as we make decisions regarding investments in support of our own defense capabilities.”

“Given the CCP’s repeated history of deception on almost everything, it should come as no surprise that they are distorting the numbers regarding their own defense spending,” said Senator Sullivan. “Our Defense Department needs to report to the American people the true scope of China’s massive military build-up, which is clearly aimed at threatening America’s interests far beyond China’s own shores and borders. We need to ensure the United States military is maintaining its ability to respond to and deter any threats to American national security, particularly from this aggressive despotic regime.”

“The Chinese Communist Party has consistently demonstrated its desire to challenge the balance of global policymaking and undermine a rules-based international order,” Senator King said. “The first step in addressing any potential threat—this one included—is to get a clear understanding of the facts. This report will help Congress and defense officials better quantify and understand the true expanse of China’s military—using our own intelligence and information gathering to guide America’s critical national security decisions rather than take China’s word for their intent. The China Defense Spending Transparency Act is bipartisan, commonsense legislation to ensure that the United States can have clear eyes in deterring and preparing for any potential conflicts. I thank Senators Romney, Manchin and Sullivan for their leadership on this issue and urge our Senate colleagues to pass this bill swiftly.”

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

Posted on

Manchin Announces $495K for McDowell County Wastewater Infrastructure Upgrades

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

June 06, 2023

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the DigDeep Right to Water Project will receive $495,840 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to upgrade wastewater infrastructure in McDowell County. This federal funding is one of the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests Senator Manchin secured on behalf of West Virginia through the Fiscal Year 2022 funding bill.

“I’m proud to have secured direct funding for the DigDeep Right to Water project that will support their work to improve wastewater infrastructure in McDowell County,” said Senator Manchin. “This initiative will install sanitary septic and sewage service in 35 households, which will help protect the quality of the county’s water sources and promote community health. Upgrades to essential water infrastructure in McDowell County are long-overdue. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for funding through Congressionally Directed Spending and other programs to ensure our rural communities across the Mountain State have the resources they need to thrive.”

The funding announced today will be used to design and install residential septic systems in McDowell County. Currently, municipal sewage lines cannot reach many rural homes and the appropriate septic systems are often cost prohibitive. The project will provide septic and sewage service to 35 homes housing 80 people. Another 17,000 residents of McDowell County will benefit from these efforts to eliminate straight-piping of raw sewage into the community’s rivers, streams and other waterways.

The Senate Appropriations Committee allows members of Congress to submit CDS requests, which provides an opportunity for state and local governments, non-profits, and other public entities to receive targeted funding for projects that bolster their communities and directly support West Virginians. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Manchin works to ensure taxpayer dollars are allocated to priorities that benefit all West Virginians, boost economic growth and support the needs of communities across the Mountain State while remaining fiscally responsible.

Posted on

Manchin Urges EPA to Improve Implementation of Methane Emissions Reduction Program

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

June 06, 2023

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, wrote a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, expressing the Senator’s concerns regarding selective implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and urging a delay in enforcing fees on methane emissions under the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) until producers have been given a reasonable opportunity to utilize the $1.55 billion in funding provided by the law to address emissions and implement necessary changes for compliance. More than nine months after the enactment of the IRA, neither the funding nor implementation guidance have been released by EPA despite the fee beginning in January 2024.  

“I am writing to convey my strong concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) selective implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has led to delays delivering Congressionally mandated funding for methane emissions reductions and a lack of timely guidance for the energy industry to implement the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP),” Senator Manchin wrote. 

“The Congressional intent behind this provision is crystal clear: the EPA was directed to provide financial support to energy companies to reduce methane emissions before any new fees would be assessed.  Unfortunately, nearly 10 months later, not a single penny of funding has gone out the door.  Furthermore, zero guidance has been given to our industry partners on how the MERP will be implemented to allow them sufficient time to take steps to reduce emissions and avoid EPA fees.  To honor Congressional intent and preserve our nation’s energy security, fees on methane emissions should be postponed until at least a year after funding and guidance have been issued,” Senator Manchin continued.

In the letter, Senator Manchin requests the EPA deliver MERP funding that Congress allocated in FY22 to our oil and gas producers to help the industry reduce methane releases to target levels. The Senator also states that the EPA is failing to provide direction to operators on how the agency is using emission data to calculate fees. These errors wrongly punish the industry that supplies vital energy to the United States and our allies.

