Friday, May 17, 2013

Capitol Hill Next Week - What to Watch For

Following morning business on Monday, the Senate is currently scheduled to proceed to the consideration of S.954, the Farm Bill.  The Monday activity will likely start around 3:00 PM and run no later than 5:00 PM.  Farm Bill activity on the Senate floor will probably then continue into the remainder of the week on a schedule yet to be determined.

Below are the other activities currently scheduled next week in the U.S. House and Senate that could have a significant impact on the sustainability of the Mississippi River Basin's natural and built resources. Where available, links are provided to the relevant Committee and legislation pages on the Internet. Many of the proceedings are webcast live (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.

Wednesday
Thursday
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Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~
Farm Bill
The House and Senate Agriculture Committees held mark-up sessions this week on their respective versions of the farm bill.  The Senate Committee considered and passed its bill during a May 14 meeting (on a vote of 15-5).  Four Republicans (Sens. Johanns (NE), McConnell (KY), Roberts (KS), Thune(SD)) and one Democrat (Sen. Gillibrand (NY)) voted against it.   Senate Majority Leader Reid has placed the Senate farm bill (S.954) on the legislative calendar to be considered by the full Senate beginning Monday, May 20 (at about 3 PM EDT).  The House Committee passed its bill during a May 15 session after nine hours of debate by a vote of 36-10.  The House will likely take up its bill in June. You can read more news coverage on the matter under the "Farm Bill" heading, below.  And you will find links to a variety of legislative and other farm bill resources at our periodically-updated "2013 Farm Bill Resources" web page.

