The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today held a business meeting to approve a wide array of legislative proposals, including measures that would expand sportsmen’s access to federal lands and promote renewable hydropower. The committee also reported three Energy Department nominees and a nominee to lead the U.S. Geological Survey.

The following items were reported favorably at Thursday’s business meeting:

• S. 329, the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Act, which would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in Connecticut as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
• S. 556, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2015, a bill to protect and enhance opportunities for hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
• S. 782, the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act, which would direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a bison management plan for Grand Canyon National Park. Sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.
• S. 1583, a bill to authorize the expansion of an existing hydroelectric project at Terror Lake, Alaska. Sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
• S. 1592, a bill to clarify the description of certain federal land under the Northern Arizona Land Exchange and Verde River Basin Partnership Act of 2005 to include additional land in the Kaibab National Forest. Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona.
• S. 1694, the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III Act of 2015. Sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
• S. 1941/H.R. 2223, the Crags, Colorado Land Exchange Act of 2015, which would authorize, direct, expedite, and facilitate a land exchange in El Paso and Teller Counties, Colorado, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Doug Lamborn, both R-Colo.
• S. 1942/H.R. 1554, the Elkhorn Ranch and White River National Forest Conveyance Act of 2015, to require a land conveyance involving the Elkhorn Ranch and the White River National Forest in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Sen. Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton, both R-Colo.
• S. 2046, a bill to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue an order continuing a stay of a hydroelectric license for the Mahoney Lake hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Sen. Murkowski, R-Alaska.
• S. 2069, the Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act, a bill to amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to modify provisions relating to certain land exchanges in the Mt. Hood Wilderness in the State of Oregon. Sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
• S. 2083, a bill to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of the W. Kerr Scott Hydroelectric Project hydroelectric project. Sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.
• H.R. 373, the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act, which would direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite access to certain federal land under their jurisdiction for good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions. Sponsored by Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nevada.
• H.R. 1324, the Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2015, to adjust the boundary of the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo.

The committee also reported out the nominations of Suzette Kimball to be director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Cherry Murray to be director of DOE’s Office of Science, Victoria Wassmer to be DOE under secretary for management and performance, and John Kotek to be DOE’s assistant secretary of nuclear energy.

Archived video, reported amendments, and a rundown of Thursday’s business meeting are available on the committee’s website.