The full letter is available below or here.

Dear Administrator Regan:

I am writing to convey my strong concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) selective implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has led to delays delivering Congressionally mandated funding for methane emissions reductions and a lack of timely guidance for the energy industry to implement the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP). The Congressional intent behind this provision is crystal clear: the EPA was directed to provide financial support to energy companies to reduce methane emissions before any new fees would be assessed.  Unfortunately, nearly 10 months later, not a single penny of funding has gone out the door.  Furthermore, zero guidance has been given to our industry partners on how the MERP will be implemented to allow them sufficient time to take steps to reduce emissions and avoid EPA fees.  To honor Congressional intent and preserve our nation’s energy security, fees on methane emissions should be postponed until at least a year after funding and guidance have been issued. 

Congress specifically provided $1.55 billion, available beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, in the MERP to help our oil and gas producers reduce methane releases to levels consistent with industry targets before any fees on excessive emissions would be issued.  This funding was intentionally sequenced to ensure that the MERP is constructive, not punitive to the industry that provides much-needed energy to the nation and our allies.  In the nearly ten months since the IRA was enacted, EPA has not made any MERP funding available, nor has EPA even announced when funding will become available.  It is vital that this funding be made available as quickly, easily, and to as many entities as possible to help them proactively reduce their emissions and avoid any EPA fees.  EPA has demonstrated the capability to move through the funding process more quickly for other IRA programs that the administration prefers, such as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants.

EPA has also failed to provide any guidance to operators on how the agency will use emissions data to calculate fees.  It is impossible to upend complex operations in response to last-minute EPA guidance or regulations without risking supply disruptions or putting communities and workers at risk.  A matter of months for industry implementation simply isn’t a sufficient or reasonable amount of time for energy companies to adjust to reduce emissions and avoid fees.

EPA has clearly missed the boat to implement this program in a fair manner, consistent with Congressional intent, for 2024 emissions.  As such, I urge you to delay assessing fees until operators have been given at least one year to deploy the funding appropriated by Congress and react to relevant MERP guidance or regulations from the agency. 

I also want to highlight several important considerations for when EPA does establish guidance or regulations for responsible implementation of the MERP.  EPA must set clear and reasonable expectations regarding who is subject to the fee and how emissions levels will be calculated.  Examples of key issues EPA should address include:

  • The statute clearly intends to exempt marginal wells and smaller producers from the fee. EPA must make it clearly understood that those entities not subject to the current Subpart W Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program are not subject to EPA fees under MERP. 
  • The MERP mandates that EPA revise Subpart W to make it more empirically based and allow for the use of individual estimates for emissions levels based on company-specific analyses. EPA must improve the accuracy and quality of its emissions factors, and EPA must provide operators a straightforward process for using the data they have available when reporting emissions.  For example, MERP fees should not be calculated using arbitrary emissions factors based on metrics like “miles of gathering pipeline” for operators who have facility-based measurements that more accurately assess actual leaks, unrealistic assumptions like constant operation of pneumatic devices, or treating all compressors as having the same degree of methane slip when operators have data showing their actual facilities are performing better.
  • EPA should draw reasonable boundaries around the definition of individual “facilities” (such as pad site, compressor site, or reporting field) for emissions intensity calculations so that aggregations of large amounts of disparate wells and gathering lines does not lead to charging a fee on marginal facilities that Congress intended to exempt or on facilities that have minimal actual emissions.
  • To assist individuals and small businesses engaged in energy production, EPA should provide a publicly available, easily understandable explanation of the calculation method for CO2-equivalent emissions, methane intensity, and other key calculations necessary to understand the requirements of MERP. 
  • Fee calculation methodologies should be flexible and equitable to account for the wide range of oil and gas operations.  For example, an operator primarily producing natural gas will be affected differently than one primarily producing crude oil with limited amounts of associated gas. 

