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 require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing the use of indigenous clean-energy resources.

would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 44 acres of land in Martinez, California for the John Muir National Historic Site. 

would provide the Secretary of the Interior a mechanism to cancel contracts for the sale of materials CA-20139 and CA-22901.

would amend the African Elephant Conservation Act of 1988 to conserve elephants while appropriately regulating ivory in the United States.

would amend the Pribilof Islands Transition Act to require the Secretary of Commerce to provide notice of certification that no further corrective action is required at sites and operable units covered by the Pribilof Islands Environmental Restoration agreement.

would prohibit the replacement of the gasoline excise tax with a GPS, location or distance-based tax.

would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for repealing the gas tax and establishing a carbon tax on highway fuels. 

would extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Gibson Dam. 

would control the spread of aquatic invasive species between the Great Lakes basin and the Mississippi River basin. 

would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to permit exemptions for external power supplies from certain efficiency standards.