Yesterday, the House Republicans passed the so-named Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining (STREAM) Act. Is it about government transparency? Of course not. What it is about, though, is preventing the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from issuing any rules related to the disposal of surface mining waste near streams.
Here’s a longer description, from the Office of the Minority Whip:
This bill would prevent the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) from issuing any rules related to the disposal of surface mining waste near streams, a clear attempt to delay the implementation of the Administration’s Stream Protection Rule which was released in proposed form in July 2015. The bill would amend to Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) to require the Secretary of the Interior to make public all “scientific products” including raw data for studies conducted with federal funding – that went into the development of proposed or final rules, at least ninety days in advance. H.R. 1644 would also require the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to submit a study on the effectiveness of existing rules since 1983. Additionally, the bill would block the Interior Department from issuing any rules related to stream protection until a year after the NAS report has been issued. This would effectively create a three-year delay, during which streams will continue to be degraded and contaminated, wildlife endangered, and communities living nearby negatively impacted.
House Republicans claim that H.R. 1644 is in response to a slow rulemaking process and corruption in OSM and the Department of the Interior (DOI). A multi-year Congressional investigation into the drafting of the Stream Protection Rule uncovered no misconduct on the part of DOI or OSM.
It passed 235 to 188.
4 Democrats joined the GOP in voting to allow mining companies to pollute water unchecked:
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
And then 10 Republicans voted against it:
Carlos Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03)
Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Mark Sanford (SC-01)
Chris Smith (NJ-04)
The House also rejected three Democratic amendments.
Dan Kildee (MI-05) offered an amendment to prevent the delay of the stream buffer rule in the underlying bill if the rule would protect drinking water quality.
It failed 189 to 223.
3 Democrats voted against it: Jim Costa (CA-16), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), and Collin Peterson (MN-07).
And 15 Republicans voted for it.
Almost half (7) were from Michigan.
Dan Benishek (MI-01)
Bill Huizenga (MI-02)
Fred Upton (MI-06)
Tim Walberg (MI-07)
Mike Bishop (MI-08)
Candice Miller (MI-10)
Dave Trott (MI-11)
And here are the other 8:
Carlos Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Richard Nugent (FL-11)
Bruce Poliquin (ME-02)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Matt Cartwright (PA-17) offered an amendment to allow abandoned mine land reclamation funding to be used by states and Native American tribes to revitalize economically distressed communities that have been adversely affected by mining.
It failed 203 to 219.
3 Democrats voted against it: Karen Bass (CA-37), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), and Collin Peterson (MN-07).
22 Republicans voted for it:
Lou Barletta (PA-11)
Andy Barr (KY-06)
Ken Calvert (CA-42)
Ryan Costello (PA-06)
Carlos Curbelo (FL-26)
Charlie Dent (PA-15)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Sean Duffy (WI-07)
Jimmy Duncan (TN-02)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Morgan Griffith (VA-09)
Andy Harris (MD-01)
Evan Jenkins (WV-03)
John Katko (NY-24)
Pat Meehan (PA-07)
Tim Murphy (PA-18)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
Phil Roe (TN-01)
Hal Rogers (KY-05)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Bill Shuster (PA-09)
Glenn Thompson (PA-05)
Terri Sewell (AL-07) offered an amendment to postpone the bill's delay of the stream buffer rule if it would cause or significantly contribute to the development of negative chronic or long-term health conditions.
It failed 190 to 235.
2 Democrats voted against it: Jim Costa (CA-16) and Collin Peterson (MN-07).
8 Republicans voted for it:
Carlos Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
John Katko (NY-24)
Bruce Poliquin (ME-02)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)