Additionally, I request an update on the following matters so that both Congress and stakeholders can have a better sense of EPA’s implementation plans for the MERP:

  1. Will the EPA issue guidance or formal regulations for implementing the MERP?  If so, will the agency seek input from entities subject to MERP and other stakeholders on draft implementation guidance or regulations?
  2. How much time will businesses subject to the MERP fee have to reduce their emissions to avoid a fee after EPA has made funding available and published any implementation guidance or regulations?
  3. Please provide a timeline and “roadmap” of your plans for implementing the MERP, including target dates for EPA to:
    1. Propose any MERP implementation guidance or regulations and solicit input on those documents before finalizing them.
    2. Announce and award funding to energy companies under 42 U.S.C. 7436(a) and (b).
  1. How will EPA implement the MERP to prevent an excessive burden falling on marginal well producers and small businesses that could threaten their operations?  Will EPA consult with the Small Business Administration (SBA) regarding the MERP implementation? 
  2. What other agencies, if any, will EPA consult before implementing MERP?
  3. What procedures are being developed to ensure that operators will be able to clearly understand their reporting and calculation requirements?
  4. How does EPA plan to communicate to operators emitting below 25,000 metric tons/year of CO2-equivalent emissions that they are not subject to the fee program?              
  5. What will be the process for appealing or disputing a fee if a business believes a fee has been assessed incorrectly?
  6. What process is EPA developing to ensure that the MERP emissions fee is not applied to operators complying with EPA Subpart OOOOb and OOOOc regulatory requirements once these regulations are in place?

Because EPA has failed to communicate progress on MERP implementation in a timely manner, time is of the essence for EPA to address the concerns I have raised above.  Therefore, please respond to the above question by June 20, 2023.  Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Posted on

ICYMI: Manchin Announces $429K Grant for Jefferson County’s Shepherdstown Battlefield

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

June 06, 2023

Washington, DC – Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has awarded the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board $429,097 to preserve 149.6 acres at Shepherdstown Battlefield in Jefferson County, West Virginia, through the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants program. The funds will be used to support conservation easements on field of alfalfa, hay and pasture that will limit future development and subdivision of the property. 

“Shepherdstown Battlefield is a unique piece of West Virginia’s history, and I am proud to see the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board receive this grant that will enable future generations to visit and learn about the Civil War battle that took place there. The conservation easements this funding will be used for will also ensure that farmers with land in the area can continue to earn a living and help feed America while protecting a piece of American history that is our duty to remember,” said Chairman Manchin.

Read more from the U.S. National Park Service here. 

Posted on

MEDIA ADVISORY: HELP Committee to Hold Hearing on Youth Mental Health Crisis in America

Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

WASHINGTON, June 6 – The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), will hold a hearing Thursday, June 8 at 10:00 a.m. ET titled, “Why Are So Many American Youth in a Mental Health Crisis? Exploring Causes and Solutions.”

In 2021, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Children’s Hospital Association – which collectively represent more than 77,000 physicians and more than 200 children’s hospitals – joined together to declare a “national emergency” in the mental health of children and young people in the United States. Today, suicide is one of the leading causes of death for young people in the U.S. and estimates show more than 60 percent of children who are struggling with depression do not get any mental health care. Meanwhile, as record numbers of young people are in need of mental health care, some 158 million Americans – nearly half the population – live in a mental health care desert and about 80 percent of the country faces a severe shortage of child psychiatrists.

In April, Chairman Sanders held a livestream discussion with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on the youth mental health crisis in America, taking questions submitted from all over the country on topics ranging from social media use to addiction, COVID-19, anxiety, and loneliness. 

Details 
What: Hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to consider “Why Are So Many American Youth in a Mental Health Crisis? Exploring Causes and Solutions”
When: 10:00 a.m. ET, Thursday, June 8, 2023
Where: Room 430, Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing will also be livestreamed on the HELP Committee’s website and Sanders’ social media pages. 

Who:
Panel I

  • Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
  • Mrs. Katherine Neas, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC

Panel II

  • Mrs. Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, Commissioner, Connecticut State Department of Education, Hartford, Conn.
  • Dr. Joshua Garcia, Superintendent, Tacoma Public Schools, Washington, Tacoma, Wash.
  • Dr. Joy Osofsky, Psychologist, Psychoanalyst, and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, La.
Posted on

McConnell, Guthrie Introduce Bill to Expand Mammoth Cave National Park

Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) introduced the Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act in the Senate and House, respectively. This bill would expand Mammoth Cave National Park to protect wildlife, preserve cultural heritage, and bring more tourism to this national park in Kentucky’s Second District.

