{"id":11296,"date":"2015-11-11T17:43:25","date_gmt":"2015-11-11T22:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/?p=11296"},"modified":"2015-11-11T17:43:25","modified_gmt":"2015-11-11T22:43:25","slug":"esa-policy-news-15-11-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/2015\/11\/11\/esa-policy-news-15-11-11\/","title":{"rendered":"ESA Policy News November 11: Science coalitions call for funding boost, NOAA under scrutiny, Obama rejects Keystone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are some highlights from the latest ESA Policy News by Policy Analyst Terence Houston. Read the full Policy News\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

NOAA: SCIENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR REQUESTS SCIENTISTS\u2019 INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Nov. 4, House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requesting documents and communications between NOAA scientists whose research concludes there has been no pause in global warming.<\/p>\n

The major climate science study was led by Tom Karl, director of the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, that was published in \u201cScience\u201d magazine on June 3.<\/p>\n

Smith\u2019s investigation into the Karl\u2019s research began in July and escalated through the fall when he wrote multiple letters requesting that NOAA release internal communications between the scientists involved in the study. When NOAA refused the requests, Smith followed up with the warning letter of a subpoena Sept. 25 and subsequently issued a subpoena Oct. 13.<\/p>\n

Committee Democrats have been critical of Smith\u2019s subpoena, referring to it as a \u201cfishing expedition.\u201d In a response letter to the subpoena, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, \u201cThe baseless conflict you have created by issuing the October 13 subpoena is representative of a disturbing pattern in your use of congressional power since your chairmanship began. In the past two years and ten months that you have presided as chairman of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology you have issued more subpoenas (six) than were issued in the prior 54-year history of the committee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to view the Smith letter.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to view the subpoena response letter from Ranking Member Johnson.<\/p>\n

APPROPRIATIONS: SCIENTIFIC COALITIONS REQUEST RESEARCH FUNDING FOR FY 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Nov. 2, a broad group of research coalitions sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators praising the Bipartisan Budget Act 2015 and requesting an increase of at least 5.2 percent for federal programs that support scientific research in FY 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you allocate the additional funding made available under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, we urge you to make strong investments in America\u2019s innovation ecosystem one of your highest priorities by increasing federal research funding by at least 5.2 percent above FY 2015 levels\u2014the same level of increase to discretionary spending,\u201d the letter states.<\/p>\n

Congress has until Dec. 11 to work out an agreement that would continue federal funding through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2016, which began Oct. 1, 2015.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to view the full letter.<\/p>\n

APPROPRIATIONS: SENATORS URGE PRESIDENT TO OPPOSE ENDANGERED SPECIES RIDERS<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Twenty-five US Senators sent a letter to President Obama urging him to reject any spending bills that include provisions to undermine Endangered Species Act protection efforts. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) spearheaded the letter. No Republicans were among the signers.<\/p>\n

Under the Republican-controlled Congress, numerous pieces of legislation introduced would either unilaterally delist certain species from federal protection under the law or place limits of its enforcement capability. However, very few of these bills have passed committee or reached the House or Senate floor for a vote. President Obama is also unlikely to sign bills that would undermine Endangered Species Act protection efforts. Consequently, lawmakers looking to restrict or rescind certain species protections have sought to include legislative language (\u201criders\u201d) in must-pass appropriations bills that continue government funding.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to view Sen. Booker\u2019s press release, which includes the full text of the letter.<\/p>\n

WHITE HOUSE: OBAMA REJECTS KEYSTONE PIPELINE<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Nov. 6, President Obama rejected the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have carried Canadian crude oil from Canada through the continental United States to ports in the Gulf of Mexico.<\/p>\n

In explaining his position, the president asserted that the pipeline would 1) not have a meaningful long-term impact on job creation 2) would not lower gas prices and 3) would not contribute to reducing America\u2019s dependence on foreign oil. The president also stated approving the project would have undercut his administration\u2019s efforts to mitigate the climate change impacts.<\/p>\n

Congressional Republicans largely lambasted the decision. In a press statement, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK) stated, \u201cIt goes to show that the president is more interested in appeasing his wealthy environmental donors than helping the private sector create jobs for working families.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to read the president\u2019s full statement.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to read Secretary Kerry\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to read Chairman Inhofe\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

CANADA: GOVERNMENT REVERSES MEDIA COMMUNICATION RESTRICTION FOR SCIENTISTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Nov. 6, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains announced that government scientists are now free to speak to the media.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur government values science and will treat scientists with respect,\u201d said Bains in a press statement. \u201cThat is why government scientists and experts will be able to speak freely about their work to the media and the public.\u201d<\/p>\n

