On Friday, while many people were distracted by the news of Boehner's
resignation, the GOP decided to pass yet another bill aimed at gutting
environmental regulations.
This bill was the Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development Act of 2015 (RAPID Act), which Democrats mockingly referred to as “Regrettably Another Partisan Ideological Distraction." The bill amends the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to strip out input from federal, state, and local agencies and the public:
This bill was the Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development Act of 2015 (RAPID Act), which Democrats mockingly referred to as “Regrettably Another Partisan Ideological Distraction." The bill amends the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to strip out input from federal, state, and local agencies and the public:
The bill sets new tight deadlines for environmental review, permitting, and licensing decisions. In cases where multiple agencies are affected, a lead agency would be required to set deadlines for other agency reviews, which must be met in 30 days. The bill also allows private sector sponsors to prepare their own environmental assessments - creating inherent conflicts of interest that jeopardize the integrity of the decision-making process.
The bill would also greatly narrow the scope of judicial review in the NEPA process. Civil actions would only be available to parties that participated in the environmental review public comment period and any such action would have to be filed within 180 days of the granting of a permit.
Proponents claim this bill will speed up the NEPA review process, allowing more construction projects to start and more jobs to be created. However, in reality, the bill creates a complicated one-size-fits-all stance towards the entire NEPA process, muddling requirements for all projects, not just construction – from grazing permits to the safe disposal of nuclear waste.It passed 233 to 170.
7 Democrats joined the GOP:
Brad Ashford (NE-02)
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Roll call votes were taken on 9 amendments.
Climate Change
Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) offered an amendment to prevent further evaluation or adoption of a project alternative that does not adequately address risks associated with flooding, wildfire, and climate change.
It failed 170 to 228.
Four Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Carlos Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-11)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
That means that the majority of the sponsors of the recent GOP climate resolution voted against this amendment. So much for that.....
Three Democrats joined the GOP in voting against it:
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Scott Peters (CA-52) offered an amendment to strike the section of the bill that prohibits federal agencies from considering the "social cost of carbon" in conducting environmental reviews or in environmental decision making.
It failed 179 to 229.
Five Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Curt Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Richard Hanna (NY-22)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Again, the majority of the sponsors of the GOP climate resolution took the anti-climate vote.
3 Democrats joined the Republicans in voting against it:
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Gene Green (TX-29)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Paul Gosar (AZ-04) offered an amendment to prohibit federal agencies from following draft guidance entitled "the Revised Draft Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate change in NEPA Reviews” issued by the Council on Environmental Quality, 79 Fed. Reg. 77801 (Dec. 24, 2014), or similar guidance.
It passed 223 to 186.
11 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it:
Diane Black (TN-06)
Tom Cole (OK-04)
Curt Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Richard Hanna (NY-22)
Tom MacArthur (NJ-03)
Pat Meehan (PA-07)
John Mica (FL-07)
Candice Miller (MI-10)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Three Democrats joined the GOP in voting for it:
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Socioeconomic Impact
Raul Grijalva offered an amendment to require an evaluation of each alternative in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment to identify potential effects on low-income communities and communities of color.
It passed 320 to 88. All 178 Democrats present voted for it. The GOP caucus split: 142 in favor and 88 against.
Public Process
Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) offered an amendment to grant deadline extensions if requested by a state, a local elected official, or local tribal official.
It failed 179 to 230.
Five Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Bradley Byrne (AL-01)
David Jolly (FL-13)
Leonard Lance (NJ-07)
Scott Tipton (CO-03)
Ryan Zinke (MT-AL)
Four Democrats joined Republicans in voting against it:
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Eliot Engel (NY-16)
Scott Peters (CA-52)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) offered an amendment to strike language in the underlying bill that would deem permits and licenses approved if an agency does not act within certain time frames set out in the bill.
It failed 173 to 237.
Five Democrats joined the GOP in voting against it:
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Scott Peters (CA-52)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Hank Johnson (GA-04) offered an amendment to clarify that nothing in the bill will change or limit any law or regulation that allows for public comment or participation in an agency decision making process.
It failed 176 to 232.
Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Tom Emmer (MN-06)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Richard Hanna (NY-22)
Four Democrats joined the GOP in voting against it:
Karen Bass
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Karen Bass's vote here seems strange to me.
National Security
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) offered a second amendment to clarify that the bill’s provisions do not apply to environmental reviews or permitting or other agency decisions for projects that could be a potential terrorist attack target or that are chemical facilities or other critical infrastructure.
