Portal:Energy and Environment Policy (U.S.)/In the news


 * Just before the August recess, Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.) introduced America's Energy Security Trust Fund Act, a carbon tax proposal.
 * Just before the August congressional recess, the House passed comprehensive energy legislation, which would be funded through increased taxation on oil and gas companies, on Aug. 4.


 * The Department of Energy denied on Jul. 19 a claim by Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) that it supported a $1 million earmark to create a group to further research oil pipeline technology.


 * Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) unveiled a draft climate-change bill, which has already garnered significant bipartisan support from other senators and outside organizations, on Jul. 11.


 * Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) announced his intention to introduce a measure to increase the gasoline tax by 50 cents on Jul. 6.


 * Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) secured an earmark in the Interior-Environment spending bill that would provide funds for a major air-pollution reduction program in two heavily polluted areas of California in late June.


 * Leading Democrats in Congress applauded the late Jun. release of the "Greening the Capitol" Report, which makes recommendations on how to make the House carbon-neutral by the end of the 110th Congress.


 * The Senate passed a comprehensive energy bill, an amended version of the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 (H.R.6), originally passed in the House, in a vote of 65-27 on Jun. 21.


 * House Democrats voted down four Republican amendments aimed at reducing the spending in the Energy-Water appropriations bill in mid Jun.


 * The Senate's efforts to pass comprehensive energy legislation stalled on Jun. 14 following disagreements about renewable energy standards.


 * In a 408-8 vote on Jun. 6, the House passed the H-Prize Act of 2007, establishing a series of cash rewards for innovation in hydrogen energy technology.


 * Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 on May 22, which would expand the areas protected under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.


 * Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced a comprehensive energy bill on May 17. The bill intended to improve energy independence and security, increase production of clean renewable fuels, protect consumers from price gouging, increase the energy efficiency of products, buildings and vehicles, promote research on greenhouse gas management, and improve the energy performance of the federal government.


 * The House passed the International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2007 on Apr. 24, which would grant individual states the power to enact laws restricting the receipt and disposal of hazardous waste from Canada within their borders.


 * On Mar. 9, the House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) that would authorize appropriations to states for dealing with water pollution.


 * The House passed a bill on Mar. 8, sponsored by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), that would provide grants aimed at developing alternative water source projects.


 * The House passed a bill on Mar. 7, sponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), which would reauthorize federal grants to municipalities and states to control sanitary sewer overflows.


 * Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced the Toxic Right-to-Know Protection Act on Feb. 14, which would keep information public on 3,500 facilities that release harmful chemicals.


 * The House passed the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 on Jan 18., sponsored by Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), in a vote of 264-163.