The move reverses a policy under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper\u00a0that required scientists to seek approval from their departments before speaking to the press.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for the full statement.<\/p>\n

SENATE: MODERATE REPUBLICANS FORM ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Oct. 29 Republican Sens. Kelly Ayotte (NH), Lamar Alexander (TN), Mark Kirk (IL) and Lindsey Graham (SC) announced the formation of a Senate Energy and Environment Working Group that will focus on climate and environmental protection as well as increase investment in clean energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Energy and Environment Working Group will be a way for us to bring people together and start an ongoing conversation about these topics\u2014like how we can best protect our environment and climate, pursue common sense and market-based reforms to grow our economy, and promote cleaner energy production,\u201d said Sen. Ayotte, the groups\u2019s lead organizer.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for additional information.<\/p>\n

NATURAL RESOURCES: BISHOP FLOATS DRAFT LWCF REAUTHORIZATION BILL<\/strong><\/p>\n

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-CO) has offered draft language for a bill that would reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).<\/p>\n

If enacted, Chairman Bishop\u2019s bill would be the first major reform of the LWCF since it was first established. Among its provisions, Bishop\u2019s draft bill would maintain the $900 million funding ceiling for LWCF while providing at least 20 percent of funding support for oil and gas permitting and workforce development and 15 percent for rural counties.<\/p>\n

Bishop\u2019s bill has been met with skepticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers who have been staunch proponents of LWCF and skeptical of making any major changes to the popular law.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Patrick Meehan (R-PA) spearheaded a letter signed by 194 additional House members urging increased investment in LWCF. Rep. Meehan, the lead Republican on the letter, released a statement critical of the Bishop draft bill, stating it \u201cdiverts money away from conservation, throws up roadblocks to preservation and sets top-down, arbitrary funding formulas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to view the Thompson-Meehan letter.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to view Rep. Meehan\u2019s statement on the Bishop reauthorization draft.<\/p>\n

TRANSPORTATION: HIGHWAY REAUTHORIZATION INCLUDES POLLINATOR PROVISIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Nov. 5, the US House of Representatives passed H.R. 22, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, a $325 billion six-year highway and public transportation reauthorization bill. Under the bill, Department of Transportation (DOT) officials would\u00a0 \u201cencourage\u201d states to sow vegetation beneficial to bees and other pollinators along highway rights of way. The bill passed the House by a vote of 363-64.<\/p>\n

The language adopted by the House is similar to the language passed by the Senate earlier this year, which also included the pollinator provisions. The pollinator language had previously been introduced in the House as H.R. 2738, the Highways Bettering the Economy and Environment Pollinator Protection Act, by Reps. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Jeff Denham (R-CA).<\/p>\n

In addition to the pollinator provisions, both bills now include language requiring DOT to map out national corridors for electric vehicle, hydrogen and natural gas charging stations that would be functional by 2021.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for additional information on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act.<\/p>\n

ENDANGERED SPECIES: OREGON REMOVES STATE PROTECTIONS FOR GRAY WOLVES<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Nov. 9, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 4-2 to delist the gray wolf from the state\u2019s Endangered Species Act.<\/p>\n

The vote was based on a determination by state biologists that Oregon\u2019s 81 gray wolves are not in danger of extinction. Some independent scientists dispute this finding, however. While the move does not immediately change state management policies for the wolf, it does open them up to more lethal means of control.<\/p>\n

The decision has no effect of wolves in some areas further west in the state that still have federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Wolves in eastern Oregon were delisted from the federal Endangered Species Act four years ago.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for additional information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are some highlights from the latest ESA Policy News by Policy Analyst Terence Houston. Read the full Policy News\u00a0here.\u00a0 NOAA: SCIENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR REQUESTS SCIENTISTS\u2019 INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS On Nov. 4, House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requesting documents and communications between NOAA scientists whose…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":10762,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,91],"tags":[158,41,60,134,7,63,136,474,962,113,665,313,1187,179,74,1023,947],"class_list":["post-11296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecology-in-policy","category-policy-news","tag-budget","tag-canada","tag-climate-change","tag-congress","tag-conservation","tag-endangered-species","tag-endangered-species-act","tag-global-warming","tag-natural-resources","tag-noaa","tag-oil","tag-policy-news","tag-pollinators","tag-president-obama","tag-wildlife","tag-wolf","tag-wolves"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11296\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}