Water Resources Development Act
The U.S. Senate passed its version of the Water Resources Development Act (S. 601) on Wednesday (May 15). Commonly known as "WRDA," the legislation is a huge public works bill that periodically authorizes flood control, navigation, and water resource projects and studies by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  There are numerous bill provisions that impact water resources nationwide, many of which are contentious and have been reported on widely elsewhere (also see here for other examples).  The bill's so-called project "streamlining provisions" are particularly contentious and opposed by many environmental organizations, lawyer groups, and state wetlands and floodplain managers.  In addition to sections of the bill of a more national scope, the Senate-passed measure contains several provisions that directly reference and would impact Mississippi River Basin and Gulf Coast waters.  To see an overview of those provisions, you can read this summary posted earlier on this blog site.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -
  • Record nitrate levels in Raccoon and Des Moines rivers coming from farmland threaten Des Moines, Iowa area tap water ow.ly/kVEny
  • Record nitrate levels from fertilizer-laden farm runoff in rivers used by many cities for drinking water http://ow.ly/kY0Ev
  • Scotts Miracle-Gro removes phosphorus from lawn fertilizer line to help reduce harmful algal blooms http://ow.ly/kUyQg
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency studies confirm wide variety of unregulated chemicals in state lakes and streams http://ow.ly/kYk6Y
  • Minnesota lakes and streams have ubiquitous chemical contamination ow.ly/l185Y
  • Settlement reached over feedlot pollution (manure and fertilizers) near Lake Independence (MN) ow.ly/l6lXg
  • Updated federal advice on mercury levels in fish appears stalled within U.S. department of health ow.ly/l6kYn
  • EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 Program "success spotlight" on Metcalf Ditch, Indiana (contaminated with nutrients) ow.ly/l1l5Y
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
Water Resources Development Act
  • Sen. Landrieu (D-LA) revamps amendment to freeze flood insurance rates for 5 years, clearing Senate WRDA action http://ow.ly/kYsol
  • US Senate Passes Water Resources Development Act; news coverage: ow.ly/l5x84 ow.ly/l5x98 ow.ly/l5xj8
  • Water Resources Development Act passes Senate by vote of 83-14, still faces uphill House fate ow.ly/l40jB
  • Here is the Library of Congress page for the Senate-passed Water Resources Development Act ow.ly/l5zf2
  • Here's the roll call breakdown from today's Senate 83-14 vote passing the Water Resources Development Act (S. 601) ow.ly/l3TWg
  • Senate's just-passed Water Resources Development Act authorizes Mississippi River Basin infrastructure study ow.ly/l5ruT
  • Here is Senate's Water Resources Development Act wording authorizing a Mississippi River Basin infrastructure study ow.ly/l5u53
Other Water Resources News
  • FEMA head reportedly promises to redo flood-risk maps to take locally built levees into consideration http://ow.ly/kU3M5
  • Sen. Alexander (R-TN) threatens Army Corps' reprogramming requests over Cumberland River basin restrictions http://ow.ly/kU6SP
  • Senate passes bill that would stop Army Corps of Engineers from restricting fishing in Cumberland River valley http://ow.ly/l7Uho
  • Marseilles Lock and Dam's lock repair to close part of Illinois River for at least a week ow.ly/kY8lQ
Farm Bill-
  • Your "one-stop shop" for 2013 Farm Bill status updates and resources (UPDATED May 17) ow.ly/l5r7c
  • Next stops for Farm Bill: floors of Senate (next Monday) and House (June); then conference committee (before 9/30) http://ow.ly/l7Zub
  • AP: Comparing Senate and House farm bills (nice high-level overview) http://ow.ly/l7UAp
  • NPR: Big Ag, some enviros agree - farmers receiving insurance subsidies should be required to be good land stewards http://ow.ly/kU4RU
Senate
  • Senate panel approves massive farm bill; AP story: ow.ly/l2RnE
  • See compilation of comments from groups and Senators on the Senate Ag Committee-passed farm bill here: ow.ly/l2UlU
  • National Association of Conservation Districts: Conservation Compliance Coalition Praises Senate Farm Bill Agreement ow.ly/l2T6i
  • U.S. Senate's Monday calendar: "Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.954, the Farm bill" http://ow.ly/l7YQJ
House
  • POLITICO: House Committee approves farm bill; Senate floor debate expected to begin next week; House in June ow.ly/l5omb
  • NY Times: House Agriculture Committee passes farm bill; mostly Democrats voted against bill after 9 hours of debate ow.ly/l5o1E
  • The Caucus Blog (New York Times): “The most contentious fight during the hearing was over cuts to food stamps" ow.ly/l2TvD
  • House Agriculture Committee approves farm bill by vote of 36-10. Here is committee's media release: ow.ly/l5kat
  • House Farm Bill draft food stamp program cuts likely to spur opposition from Democrats ow.ly/kVEAq
  • Politico overview of House farm bill rolled out by Ag Committee: Chair Frank Lucas "tacked to the right" ow.ly/kVEuM
  • NY Times editorial board: Allowing food stamps cuts "wrong position fiscally and morally" "terrible [House] strategy" ow.ly/l0IW5
Agriculture -
  • Plight of the bee - disappearing in record numbers - symbol of much that is haywire in current farm-political system ow.ly/l0GHG
  • Rise in prices for agricultural land slowed somewhat to start the year in parts of the U.S. Farm Belt ow.ly/l5qI4
