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 authorize the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with state foresters authorizing them to provide certain forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration and protection services.

which would improve hydropower, was passed by the House.

would authorize all Bureau of Reclamation conduit facilities for hydropower development under Federal Reclamation law.

would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of the National Park System.

would adjust the boundary of the Carson National Forest.

would prohibit United States contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

would amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to improve the management of grazing leases and permits.

would amend SDWA to reauthorize technical assistance to small public water systems.

would direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to build on and help coordinate funding for restoration and protection efforts of the 4-State Delaware River Basin region.

would provide that no federal or state requirement to increase energy efficient lighting in public buildings shall require a hospital, school, day care center, mental health facility, or nursing home to install or utilize such energy efficient lighting if the lighting contains mercury.