End of Session Dramas or Not?
National Capitol. Photo by Ron Stork.
This year is the end of the 118th Congress’s two-year-long existence, and they usually save the best (or worst) for last. The Congress is likely to finish up early to go campaigning, but a lame-duck session could also be in the works. Here’s a few things we are keeping an eye on:
The California wild & scenic river bills. These three bills (southern, northern, and Central Coast) have failed to pass since their introduction in the 114th Congress. Will they move this year?
There’s a major piece of California’s Smith River in Oregon. The Oregon & California senatorial delegation has two types of bills to protect this watershed. Another nailbiter.
North Fork Smith River in Oregon. Credit: Parmentier.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s plan for a big canal from the American River down the east side of the San Joaquin Valley to Tulare died more than half a century ago. We hear that Rep. John Duarte (R‑Modesto) is hoping to authorize it down to Ripon at least. It would violate the state and national wild & scenic river acts, but that might not matter to Rep. Duarte. Pretty late to introduce a bill, but…
Rep. David Valadao (R‑Hanford) hopes to reauthorize some key features of the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, which includes provisions to commandeer federal deliveries in the Delta to the southern San Joaquin Valley. Valadao also hopes to pre-empt the California Wild & Scenic River Act’s protection of the McCloud River.
Section 121 of the House-passed version of the Corps of Engineers’ biennial nationwide authorization bill (the WRDA) would make water supply a primary mission of the Corps of Engineers. Yikes! Shades of fifty years ago and the New Melones Dam! American Rivers and the National Wildlife Federation are working to keep this language out of final passage.
There’s always the little matter of appropriations to keep the government running. These can be must-pass bills, so they are always targets for riders, such as the previously mentioned Valadao (bad) ideas. The betting is in favor of a continuing resolution rather than regular appropriations, but riders can be “clean” or the opposite.
No doubt there are some other matters that could be added to this list. Feel free to drop a note in the comments section below if you are tracking others, either good or bad.
