Recent Federal Bills

Below are summaries of Bills Introduced, Committee Reports, Chamber Actions, and Public Laws reported in the most recent issue of ELR's Weekly Update.

would amend the CAA to define "next generation biofuel" and would allow states the option of not participating in the corn ethanol portions of the renewable fuel standard due to conflicts with agricultural, economic, energy, and environmental goals.

would amend titles 23 and 49, U.S. Code, to streamline the environmental review process for highway projects.

would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the designation of Clean Energy Business Zones and for tax incentives for the construction of, and employment at, energy-efficient buildings and clean energy facilities.

would permanently prohibit oil and gas leasing off the coast of the state of California.

would provide for the use of funds in the Hazardous Substance Superfund for the purposes for which they were collected to ensure adequate resources for the cleanup of hazardous substances under CERCLA.

would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an unlimited exclusion from transfer taxes for certain farmland and land of conservation value.

would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a research and development and demonstration program to reduce manufacturing and construction costs relating to nuclear reactors.

would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date on which the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the ESA.

would address the application of the national primary ambient air quality standard for ozone with respect to extreme nonattainment areas.

would repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Tax Credit.