Energy/Environment

The House early Monday afternoon approved a rule for a bill funding the Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other agencies, over bitter opposition from Democrats who argued that the bill would turn back decades of work to protect the environment.

The rule for the bill, H.R. 2584, was passed in a partly-line vote of 205-131.

Separate measures would have blocked funding for the use of polystyrene cups and compact fluorescent light bulbs in the Capitol.

Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) on Wednesday called on Congress to approve legislation mandating the sale of federally owned land in order to help pay down the national debt.

"It would put the land in the hands of Americans, and Americans would own the land and they would pay taxes," Poe said on the House floor. "They could pay taxes not only to local and state governments, but when they build a business or make a business they would bring in more federal income tax.

"Real property in the hands of real Americans," he added. "What a thought."

The House in the coming weeks is expected to consider legislation that would require the Obama administration to decide by Nov. 1 whether to approve the expansion of a TransCanada oil pipeline to the U.S.

H.R. 1938, the North American-Made Energy Security Act, was just listed on the House Rules Committee website as an "active" bill, although no action is scheduled so far this week.

The House on Friday narrowly approved a 2012 appropriations bill funding the Department of Energy and related agencies.

Members approved the bill, H.R. 2354, by a 219-196 vote. All but 21 Republicans voted for the bill, along with just 10 Democrats.

The House on Friday voted down several proposals to significantly cut spending to the 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, including one amendment to cut another $1.5 billion from the bill.

The bill, H.R. 2354, already cuts about $1 billion from fiscal 2011 levels, and proposals to go beyond that were met with resistance from both Democrats and Republicans.

The House on Friday morning quickly approved language that would prohibit the use of funds in a 2012 spending bill from being used to implement federal light bulb standards.

The House on Thursday night took up an amendment from Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) to defund those standards. After what seemed like House acceptance of the amendment by voice vote, Burgess asked for a recorded vote.

Several senators on Thursday introduced legislation that would establish a five-year program offering federal grants to states that seek to improve environmental education.

The No Child Left Inside Act, S. 1372, does not specify how much money would be spent, and instead would authorize "such sums as may be necessary" to implement the program.

"Teaching children about the environment and giving them a hands-on opportunity to experience nature makes them smarter and healthier," said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), one of the lead sponsors of the bill. "Environmental education should be an important part of the curriculum in our schools."

The House on Friday will face several chances to cut millions in spending under the 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act, although all indications point to the likelihood that members will vote against these measures.

The House has debated the spending bill, H.R. 2354, for much of the week, and has considered several amendments already that would cut spending more severely than the $1 billion in cuts presented in the bill. The House finished work on amendments at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, and adjourned shortly thereafter.

The House appears likely on Friday to accept an amendment to the 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act that would deny funding for the implementation of funds to implement a 2007 law that Republicans say will ban incandescent light bulbs.

The House on Tuesday rejected a bill to repeal parts of the 2007 law that set bulb efficiency standards. However, a majority of members favored the bill by a 233-193 vote, and the only reason it failed is because a two-thirds majority was needed.