  • US farmland prices rise despite weak grain market; whether market is overheating is becoming feverishly discussed http://ow.ly/l80hx
Climate and Weather -
Click to Enlarge Drought Monitor Map
  • Dryness, drought ease significantly in Plains, some of Upper Mississippi Valley; remain unchanged elsewhere in region http://ow.ly/l8220
  • For the first time in human history, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached 400
  • ppm http://ow.ly/kUAYA
  • Do we need a better yardstick to measure severe droughts? The US Drought Monitor might be due for a tuneup http://ow.ly/kYmLL
  • For insurers, no doubts on climate change, from Hurricane Sandy to the Midwest Corn Belt drought ow.ly/l3l66
In the Cities -
  • Federal agencies expand nationwide urban waterway revitalization efforts; include two Mississippi River Basin cities http://ow.ly/kTZp4
  • St. Louis and Kansas City, MO among eleven cities nationwide joining EPA's Urban Waters Federal Partnership ow.ly/kY1SO
  • Louisville, KY Metropolitan Sewer District sewer push begins with vision of cleaner water' more growth ow.ly/l18rG
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Study will evaluate Louisiana Coastal Master Plan's assumption that Mississippi River sediment can offset sea-level rise http://ow.ly/kY997
  • Louisiana lists 39 restoration projects that would be financed with BP oil spill fine money ow.ly/l6lES
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announces creation of fund to restore Louisiana, Gulf Coast natural resources ow.ly/l17He
Resource Extraction -
  • Minnesota compromise frac sand deal nixes effort to put trout stream areas off limits to mining ow.ly/l3lvj
  • Interior Department unveils revised proposal to regulate fracking oil-and-gas development on Federal/Tribal land http://ow.ly/l7TY6
  • Duke University and U.S. Geological Survey study: Shale gas production in Arkansas has not contaminated groundwater ow.ly/l6mP4
  • The future of fracking in East Tennessee being debated ow.ly/l6mBD
  • Compromise means bill to regulate horizontal hydraulic fracturing, drilling in Illinois is ready to move forward ow.ly/l3lKB
  • Proposed state fracking legislation expected to unleash Southern Illinois oil boom ow.ly/l6mkw
Events - Information on all past and future events listed here can be viewed in the on-line calendar (here as a stand-alone calendar)
  • Greater New Orleans Foundation, Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law & Policy, others: Urban Water Series May-July http://ow.ly/kUgvP
  • May 22 in-depth discussion of coastal issues: The Louisiana Coast: Last Call; Loyola University New Orleans; 6-8 PM http://ow.ly/kUDTI
  • Save the date: Fishers & Farmers Partnership for the Upper Mississippi River Basin meeting; LaCrosse, WI June 25-26 ow.ly/l3c8B
  • MN DOT/LRRB Complete Streets Planning & Implementation Guidebook Seminar; June 4; St. Paul, MN and webinar ow.ly/l31T9
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • EPA’s Nonpoint Source News-Notes, May 2013, is now online at http://ow.ly/kU8bG explores new polluted runoff management tools; programs
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's May 2013 "Waterfront Bulletin" http://ow.ly/kTVZH
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's May 14 Watershed Network News e-newsletter ow.ly/l1cro
  • Weekly "Water Headlines" Newsletter from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water ow.ly/l1ksh
  • Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's May 14 and archived WaterWays e-newsletter links here: ow.ly/l1dB5
  • The Horinko Group May "Sustainabulletin" Newsletter; with Ogallala aquifer, Farm Bill program, fracking, other items ow.ly/l6o1T
Other news-
  • OMB review sees greater benefits than costs in regulations, especially EPA's http://ow.ly/kUGzK
  • New USGS Maps Show the National Distribution and Trends of Pesticide Use, 1992-2009 http://ow.ly/l7UNM
  • Follow along the paddle down the Namekagon River, from Cable to Danbury, Wisconsin; May 19-24 on this blog: http://ow.ly/l7VaP
Political Scene -
  • Rick Weiland is the last man standing in South Dakota's Democratic US Senate primary field ow.ly/l5uh2
  • EPA Administrator nomination in doubt, angering Democrats ow.ly/kU19h
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approves Gina McCarthy's nomination to head EPA in 10-8 party-line vote http://ow.ly/l6rQv
  • Retirements and confirmation fights create high-level vacancies at USEPA ow.ly/l6ljI
  • Former U.S. attorney Matt Whitaker (R) makes his Iowa US Senate campaign official ow.ly/l0HNL
  • Utility executive enters 2014 race for Louisiana's U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) ow.ly/l0FXf
Last Word -
Olympia Snowe
"Isn't that amazing? To work a five-day workweek? Because what happens is that, you know, on Mondays - at least in the Senate - Monday night we'd have what you'd call a bedcheck vote. Just to get, you know, the machinery of the Senate up and running so that we can start the committee process on Tuesday morning ... By Thursday, you know, jet fumes. The smell of jet fumes ... Everybody's heading home, wanting to know when they can adjourn on Thursday so they can leave. [This] very short version of a workweek; makes it very difficult to deal with complex issues. And basically they're not even getting the routine matters of business accomplished. We can't pass a budget! Which is preposterous." - former Republican U.S. Senator from Maine, Olympia Snowe discussing her new book, "Fighting for Common Ground: How We Can Fix the Stalemate in Congress"
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The Senate's Water Resources Development Act and the Mississippi River Basin

