Week ahead: Energy bills hit the House floor
The House is taking up a slew of environmental measures including a bill that would slash EPA funding and block many of President Obama’s climate rules.
Lawmakers are expected to consider the Interior and environment appropriations bill, setting up a floor fight. The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved the bill, which would cut the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by 9 percent and halt a handful of upcoming agency rules.
The House will also vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act. The bill, from Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), would allow states to opt out of the EPA’s proposed rule limiting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. It would also block implementation of the rule until all legal challenges against it are decided.
Finally, a bill overhauling federal chemical safety laws will also be on the House floor. The legislation, which passed a House committee nearly unanimously earlier this month, would direct the EPA to assess dangerous chemicals and let states regulate them as well.
Two committees will also make upcoming EPA regulations the subject of hearings.