“As the world’s longest known cave system full of biodiversity and history, Mammoth Cave National Park is not only a treasure to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but also a treasure to the entire world. After discussions with Mammoth Cave National Park leadership and the local community, I introduced a bill to allow the park to acquire specific land to put cultural heritage artifacts and habitats under the care and expertise of the Mammoth Cave National Park Service. I’m proud to partner with Leader McConnell on this effort to expand Mammoth Cave National Park for National Park Service employees and volunteers to conserve and people to enjoy for generations to come,” said Guthrie.

“Kentucky is lucky to be home to an abundance of natural treasures, among them, Mammoth Cave National Park. This extensive cave network has been inspiring Kentuckians and drawing visitors from all corners of the globe for generations. Beyond its role in driving tourism to our Commonwealth, the park also plays a crucial role in the region’s economic growth, supporting good jobs for the people of Kentucky,” said Senator McConnell. “I’m proud to partner with Congressman Guthrie on this important initiative once again which will expand the critical habitats that the National Park Service protects and preserves in the park.”

Background:
• The legislation authorizes 980 acres of land expansion that includes the Green River watershed.
• This southern boundary expansion specifically includes the coordinates 135/177, 967 in Edmonson and Barren counties.
• The legislation allows the Mammoth Cave National Park Service to acquire critical habitat land owned by The Nature Conservancy that specialists with Mammoth Cave National Park are equipped to maintain. The Nature Conservancy is currently in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• The property includes numerous cave passages, including Coach Cave and James Cave that have prehistoric and historic artifacts that the National Park System can conserve and manage.
• Tourism to Mammoth Cave National Park created $69.2 million in economic benefits in 2021, and expansion of this land is expected to increase its economic impact on the community.

Posted on

As Fire Season Begins, Cortez Masto Joins Bipartisan Push to Increase Wildland Firefighter Recruitment and Retention

Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

June 06, 2023

The Senators’ Letter Comes as Temporary Pay Increases for Wildland Firefighters in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Are Set to Expire in September 

“Stretched to Their Breaking Point” Wildland Firefighters Deserve Better Pay, Support, And Time to Recover

Washington, D.C.  – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and a bipartisan group of Western senators in urging the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs to consider a long-term solution to increase wildland firefighter recruitment and retention. In their letter, the senators push Congress to act before short-term pay increases in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for over 16,000 federal wildland firefighters are set to expire on  September 30th, 2023.

In the last 20 years, wildfires have burned more than 8.8 million acres in Nevada, and the average number of acres burned per year has doubled in that timeframe. Between 2017 and 2021, wildfires destroyed an average of over 12,000 homes, businesses, and structures annually nationwide – more than three times greater than the prior five years. Over the past five years, the cost of these wildfires has been estimated to reach nearly $67 billion.

“Investing in our federal wildland firefighters is a matter of national security as critical infrastructure, homes, communities, structures, and natural resources are at grave and growing risk of catastrophic wildfire,” wrote the senators. “As the 2023 fire season begins, Congress must support our nation’s federal wildland firefighters and ensure the federal government has a robust and resilient workforce.”

“Wildland firefighters are on the front lines of these crises, protecting homes and communities, and helping reduce megafires’ severity and scope. Despite their critical importance, federal wildland firefighters are stretched to their breaking point,” said the senators. “Firefighters deserve fair pay, support for their mental and physical health, and time to recover from their dangerous work. In a future with increasingly catastrophic wildfires, Congress cannot wait to ensure that the federal government has the necessary workforce to protect communities.”

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also joined the letter effort.

Last Congress, Senator Cortez Masto helped secure and implement provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to give all federal wildland firefighters, including many working throughout Nevada, short-term pay raises up to $20,000. These pay increases are set to expire on September 30, 2023. 

The text of the letter is available HERE. 