The U.S. Senate passed its version of the Water Resources Development Act (S. 601) on Wednesday (May 15). Commonly known as "WRDA," the legislation is a huge public works bill that periodically authorizes flood control, navigation, and water resource projects and studies by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  There are numerous bill provisions that impact water resources nationwide, many of which are contentious and have been reported on widely elsewhere (also see here for other examples).  The bill's so-called project "streamlining provisions" are particularly contentious and opposed by many environmental organizations, lawyer groups, and state wetlands and floodplain managers.  In addition to sections of the bill of a more national scope, the Senate-passed measure contains several provisions that directly reference and would impact Mississippi River Basin and Gulf Coast waters.  The more notable include:
  • An amendment included in the bill sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, (D-RI) (passed 67-32) that would affect natural resource protection and restoration in the Gulf Coast by authorizing the creation of a national endowment to support the restoration and protection of oceans, coastal areas and the Great Lakes.
  • An amendment offered by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) (passed) to provide for a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries.
  • Sen. Richard Durbin's (along with others) amendment (agreed to by Unanimous Consent), which includes language authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out a study of the built flood control and navigation infrastructure within the greater Mississippi River Basin.  Called the "Greater Mississippi River Basin Severe Flooding And Drought Management Study," its authorized purpose would be "(1) to improve the coordinated and comprehensive management of water resource projects in the greater Mississippi River Basin relating to severe flooding and drought conditions; and (2) to evaluate the feasibility of any modifications to those water resource projects, consistent with the authorized purposes of those projects, and develop new water resource projects to improve the reliability of navigation and more effectively reduce flood risk."
  • An amendment offered by Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) and passed on a voice vote that would block the Army Corps from imposing fees on states for withdrawing water from certain Missouri River reservoirs.  The Hoeven language specifically states that, "No fee for surplus water shall be charged under a contract for surplus water if the contract is for surplus water stored on the Missouri River." 
Other WRDA amendments passed on the Senate floor and now included in the bill that could significantly influence the way water resources are managed in the Mississippi River Basin (while not mentioning the River Basin by name) include:
  • An amendment sponsored by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) (passed by Unanimous Consent) that would change WRDA language requiring a Government Accountability Office study on the Army Corps’ water management response to floods, storms, and droughts so that it includes an evaluation of the reduction in long-term costs and vulnerability to infrastructure through the use of resilient construction techniques.
  • An amendment offered by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), which would arguably benefit smaller ports and harbors.  Passed by Unanimous Consent, the language would change the formula for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund allocations to states for harbor maintenance activities, under which fund allocations would be limited to those states that contributed at least 2.5% of the total amount paid into the fund, and that received less than 50% of those contributions back in the prior three years. The Boxer amendment would also prioritize projects receiving the lowest levels of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund money compared to the amount contributed to the Fund in the previous three years.
Thirteen Republicans and one Democrat (Sen. Pat Leahy of Vermont) voted against the Senate bill (three Senators did not vote).  In the Mississippi River states, eight Senators voted for the measure, with only Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Rand Paul (R-KY) voting no.  Additionally in the River Basin, Tom Coburn (R-OK) voted against the WRDA bill.

