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Government Affairs News

July 2024 Government Affairs Recap

Jul 30, 2024

What a year this month has been. Congress was in session the bulk of the month and when they weren’t here, Republicans attended the 2024 RNC. In case you missed it this month, former President Trump was shot, Senator JD Vance (R-OH) was selected as the Republican nominee for Vice President, President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 election, and Vice President Kamala Harris came the presumed Democrat nominee.

All that to say, we continue to live in unprecedented times.

Congress is officially out for August recess and the 2024 Democratic National Convention is right around the corner. We will monitor how these major changes in the race for the White House might trickle down to the House and Senate Races we are tracking.

 

Legislative Action
WRDA Passes the House
On July 22, the House passed H.R. 8812, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, by a bipartisan vote of 359-13. This bill would authorize construction of 12 new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects, as well as feasibility research for 159 community-proposed projects.

Back in May, the Senate approved its version of the WRDA bill, S. 4367, but has not secured floor time for the measure. The bill would approve eight new or modified USACE projects and includes provisions to boost tribal authority over water resource projects and allow Western dams to store more water.

Both chambers are pushing for a slimmed-down bill to avoid election politics and focus on projects like harbors, locks, dams and ecosystem restoration projects and eschewing efforts to include policy changes at EPA or other agencies. NECA will continue to monitor this legislation as both chambers look to reconcile differences in the legislation.


Permitting Reform Regains Traction in the Senate
On July 22, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Ranking Member Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) released a new permitting package. The bill, S. 4753, takes an all-of-the-above energy approach by including the following provisions:

  • Increases access for companies to tap oil, gas, and coal on public lines – curbing lawsuits used to slow or stop these energy projects.
  • Establishes a 150-day statute of limitations for lawsuits against projects and requires courts to expedite review of legal challenges.
  • Requires the federal government to conduct at least one offshore oil and gas sale and wind sale per year – imposing minimum acreage requirements for both.
  • Doubles production targets for permitting renewable energy projects on federal lands to 50 gigawatts.
  • Directs FERC to implement a rule on interregional planning within six months of the legislation’s passage that would require power markets to coordinate efforts to build out new transmission lines.

This bill appears to be a real compromise for both sides and has already garnered some bipartisan support. We are hopeful the momentum will continue and will advocate for passage of the bill before the end of the year.

 

NECAPAC Total
$377,810

Operational Fund Total
$191,960

PLC Renewals
2

Chapter Goals Met
1

Meetings Held
41


Upcoming Government Affairs Events
2024 Political Leadership Council (PLC) Retreat – November 8-10 in Marco Island, FL
We are excited to host you all for the 2024 Political Leadership Council Retreat in Florida the weekend following the 2024 elections. Registration for this event will open September 3rd. Reach out to the team if you are interested in learning more about the PLC!