NMBA Blog
Thursday, July 26, 2007
WRDA House Conferees
The House yesterday (7/25/07) named its conferees to the Water Resources Development Act, in an effort to cut a conference deal before the August recess.
In the Senate, where conferees were named in May, Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told E&E Daily yesterday that staff negotiations were "going smoothly" and lawmakers are on track to reach a conference deal soon. Earlier this week, Boxer said that a final package would not be ready until September.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member John Mica (R-Fla.) gave a final deal before the break a 50-50 chance. He and other Republicans have been working with the Bush administration to make sure the White House doesn't veto the bill.
The Senate approved its $14 billion measure authorizing Army Corps of Engineers' water projects in May, while the House passed its version in April. The Congressional Budget Office scored the House bill at $13.2 billion through 2022, but the White House estimated it would cost at least $15 billion.
Mica said the House has cut more than 100 projects from its WRDA bill while the Senate has added extra projects. The final bill is likely to cost somewhere around $20 billion, he said.
"I had to turn away members who literally came to me with tears in their eyes," Mica said in an interview. "But we are trying to talk the administration away from the 'V' word."
House aides indicated lawmakers are likely to meet for a formal conference session next week, and there is a slim chance something could be scheduled this Friday.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) named himself and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) as conferees. Other Democrats from the House side are: Reps. Ellen Tauscher (Calif.), Brian Baird (Wash.), Brian Higgins (N.Y.), Steve Kagen (Wis.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.) and Harry Mitchell (Ariz.).
On the Republican side, Mica named himself and five other conferees: Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee ranking member Richard Baker (La.) and Reps. John Duncan (Tenn.), John Boozman (Ark.) Vernon Ehlers (Mich.) and Henry Brown (S.C.).
Also named to the House conference team were Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Water and Power Subcommittee Chairwoman Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.). The Republican conferees from the Natural Resources panel were unknown at press time.
In the Senate, where conferees were named in May, Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told E&E Daily yesterday that staff negotiations were "going smoothly" and lawmakers are on track to reach a conference deal soon. Earlier this week, Boxer said that a final package would not be ready until September.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member John Mica (R-Fla.) gave a final deal before the break a 50-50 chance. He and other Republicans have been working with the Bush administration to make sure the White House doesn't veto the bill.
The Senate approved its $14 billion measure authorizing Army Corps of Engineers' water projects in May, while the House passed its version in April. The Congressional Budget Office scored the House bill at $13.2 billion through 2022, but the White House estimated it would cost at least $15 billion.
Mica said the House has cut more than 100 projects from its WRDA bill while the Senate has added extra projects. The final bill is likely to cost somewhere around $20 billion, he said.
"I had to turn away members who literally came to me with tears in their eyes," Mica said in an interview. "But we are trying to talk the administration away from the 'V' word."
House aides indicated lawmakers are likely to meet for a formal conference session next week, and there is a slim chance something could be scheduled this Friday.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) named himself and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) as conferees. Other Democrats from the House side are: Reps. Ellen Tauscher (Calif.), Brian Baird (Wash.), Brian Higgins (N.Y.), Steve Kagen (Wis.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.) and Harry Mitchell (Ariz.).
On the Republican side, Mica named himself and five other conferees: Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee ranking member Richard Baker (La.) and Reps. John Duncan (Tenn.), John Boozman (Ark.) Vernon Ehlers (Mich.) and Henry Brown (S.C.).
Also named to the House conference team were Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Water and Power Subcommittee Chairwoman Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.). The Republican conferees from the Natural Resources panel were unknown at press time.
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