Action on a companion WRDA bill in the U.S. House is months away, by most accounts.  The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over WRDA, will likely conduct a series of meetings and hearings on WRDA-related matters before crafting a measure and considering it officially.

Importantly, WRDA does not appropriate funds for those projects and programs. That job falls to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees each year. WRDA projects and costs authorized under the act have typically far outstripped the revenue from their two major funding sources: the Inland Waterway Trust Fund and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, both of which are vastly oversubscribed and fiscally unsound. This is due in large part to the past WRDA tradition of placing numerous water resources projects into the WRDA bill that for the most part now meet the congressional definition of an "earmark" ("congressional earmark" - House Rule XXI, Clause 9(a)). And the current House ban on earmarks would largely put a stop to that process, arguably necessitating changes to WRDA that provide some mechanism for identifying and prioritizing funding for needed water resource projects.
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2013 Farm Bill Resources (UPDATED May 17)

Latest Developments
The House and Senate Agriculture Committees held mark-up sessions this week on their respective versions of the farm bill.  The Senate Committee considered and passed its bill during a May 14 meeting (on a vote of 15-5).  Four Republicans (Sens. Johanns (NE), McConnell (KY), Roberts (KS), Thune(SD)) and one Democrat (Sen. Gillibrand (NY)) voted against it. You can see a compilation of reactions and comments on the Senate Committee-passed bill here.  On May 15, Senate Majority Leader Reid moved to proceed to the farm bill (S.954), and the bill is currently on the legislative calendar to be considered by the full Senate beginning Monday, May 20 (at about 3 PM EDT)..

The House Committee passed its bill during a May 15 session after nine hours of debate by a vote of 36-10.  The House will likely take up its bill in June.

Below are links to resources you may find useful during the farm bill considerations that will be occurring over the next days, weeks and months. This page will be updated as warranted.

General Resources
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
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Monday, May 13, 2013

UPDATED: Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Senate floor activity on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) moved along slowly last week (with only four of the amendments to the bill considered and passed thus far).  Here is a link to a description of the significant amendments passed last week. Further full Senate activity likely will occur during this week.  There will be a Senate floor vote on a motion to invoke cloture on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) at noon Tuesday, unless the two sides come to an agreement.  The vote would take a 3/5 majority to pass and would limit further bill consideration to 30 hours.

Below are the other activities currently scheduled this week in the U.S. House and Senate that could have a significant impact on the sustainability of the Mississippi River Basin's natural and built resources. Where available, links are provided to the relevant Committee and legislation pages on the Internet. Many of the proceedings are webcast live (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.

Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
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Friday, May 10, 2013

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~
Farm Bill Resources
The House and Senate Agriculture Committees will be holding mark-up sessions next week on their respective versions of the farm bill (Here is the Senate bill; and here, the House bill).  The Senate Committee will consider its bill during a May 14, 10 AM meeting, and the House Committee in a May 15 session.  This is only the beginning of a lengthy legislative process of crafting and passing a comprehensive farm bill. Here is a link to a compendium of on-line resources you may find useful during the farm bill considerations over the next days, weeks and months, including links to bills, hearings, legislator's contacts and more.  You can see many more related news links below, under "Farm Bill."

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Water Quality -
  • EPA committed to study and development of Total Maximum Daily Load of nutrients in Illinois River watershed http://ow.ly/kSvC7
  • Fathead minnow acquires an outsized importance for researchers studying endocrine disruption http://ow.ly/kFZej
  • Environmental groups petition EPA to set numeric conductivity standard for waters near mountaintop mines ow.ly/kNv8T
  • Conservation, citizen groups to file lawsuit to halt hog farm construction in Arkansas' Buffalo National River basin ow.ly/kMJbK
  • Media coverage on Kentucky Waterways Alliance, others' petition to the EPA to adopt a conductivity standard http://t.co/ON4ttONbYs
  • EPA approves Pennsylvania’s 2012 list of impaired waters under Clean Water Act; 263 are newly added to list of 7,009 http://ow.ly/kSgDH
  • Operator of uncertified West Virginia coal slurry dam has until June 3 to certify structure as sound ow.ly/kMIlN
  • City of Grand Island, Nebraska wastewater plant accused of polluting surface water; lawsuit threatened ow.ly/kMDET
  • $120 million facility will treat mercury-contaminated water at Oak Ridge (TN; head of East Fork Poplar Creek) ow.ly/kMBfM
  • House lawmakers support funding of EPA pilot projects to integrate wastewater and stormwater infrastructure planning http://ow.ly/kP0Yl
  • Supporters step up efforts to save EPA clean water and drinking water state revolving funds from spending cuts http://ow.ly/kP0xo
  • Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) asks Exxon CEO to explain contradictory statements on 210,000 gallon Arkansas oil spill http://ow.ly/kPinc
  • How mussel farming could help to clean polluted surface waters http://ow.ly/kRCGC

Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -

Water Resources Development Act
  • Senate approves four Water Resources Development Act amendments; final vote could be next week http://ow.ly/kTEJi
  • Senate takes up Water Resources Development Act but it faces high level opposition ow.ly/kMvxw
  • Obama administration objects to Vitter-Boxer Water Resources Development Act proposal ow.ly/kMKwC
  • White House releases statement on Senate WRDA - "is deeply concerned with the project permitting provisions" http://ow.ly/kQ1dm
  • Proposed Senate Water Resources Development Act provisions to speed water projects riles critics ow.ly/kMGpG
  • Boxer defends her deal with Vitter to streamline environmental oversight of Army Corps of Engineers in WRDA bill http://ow.ly/kPj3S

Other Water Resource News
  • Despite a wet April, snowmelt lags and the amount of water flowing into the Missouri River remains below average http://ow.ly/kTJ23
  • House Members push Army Corps in letter to use port taxes to improve US harbors; not fill funding gaps http://ow.ly/kTFaV
  • Coast Guard has closes portion of Mississippi River near its confluence with Missouri River after barges break free http://ow.ly/kGsPx
  • As climate drives US breadbasket northward, farm commodity transportation shifts away from Mississippi River options http://ow.ly/kLat3
  • Representatives from 14 Louisiana parishes head to Washington, DC to rally for flood insurance cost relief http://ow.ly/kPiKN
  • Government leaders from across South Louisiana working to build flood insurance coalition to change federal policy http://ow.ly/kREDZ
  • Widening of Panama Canal prompts calls for US port expansions; but not all are enamored by the urban side effects ow.ly/kMFlM
  • Reminder: May 28 deadline to comment on federal water resource Principles & Guidelines; Draft Interagency Guidelines ow.ly/kNyCQ
  • Army Corps of Engineers approves start of latest construction for rebuilding of New Orleans levee system ow.ly/kMJKh
  • Army Corps of Engineers announces plans to restore Missouri River shallow water habitat north of Atchison, KS http://ow.ly/kPrms
  • $20 million from USDA Wetlands Reserve Program set for AR, KY, LA, MS, MO and TN landowners ow.ly/kMnob ow.ly/kMnuv
  • Senate energy committee passes four hydropower bills, including two that have passed House http://ow.ly/kRwZ5 and http://ow.ly/kRx49
  • Sen. Alexander (R-TN) threatens to restrict Army Corps' funding transfers over "unreasonable" fishing restrictions  http://ow.ly/kRBJi
  • Articles on the high Mississippi and Illinois water levels this past week: http://ow.ly/kGg96 http://ow.ly/kGfny ow.ly/kMn22 ow.ly/kMnHB
  • Chillicothe, Missouri residents clearing debris and assessing Illinois River flood damage as FEMA prepares to come in http://ow.ly/kGtXf

