Recent Federal Bills

Below are summaries of Bills Introduced, Committee Reports, Chamber Actions, and Public Laws reported in the most recent issue of ELR's Weekly Update.

would establish a direct loan program for high risk geothermal exploration wells, and amend the Energy Independence and Security Act to improve geothermal energy technology and demonstrate the use of geothermal energy in large scale applications.

would reverse DOI and the Department of Agriculture's designation of certain communities in Alaska as nonrural.

would provide legal certainty to property owners along the Red River in Texas.

would make the authority of Washington, Oregon, and California to manage Dungeness crab fisheries permanent.

would clarify that noncommercial species found entirely within the borders of a single state are not in interstate commerce or subject to regulation under the ESA or any other provision of law enacted as an exercise of the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

would require the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA to propose a regulation revising the definition of ''waters of the United States.'

would express condolences to, and solidarity with, the people of Nepal following the devastating earthquake on April 25, 2015.

would direct the Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance for individuals affected by exposure to agent orange.

would eliminate certain EPA programs.

would amend the ESA to conform citizen suits with other existing law.