This week, the House will consider 11 bills on topics ranging from energy to broadband. The House will also consider a continuing resolution that will fund the federal government through November 18.
Legislation under consideration this week includes:
The Utah National Guard Readiness Act (H.R. 686): directs the Secretary of the Interior to allow the Utah National Guard to utilize certain areas of public land known as “Camp Williams.”
The Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act (H.R. 765): amends the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to include National Forest System lands in its laws pertaining to ski operation permits.
H.R. 489: withdraws 512 acres of land in Arizona, including an area known as the Craigin Dam and Reservoir, from public land laws, mining laws, and laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials. Would grant the Secretary of Agriculture authority over the safety and management of this land.
The Help to Access Land for the Education (HALE) of Scouts Act (H.R. 473): requires certain areas of land within the Ouachita National Forest in Oklahoma be given to the Indian Nations Council, Inc., of the Boy Scouts of America.
The Hoover Power Allocation Act (H.R. 470): amends the Hoover Power Plant At of 1984 to modify certain schedules governing contracts for delivery of hydroelectric power generated at Hoover Dam to specified areas in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Requires the Secretary of Energy to create a resource pool equal to 5% of the dam’s full capacity.
H.R. 670: gives the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands submerged lands surrounding the islands and extending three miles from their coastlines. This would give the islands the same amount of submerged land already given to Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the American Samoa.
S.CON.RES.29: authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda for a Congressional Gold Medal presentation for astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., Michael Collins and John Herschel Glenn, Jr., in recognition of their significant contributions to society.
Continuing Appropriations for FY2012 (Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments to H.R. 2608): funds the government through November 18, 2011. The Senate passed this bill with amendments, and so the House must agree to the amendments in order to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill and send the bill to the president’s desk.
H.R. 1343: returns any award – such as grants or loans – made under the Broadband Initiatives Program or the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program established in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the treasury should there be any reason to terminate the award, such as wasteful or fraudulent spending.
Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2681): rolls back certain environmental protections concerning the cement manufacturing industry, particularly those enshrined in the Clean Air Act and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
EPA Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2250): repeals entirely several environmental protections, including the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major and Area Sources, and requires the head of the EPA to propose new rules in their place that would increase levels of pollution.