Farm Bill-
Senate
  • Members of Senate Agriculture Committee have received a draft of the farm bill; link here: http://www.ag.senate.gov/issues/farm-bill
  • Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow's summary of the Senate farm bill: http://ow.ly/kTBU3
  • Senate Agriculture Committee schedules farm bill markup session for Tuesday, May 14, 10 AM EDT; room 328A Russell SOB ow.ly/kNtpX 
  • National Farmers Union encouraged by initial farm bill draft circulated to Senate Agriculture Committee members http://ow.ly/kSuuv
  • Rep. Collin Peterson (ranking House Agriculture Committee Democrat) confident on prospects for passing a farm bill http://ow.ly/kRfPM
  • Sen. Harkin (D-IA) on Senate farm bill: “very happy about conservation provisions . . . conservation compliance" http://ow.ly/kTD60
  • Unlikely there will be a farm bill vote by full Senate before the Memorial Day recess http://ow.ly/kOTIH
  • For the most part, the Senate draft farm bill resembles the one passed by full Senate last year http://ow.ly/kTCJJ
  • Senate Farm Bill Released; Would Expand Insurance Programs, Drop Direct Payments ow.ly/kTCoc
  • Draft Senate farm bill courts Southern GOP votes with target prices for rice and peanut producers http://ow.ly/kTFQg
  • Groups largely praise Senate farm bill draft http://ow.ly/kU7DG
House
  • Discussion Draft - Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013: http://ow.ly/kUkpE (PDF file)
  • Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act committee summary: http://ow.ly/kUkwo
  • House Ag Committee Chair Lucas retools farm bill; sets goal of $38 billion in 10-year savings; cuts from food stamps ow.ly/kMoYV
  • Lucas: farm bill will pass, after possibly 100 farm bill amendments in committee; at least that many on House floor ow.ly/kMrxU
  • Democratic House members to introduce bill Wednesday to reform USDA conservation programs; influence farm bill debate http://ow.ly/kPknW
  • Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR); twelve other House Members, introduce bill to "modernize conservation priorities" http://ow.ly/kSfAJ
  • House Majority Leader to House Republicans: "we will consider a farm bill produced by the Agriculture Committee" http://ow.ly/kL6F5
  • House Agriculture Committee Chair opposes plan to link crop insurance premium subsidies to conservation compliance http://ow.ly/kRgA1
Other Farm Bill News
  • Ag, conservation groups offer conservation compliance proposal: Would avoid means testing for crop insurance http://ow.ly/kP5oL
  • Agricultural groups agree to farm bill compromise plan to tie conservation compliance to crop insurance subsidies ow.ly/kMsXl
  • American Farm Bureau Senior Director of Congressional Relations discusses farm bill conservation compliance prospects ow.ly/kMsCS
  • Farm, conservation groups ink 'historic' farm bill language deal linking stewardship to crop insurance ow.ly/kMw0r
  • Former USDA officials, watchdog environmental group say conservation should be crop insurance subsidy prerequisite ow.ly/kNvEU
  • Calls mount for deeper farm subsidy and food stamp spending cuts in farm bill  http://ow.ly/kOSWg
  • Environmental Working Group launches campaign to underscore "need for federal farm bill reform" ow.ly/kNBJH
Agriculture - 
  • Corn belt farmers whipsawed by drought, then rain across region ow.ly/kMINU
  • Montana farmers are adapting to climate change by shifting planting schedules and selecting different crops ow.ly/kMA7K
  • Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors' advisers: "Agricultural land prices are veering further from what makes sense" http://ow.ly/kOVDF
  • Agriculture groups have a keen interest in this week's Senate consideration of the Water Resources Development Act http://ow.ly/kOW5r
Climate and Weather -
Click to enlarge
  • US Plains drought persists; wet, cool weather "definitely dented or eliminated the drought in much of the Midwest" http://ow.ly/kROQy
  • Farmers and ranchers in parts of US West and Plains pondering prospect of another year of drought ow.ly/kMCQD
  • NASA climate study predicts that, worldwide, "wet areas will get wetter and dry areas will get drier" ow.ly/kMAuh
In the Cities -
  • Louisville, Kentucky tree commission wants developers to save or plant more trees to replace those lost when building http://ow.ly/kFZE9
  • Alternate methods for dealing with New Orleans area stormwater are the focus of workshop series ow.ly/kMBwy
  • U.S. Conference of Mayors report documents increasing spending on, challenges of water-wastewater infrastructure http://ow.ly/kSrk5
Forestry -
  • 2.4 million trees planted on 4000 acres in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois in Mississippi River valley http://ow.ly/kPH0l
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Studies: Midwestern frogs decline and mammal populations altered due to invasive European buckthorn plant http://ow.ly/kPuwW
  • Asian carp serve as visible icon for invasive species http://ow.ly/kGub5
  • Monitoring for Asian carp to increase in Illinois this year http://ow.ly/kSvmp
  • 1 °C temperature rise would shift painted turtle population to 100% female and earmark species for extinction ow.ly/kMARY
