Senate EPW Outlines Priorities for 2015

Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the new chair of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee has signaled his legislative priorities for 2015. Priority 1 will be to pass a long-term highway transportation bill. The second priority focus for the Committee will be to engage in oversight of various environmental regulations (proposed, in place, and those with policy implications). For EPA, this will mean a sharpened focus on proposed greenhouse gas regulations, Waters of the US, methane emissions, ozone standards, and the Administration’s climate activities.
Inhofe has also announced that there will be a joint hearing (probably in early February) with the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to examine issues surrounding the Waters of the US rule. He also expects that the Committee will provide input as part of the FY 16 Appropriations process in an effort to rein in some of EPA’s regulatory approaches. Additional Committee efforts will focus on reforming the Endangered Species Act; reauthorizing the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); and reauthorization for the Brownfields program.