It failed 176 to 232.
One Republican--Jeff Duncan (SC-03)--joined Democrats in voting for it.
Two Democrats--Jim Costa (CA-16) and Collin Peterson (MN-07)--joined Republicans in voting against it.
Wildlife
Debbie Dingell (MI-12) offered an amendment to prevent a project permit from being deemed approved under the timeline set forth in the bill if the project would limit access to or opportunities for hunting or fishing, or impact an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
It failed 187 to 223.
Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Curt Curbelo (FL-26)
Charlie Dent (PA-15)
Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Tom MacArthur (NJ-03)
Candice Miller (MI-10)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Don Young (AK-AL)
Brad Ashford (NE-02)
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Roll call votes were taken on 9 amendments.
Climate Change
Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) offered an amendment to prevent further evaluation or adoption of a project alternative that does not adequately address risks associated with flooding, wildfire, and climate change.
It failed 170 to 228.
Four Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Carlos Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-11)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
That means that the majority of the sponsors of the recent GOP climate resolution voted against this amendment. So much for that.....
Three Democrats joined the GOP in voting against it:
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Scott Peters (CA-52) offered an amendment to strike the section of the bill that prohibits federal agencies from considering the "social cost of carbon" in conducting environmental reviews or in environmental decision making.
It failed 179 to 229.
Five Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Curt Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Richard Hanna (NY-22)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Again, the majority of the sponsors of the GOP climate resolution took the anti-climate vote.
3 Democrats joined the Republicans in voting against it:
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Gene Green (TX-29)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Paul Gosar (AZ-04) offered an amendment to prohibit federal agencies from following draft guidance entitled "the Revised Draft Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate change in NEPA Reviews” issued by the Council on Environmental Quality, 79 Fed. Reg. 77801 (Dec. 24, 2014), or similar guidance.
It passed 223 to 186.
11 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it:
Diane Black (TN-06)
Tom Cole (OK-04)
Curt Curbelo (FL-26)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Chris Gibson (NY-19)
Richard Hanna (NY-22)
Tom MacArthur (NJ-03)
Pat Meehan (PA-07)
John Mica (FL-07)
Candice Miller (MI-10)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Three Democrats joined the GOP in voting for it:
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Socioeconomic Impact
Raul Grijalva offered an amendment to require an evaluation of each alternative in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment to identify potential effects on low-income communities and communities of color.
It passed 320 to 88. All 178 Democrats present voted for it. The GOP caucus split: 142 in favor and 88 against.
Public Process
Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) offered an amendment to grant deadline extensions if requested by a state, a local elected official, or local tribal official.
It failed 179 to 230.
Five Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Bradley Byrne (AL-01)
David Jolly (FL-13)
Leonard Lance (NJ-07)
Scott Tipton (CO-03)
Ryan Zinke (MT-AL)
Four Democrats joined Republicans in voting against it:
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Eliot Engel (NY-16)
Scott Peters (CA-52)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) offered an amendment to strike language in the underlying bill that would deem permits and licenses approved if an agency does not act within certain time frames set out in the bill.
It failed 173 to 237.
Five Democrats joined the GOP in voting against it:
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Scott Peters (CA-52)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Hank Johnson (GA-04) offered an amendment to clarify that nothing in the bill will change or limit any law or regulation that allows for public comment or participation in an agency decision making process.
It failed 176 to 232.
Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Tom Emmer (MN-06)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Richard Hanna (NY-22)
Four Democrats joined the GOP in voting against it:
Karen Bass
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Karen Bass's vote here seems strange to me.
National Security
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) offered a second amendment to clarify that the bill’s provisions do not apply to environmental reviews or permitting or other agency decisions for projects that could be a potential terrorist attack target or that are chemical facilities or other critical infrastructure.
It failed 176 to 232.
One Republican--Jeff Duncan (SC-03)--joined Democrats in voting for it.
Two Democrats--Jim Costa (CA-16) and Collin Peterson (MN-07)--joined Republicans in voting against it.
Wildlife
Debbie Dingell (MI-12) offered an amendment to prevent a project permit from being deemed approved under the timeline set forth in the bill if the project would limit access to or opportunities for hunting or fishing, or impact an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
It failed 187 to 223.
Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Curt Curbelo (FL-26)
Charlie Dent (PA-15)
Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Tom MacArthur (NJ-03)
Candice Miller (MI-10)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27)
Don Young (AK-AL)
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