  • Three Minnesota dogs now specially trained to work with MN DNR; sniff out invasive zebra mussels http://ow.ly/kPi2p
  • University of Wisconsin research: Shrinking North American snow cover puts invertebrates and amphibians at risk http://ow.ly/kRE2a
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Environmental groups criticize use of BP oil spill Gulf recovery money to fund Gulf State Park convention center ow.ly/kNxlS
  • Mississippi Secretary of State: proposed Louisiana levee may pose flood risk for low-lying south Mississippi areas ow.ly/kMK9j
Resource Extraction -
  • 13 energy-producing states tell EPA it should not provide "back-door entry for federal oversight of fracking" ow.ly/kML0m
  • Southern Illinois region braces for oil rush as Illinois Legislature considers fracking regulations ow.ly/kMGOC
  • Forest Service mulls proposed coal lease in southeast Ohio in Wayne National Forest; seeks public comment http://ow.ly/kPQDO
  • Republicans; energy representatives criticize pending DOI hydraulic fracturing rules as burdensome; expensive http://ow.ly/kRHU1
Federal Budget -
  • U.S. House and Senate reach impasse over how to move forward on their respective budget proposals http://ow.ly/kL5ER
  • CBO plans a May 14 release of updated 10-year baseline projections of federal spending, revenues and budget deficits http://ow.ly/kRgV3
  • House GOP will wait until June to begin the process of passing annual (fiscal year 2014) appropriations bills http://ow.ly/kTFrV
Events -  Information on all past and future events listed here can be viewed in the on-line calendar (here as a stand-alone calendar)
  • National C-FAR Capitol Hill seminar: Organization of Agricultural and Natural Resource Markets; May 13; noon RSVP: http://ow.ly/kRuBB
  • Save the date: National Roundtable on New Tools for Water Quality: Trading and Beyond; July 18; Cincinnati, OH http://ow.ly/kSqRE
  • Those interested in designating St. Croix River region as National Heritage Area encouraged to attend May 16 event http://ow.ly/kSw4l
  • May 14 webinar will discuss effects of nanomaterials on soil health and the food chain; 11:00 AM EDT; register: http://ow.ly/kTGkq
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • Weekly "Water Headlines" Newsletter from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water ow.ly/kNws9
  • Peer-reviewed science journal Nature publishes a special edition on genetically modified crops http://ow.ly/kP2in
  • Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's May 8 and archived WaterWays e-newsletter links here: ow.ly/klTzd
  • Green Lands Blue Waters bi-weekly update re: Mississippi River Basin Continuous Living Cover advancement on agricultural land http://ow.ly/kPIqZ
  • Here is the "1 Mississippi" Campaign's May newsletter http://t.co/J7T5eft3mT
Other news-
  • Director of USEPA Criminal Investigation Division: "There are significant geographic regions we can no longer cover" ow.ly/kMHWC
  • Globe and Mail reporter: "What I found on my road trip along the Keystone pipeline route" ow.ly/kMG5b
  • Mississippi Water Walkers arrive in Louisiana with water from river's source after two month trek to raise awareness ow.ly/kMBI4
Political Scene -
  • And now for something completely different - a Congressional "Hotdish Off" featuring Minnesotan "delicacies" ow.ly/kGskd
  • Republican Rep. Steve King (R-IA) announces that he will not run for US Senate http://ow.ly/kL5Yp
  • GOP prospects will start announcing US Iowa Senate intentions soon in 2014 race against Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley ow.ly/kMqAZ
  • Louisiana in top five of Roll Call's "Clout Index" - index of potential influence each state has on national affairs ow.ly/kNA3v
  • Former Madison County Chief to challenge freshman Rep. Davis in Illinois 13th House district - announcement today ow.ly/kMqg7
  • Longtime Kentucky environmental lawyer eyes underdog challenge to McConnell for US Senate seat ow.ly/kMpvj
Last Word -
"We thought that we had the answers, it was the questions we had wrong." - U2 band member, Bono, whose birthday is today.
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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

UPDATED: Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

This week may see the release of draft U.S. Senate and House farm bills, with mark-ups possibly occurring in the Senate Agriculture Committee early next week, and in the House Agriculture Committee on May 15.  The Senate will consider a motion to proceed with consideration of the Water Resources Development Act on Tuesday afternoon.  That motion is expected to easily pass, and then the Senate will take up full consideration of the bill (S 601).

Below are the other activities currently scheduled for the week in the House and Senate that bear watching, as they may relate to the sustainability of the Mississippi River Basin's natural and built resources. Where available, links are provided to the relevant Committee and legislation pages on the Internet. Many of the proceedings will be webcast live (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.

Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
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