Senator Cortez Masto has secured billions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support wildfire risk reduction, including $8 billion for wildfire prevention, suppression, and restoration activities and $10 million for wildfire detection equipment. She is pushing her comprehensive 

Western Wildfire Support Act to fund state-of-the-art firefighting equipment, create new training programs, and support recovery efforts for communities impacted by wild and rangeland fires. Senators Cortez Masto has also prioritized efforts to provide federal agencies with the resources they need to hire and retain vital firefighters year round.

###

Posted on

Getting Serious About Cutting Wasteful Spending

Source: United States Senator for South Dakota John Thune

The need to address the federal budget has only grown more urgent as the Biden administration has racked up trillions of dollars in more debt in the last two years alone. Recognizing that this level of spending is irresponsible and unsustainable, the American people elected a Republican majority in the House of Representatives last year as a check on the president’s policies and Democrats’ reckless spending. Although the president tried to avoid negotiating budget cuts for over three months, Republicans were intent on restoring fiscal sanity to Washington. Divided government requires compromise, and the spending reform deal that Speaker McCarthy negotiated shows what can be achieved when both sides work together.
The bill they agreed to, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, delivers on Republicans’ promise to rein in excess federal spending. It reduces the deficit by $1.5 trillion through spending cuts and by restoring budget caps – all without raising taxes. The Fiscal Responsibility Act also claws back more previously allocated federal funds than any other bill in American history, rescinding tens of billions of dollars in unused COVID funding. And it begins to chip away at the unnecessary influx of money that would have gone to hiring new IRS agents.  
Equally as important as limits on spending are the common-sense policies in the bill that limit the size of government. The Fiscal Responsibility Act strengthens work requirements in federal assistance programs to ensure those who are able can move from welfare to work. It makes a down payment on permitting reform that will help get energy projects off the ground more quickly, encourage domestic energy production, and lower costs for American families. And it creates zero new federal programs.
This is not a perfect bill, but these cuts and reforms are important steps in changing the trajectory of the federal budget. At $31 trillion, our national debt is larger than the entire economy, and it continues to grow at an unsustainable rate. Just paying the interest on the debt is taking up an enormous share of the budget. In a few years, unless additional responsible fiscal policies are enacted, interest payments will exceed what we spend on national defense. Think about that – we’re on pace to spend more money on interest payments than what we spend to maintain our top-tier armed forces and other defense capabilities. And it’s out-of-control spending that is driving these concerning trends and jeopardizing our future prosperity.
The policies in this bill won’t magically correct years of wasteful spending, but they are meaningful reforms and spending cuts that mark an important step toward helping to get our fiscal house in order. Our spending problem didn’t emerge overnight, and it won’t be solved with a single bill, but I am committed to restoring fiscal responsibility in Washington, and I hope President Biden and congressional Democrats are as well.

Posted on

NOAA Announces $3.31 Billion Investment in Coastal Resilience, Salmon Recovery, and Infrastructure – Largest in Agency’s History

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

06.06.23

NOAA Announces $3.31 Billion Investment in Coastal Resilience, Salmon Recovery, and Infrastructure – Largest in Agency’s History

Funding was secured by Cantwell in Inflation Reduction Act – includes $390M for tribal fisheries, including salmon hatcheries to help boost orca populations, and $83M to rebuild Seattle’s NW Fisheries Science Center; Cantwell: “This is a record amount of investment in salmon, salmon habitat and in salmon recovery

SEATTLE – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., to announce a $3.31 billion framework to build climate resilience and support coastal communities through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding.

Included in the historic nationwide effort is millions of dollars that will support salmon recovery in the State of Washington, and an $83 million commitment to rebuild the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle.

“This is a record amount of investment in salmon, salmon habitat, and in salmon recovery,” Sen. Cantwell said. “[This funding] is about removal of fish barriers, such as levees — or what we call deadbeat dams — investments in culverts and blockages, and helps to ensure salmon migration routes enable more salmon to return to their spawning grounds.”

  

“Coastal communities face a unique and widespread climate challenge, including more severe ocean storms, sea level rise, ocean acidification, [and] shifting fish populations that impact fishing communities,” Sen. Cantwell continued. “This funding makes a one-time investment in science that we need to make smarter decisions. We know that our large scale ecosystems are being impacted by climate, and we need to build what is our natural infrastructure to prevent against those storm surges, those floods, and other things that can be mitigated by us making some natural resource infrastructure investments.”

Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, this initiative will support climate-ready communities and people on the frontlines of climate change, and benefit coastal and Great Lakes communities nationwide. Sen. Cantwell will be continuing to work with the Department of Commerce to expand coastal resilience funding for tribal communities. Additional investments from the IRA will improve weather and climate data and services, support conservation and restoration initiatives, and strengthen NOAA’s fleet of research airplanes and ships.

Low lying areas across Washington state could be permanently underwater by 2050, including parts of Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia. In Grays Harbor County, more than 20% of the population is located in the 100-year floodplain, along with nine schools, three police stations, and three fire stations. Communities in these areas will benefit the most from technical assistance and coastal resiliency construction grants to help prepare for the threat of extreme weather and flooding associated with climate change.

Sen. Cantwell authored these provisions and urged their inclusion in the IRA. The last two years have been historic for salmon recovery. As chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sen. Cantwell fought to secure a historic $2.855 billion investment in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Act for salmon and ecosystem restoration programs, including $1 billion for culvert removal, as well as tens of billions of dollars allocated for water infrastructure.

Among the initiatives announced to receive funding that will benefit the State of Washington are: 

$83 million to replace the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle

The plan includes more than $83 million dollars to replace the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. The center is the crown jewel of fisheries research in Washington state. This center and its nearly 300 scientists are a key part of restoring Puget Sound, recovering orcas, building our sustainable fishing economy and supporting our shellfish farms here in the state. By replacing this lab, this cutting edge salmon, fisheries, and Puget Sound recovery science can continue for generations. This lab conducted cutting-edge research such as studies to better understand the impact of tire runoff on salmon survival.  

$3 million for a down payment for a new discovery center for the Olympic National Marine Sanctuary in Port Angeles

The plan includes a $3 million down payment for construction of a new discovery center for the Olympic Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center in Port Angeles. This project will be located along the redeveloped waterfront near the new arts and community center and help make the sanctuary more accessible to the community by providing public education spaces, and offices for sanctuary personnel and scientists that help protect this national treasure. This new interpretive center will help strengthen the partnership between NOAA, Port Angeles, and the whole peninsula. This initial funding will help get the project started. The total cost of the project will be around $15 million.

$390 million nationally for tribal priorities, which includes:

  1. $240 million for salmon and steelhead hatchery infrastructure

This funding represents NOAA’s largest-ever investment toward salmon and steelhead hatchery infrastructure. NOAA, in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, will direct funding to boost salmon production to support salmon and steelhead stocks, in turn supporting tribal fisheries, and our orcas who rely on Chinook salmon for survival. These projects will expand existing hatcheries to increase salmon production, as well as construct new hatcheries.  One of the top threats to Southern resident orcas is their ability to find their favorite prey, Chinook salmon. This funding will support orca recovery and access to prey, consistent with recommendations from the Orca Task Force. These hatcheries will also help protect fishing access for tribal, commercial and recreational fishers and reduce fishing pressure on wild stocks.

  1. $60 million for Mitchell Act hatcheries

The Mitchell Act, which was passed in 1938, currently supports roughly one-third of all of the hatchery production in the Columbia River. Under the Mitchell Act, funding is provided to produce salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin for harvest and conservation purposes. This funding will help address salmon and steelhead hatchery infrastructure projects, boost salmon and steelhead production, and make investments in existing hatcheries so that they can continue to produce Columbia River salmon for years to come.

  1. $20 million for capacity building

The plan will assist Tribes in assessing climate and habitat restoration needs, on permitting, and other challenges to ensure Tribes have the ability to identify and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

  1. $70 million for fish passage

The plan includes an additional $70 million for the removal of fish passage barriers such as levees, small dead beat dams, culverts and other fish passage blockages. These projects will build upon the National Culvert Grant Program to help open up salmon migration routes, and enable more salmon to return to their spawning grounds.

$575 million for the new Climate Resilience Regional Challenge competitive grant program

NOAA will fund a new competitive grant program that will invest in collaborative coastal resilience projects. This new grant program supports coastal communities grappling with the impacts of climate change by funding projects that support regional coastal resilience projects. Tribes are on the front line of coastal hazards and will be uniquely qualified for these funds.

