Chair's News

August 2015

Aug 3
Cantwell Supports the Clean Power Plan, Taking Action to Curb Carbon Pollution

July 2015

Jul 30
Bipartisan Bill Permanently Reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Increases Energy Efficiency, Modernizes Energy Infrastructure
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, advanced bipartisan energy legislation along with Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in an 18-4 vote in committee. The committee held bipartisan listening sessions starting in the beginning of the Congress, a series of legislative hearings on 114 bills and three business meetings to amend and vote on the final product, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. Senators Cantwell and Murkowski met frequently over breakfast over the last several months to discuss legislative priorities and progress on the bill.
Jul 28
Bipartisan Bill Makes Progress on Modernizing Our Energy Infrastructure, an Economic Imperative
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, gave the following statement during a business meeting to debate and vote on bipartisan energy legislation. “Bolstering the reliability, resilience and affordability of our electricity infrastructure has become a major economic imperative,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Making progress requires a strategy, given the fragmented way the electric grid is owned, operated and regulated. And that’s where this bill comes into play.”
Jul 23
Permanent Reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in Bipartisan Energy Bill
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, recently unveiled bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that includes permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
Jul 17
Cantwell Applauds Federal Grant Award to Retrofit Port of Port Angeles Carbon Fiber Recycling Technology Center
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) applauded the announcement of a $2 million grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to the Port of Port Angeles to retrofit a building that will house industrial and workforce training facilities for the Composite Recycling Technology Center. The project will create an estimated 111 jobs.
Jul 16
Cantwell: Clean Water Is Critical to Our Forests and Public Lands; Strong Administrative Process for the Stream Protection Rule
Jul 14
Cantwell: Affordable and Reliable Energy Is Key to Ensuring Viable Island Economies
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, highlighted the importance of federal agencies partnering with isolated communities to overcome the challenge of accessing affordable and reliable energy.
Jul 9
Cantwell: ‘Demand a Fair Return on Coal at BLM’s Meetings’
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urged taxpayers to get involved in the administration’s efforts to reform the federal coal leasing program and to attend this summer’s public meetings.
Jul 7
Cantwell Elicits Administration Support for Acting Now to Reduce Costs of Water Shortages Later
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, elicited support from the administration on the goals of her bill, S. 1694, the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III Act, which provides an integrated approach to addressing water management in Washington’s Yakima Basin.
Jul 1
Cantwell’s Yakima Bill Represents a New Era in Water Management
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced legislation to authorize the initial phase of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Plan. The bill and the plan it implements will dramatically enhance the sustainability and resilience of the Yakima River Basin, particularly in the face of climate change. Specifically, the bill provides for improved water infrastructure and storage, water conservation and ecosystem restoration, and construction of fish passage at two dams, which will restore fish runs that have been blocked for more than a century.