House Passes Energy & Jobs Bill
During the month of June, the full United States House of Representatives debated and passed the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act (H.R. 4480) by a vote of 248-163. This legislation aims to boost the domestic production of energy, guarantee reliable and affordable energy supplies, and create American jobs.
Specifically, H.R. 4480 would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider feasibility and cost when updating existing regulations that impact gas prices. It would also create an interagency committee charged with studying the cumulative impact of both existing and proposed EPA regulations on energy prices, as well as delay final action on three draft EPA regulations until the study can be completed.
H.R. 4480 would also require the Department of Interior to estimate total energy demand in the United States over the next 30 years, in order to determine how much production from public lands would be necessary to meet this demand. Targets would be set to open up new lands for energy exploration. Permits for energy exploration would have to be approved within 60 days.
Finally, H.R. 4480 would address the sale of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which is an emergency stockpile of oil for the nation. A year ago, 30 million barrels of oil were sold from the SPR with no plan to replace it. H.R. 4480 would require the Department of Interior to open up energy exploration on public lands and off-coast in response to any future sales of oil from the SPR. The amount opened up would have to be in proportion to the amount sold from the SPR.
Congressman Todd Platts voted in favor of H.R. 4480. The bill is now pending consideration in the Senate.
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Platts Continues Efforts to Ensure Financial Accountability at DHS
Rep. Platts is building upon his previous efforts to ensure greater accountability at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with the introduction of the “DHS Audit Requirement Target (DART) Act,” legislation which requires the Secretary of DHS to ensure the Department’s fiscal year 2013 balance sheets and audit results are ready in a timely manner. In 2004, Congressman Platts was the sponsor of legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush which required stricter auditing of DHS’ internal accounting controls.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/DHS2012.shtml)
Strengthening Oversight of Medicare and Medicaid
Rep. Platts continues his push to make the federal government more accountable to taxpayers, chairing a hearing to evaluate efforts to improve the fiscal integrity of Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid spending reached an estimated $820 billion in Fiscal Year 2011, which is approximately 23 percent of all federal outlays. This is the third in a series of hearings that the Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management, chaired by Congressman Platts, has held in this Congress focusing on issues within Medicare and Medicaid.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/medicareoversight.shtml)
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/pa19_platts/fiscalintegrity.shtml)
House Adopts Defense Authorization Bill Which Includes Language Sought by Platts to Assist Treatment of Troops with Brain Injuries
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4310), which included provisions sought by Rep. Platts to assist military personnel suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury as well as requesting that the U.S. Department of Defense expedite a Medal of Honor review for a soldier of the Civil War.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/DAAFY2013.shtml)
Please do not attempt to reply to this message, as it is an unattended mailbox. If you wish to contact me about an issue addressed in this newsletter, or would like more information on what is happening in Congress, please visit my Web site at www.house.gov/platts for more information.
To unsubscribe to this newsletter, please visit my Web site and click the "E-Newsletter" link and follow the instructions.