$349 million for Climate-Ready Fisheries

The National Marine Fisheries Service will receive $329 million to support projects to conserve fisheries and protected species in coastal regions around the country. The investment includes increases in stock assessment funding nationally, including the West Coast and Alaska. This funding will also further support salmon recovery, such as an additional $15 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. 

Research Investments

NOAA also announced two new research vessels to help map our oceans, understand our changing climate and improve fisheries science, as well as a new hurricane hunter aircraft that will be instrumental in helping the West identify and prepare for atmospheric rivers and other extreme storms.

Funding for the Integrated Ocean Observation System, including for buoys that measure ocean acidification

 

The funding will allow NOAA to deploy additional buoys and other technology that measure ocean acidification and other oceanographic data to help measure and understand ocean acidification and other ocean related stressors. Ocean acidification is already negatively impacting coastal economies in Washington state.  A study in Nature Climate Change identifies communities at significant risk for sustained economic losses resulting from ocean acidification’s impact on shellfish fisheries. Washington state was one of 15 states with the highest risk.

 

Acquisition of a second G550 “hurricane hunter” aircraft 

The funding will allow NOAA to purchase a second hurricane hunter aircraft. This aircraft allows NOAA to fly directly into severe weather to collect data needed to track and understand storms, to help communities prepare for extreme weather events that are increasing with climate change. On the West Coast, these aircraft are crucial to NOAA’s ability to understand and develop forecasts for atmospheric rivers which create substantial flooding and other threats to communities.

$60 million for climate-ready workforce:

NOAA will meet the emerging and existing needs of employers by placing workers in high-quality jobs that enhance climate resilience. Training and support services will help American workers advance their careers and implement climate resilience efforts within public and private sectors. Details on this new competition will be available in early summer. 

$200 million nationwide for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and Forecasting

  1. $150 million of this allocation will support NOAA’s weather and climate research, including the National Weather Service and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. $50 million will support competitive grants to universities, state and tribal governments, and others. This will fund climate research for atmospheric processes such as the causes and impacts of extreme weather, as well as the impacts of climate change on marine species and coastal habitat. These investments will support the development of more accurate and timely weather forecasts, improved climate change predictions, and the development of products and services needed to ensure communities receive the data they need to keep their families and communities safe in the face of climate change.
  2. In Washington state, the historic investment in weather and forecasting will improve climate prediction models and research on emerging extreme weather events such as forecasting of flooding, fire, hurricanes, atmospheric rivers, extreme thunderstorms, and tornadoes. The new funding for competitive grants will fund climate research for atmospheric processes, as well as the impacts of climate change on marine species and coastal habitat.
  3. Sen. Cantwell authored these provisions and urged their inclusion in the reconciliation bill. She led the effort to improve weather forecasting in the Pacific Northwest for more than a decade — in 2011, Sen. Cantwell spearheaded the successful push to get Washington state’s first coastal Doppler radar in Grays Harbor to improve severe storm and precipitation detection. She worked to secure hundreds of millions for various forecasting programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law including: $100 million for NOAA Fire Weather; $80 million for NOAA High Performance Computing; and $492 million for NOAA Flood Mapping, Forecasting, and Water Modeling. Last year, Sen. Cantwell introduced the Fire Ready Nation Act of 2022, a bill to improve wildfire forecasting.

$190 million nationwide to boost NOAA’s computing capacity and research for weather, oceans, and climate

  1. This bill includes funding to address supercomputing needs across the whole of NOAA and increase NOAA’s overall processing power. High performance computing is undergoing a rapid transformation with new advances in cloud technologies, exascale systems, quantum technologies, and computing architectures. According to the NOAA Science Advisory Board, NOAA is insufficiently prepared to leverage these new computing technologies, which will restrict its ability to advance weather forecasting.
  2. In Washington state, NOAA relies on supercomputing to meet critical weather and climate forecasting objectives that are considered vital to the protection of life and property. The bill will fund research by NOAA scientists to improve weather prediction in the growing number of cases of extreme weather in Washington state.
  3. Sen. Cantwell authored these provisions and urged their inclusion in the reconciliation bill. She previously worked to secure $80 million for NOAA high performance computing in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

 

Audio of yesterday’s call is available HERE; and a transcript HERE.