ESA Policy News January 15: Congressional action on Keystone, Boxer retires, House, Senate committees take shape
Here are some highlights from the latest ESA Policy News by Policy Analyst Terence Houston. Read the full Policy News here. 
KEYSTONE: CONGRESS MOVES ON PIPELINE BILLS, STATE COURT UPHOLDS PROJECT
On Jan. 9, the US House of Representatives passed H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act, which would approve construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline. The bill passed by a vote of 266-153, over 20 votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto. Twenty-eight Democrats voted with all Republicans to support the bill.
Approval of the pipeline has been held up for years due to route alterations and court litigation. The most recent judicial hurdle was overcome when the Nebraska Supreme Court last week upheld a 2012 law granting the Nebraska governor permitting authority for the pipeline. The court decision was announced just hours before the House voted.
The White House has threatened to veto the bill, stating Congress’s move to legislatively approve the pipeline “conflicts with longstanding executive branch procedures regarding the authority of the president and prevents the thorough consideration of complex issues that could bear on US national interests (including serious security, safety, environmental, and other ramifications).”
Meanwhile, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee marked-up and approved its own Keystone pipeline bill (S. 1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act) on Jan. 8 by a vote of 13-9. The bill is being debated on the Senate floor this week. At least 60 Senators have committed to voting for the bill, making it likely Obama will have to exercise his first veto in several years.
Click here to read the White House Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 3.
SENATE: CLIMATE CHANGE CHAMPION BARBARA BOXER TO RETIRE IN 2016
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who chaired the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for the past eight years, announced she will retire when her term expires at the end of the 114th session of Congress.
Sen. Boxer has long been an advocate of women’s rights and addressing global climate change. She has been a staunch proponent of the Obama administration’s Climate Action Plan and defender of its efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. During her tenure as chair, she held numerous hearings on climate change featuring testimony from Ph.D. climate science experts. Along with Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), she serves as co-chair of the Senate Climate Change Clearinghouse. She is also a member of the Senate Oceans Caucus.
Click here to view Senator Boxer’s retirement announcement.
SENATE: DEMOCRATS NAME APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE RANKING MEMBERS
Democrats announced their picks to serve in the top positions on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees, which has the authority to draft bills to fund federal agencies for the coming fiscal year.
In the Republican-controlled Senate, top committee Democrats will occupy the position of “ranking member” as Republicans take the reigns as committee and subcommittee chairs. Republicans have yet to name their appropriations subcommittee chairs.
Enclosed are the Senate ranking members for appropriations subcommittees of interest to the ecological community:
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies: Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Commerce Justice and Science and Related Agencies: Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) (also full committee ranking member)
Energy and Water Development: Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Department of Interior, Environment and Related Agencies: Tom Udall (D-NM)
For a full list of subcommittee ranking members, click here.
SENATE: COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS NAMED
On Jan. 8, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) announced his subcommittee chairs for the 114th Congress.
Notably, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) will chair the Space, Science and Competitiveness Subcommittee, which will have oversight over the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation and other federal science programs.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) will chair the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee, which will have oversight over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and any federal initiatives that impact oceans or marine life.
Click here for a full listing of subcommittee chairs.
HOUSE: REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS
On Jan. 14, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rodgers (R-KY) formally announced the appropriations subcommittee membership for the 114th Congress.
Notably, John Culberson (R-TX) succeeds retiring Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) as chairman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Returning subcommittee chairs include Interior Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA), Energy and Water Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL).
Click here for a full listing of subcommittee chairs and Republican members for the 114th Congress.
HOUSE: SMITH ANNOUNCES SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR SCIENCE COMMITTEE
On Jan. 13, House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) announced the subcommittee chairs and vice chairs for the 114th Congress. The committee has jurisdiction over legislation to reauthorize federal science programs.
Below are the new subcommittee chairs and vice chairs:
Subcommittee on Energy
Chairman Randy Weber (R-TX)
Vice-Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
Subcommittee on Environment
Chairman Jim Bridenstine (R-OK)
Vice-Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR)
Subcommittee on Oversight
Chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)
Vice-Chairman Bill Johnson (R-OH)
Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Chairwoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA)
Vice-Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI)
Subcommittee on Space
Chairman Steven Palazzo (R-MS)
Vice-Chairman Mo Brooks (R-AL)
Click here to view the full press statement.
FWS: SUPREME COURT DECLINES CHALLENGE TO DELTA SMELT PROTECTIONS
On Jan. 12, the US Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) initiative to protect California’s delta smelt. The fish, endemic to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region, are listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.
FWS in 2008 set limits on water-pumping activities that threatened the species and their ecosystem. Farmers and state water regulators had asked the court to overturn the FWS restrictions. The court’s refusal to take the case lets stand a 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the FWS regulatory effort.
EPA: METHANE EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN ANNOUNCED
On Jan. 14, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled its first-ever regulations for methane emissions.
The move is part of the administration’s larger Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EPA will seek to cut emissions from the oil and gas industry by 40–45 percent compared to 2012 levels by the year 2025. Methane emissions account for 10 percent of greenhouse emissions, yet have 25 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide over a 100 year period, according to EPA.
Click here for additional information.