Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017
USA115th CongressHR-3043| House
| Updated: 11/9/2017
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Republican Representative
Washington
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- Introduced
- In Committee
- On Floor
- Passed Chamber
- Enacted
Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the lead agency for coordinating all federal authorizations and reviews related to hydropower license applications, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. FERC must establish a process to set a schedule for the review and disposition of each federal authorization following the filing of an application for a license. The bill expands the definition of "renewable energy" to include electric energy generated from hydropower projects. The bill authorizes FERC to extend the length of time of preliminary permits and to extend the time limit that a licensee has to commence construction on a hydropower project. (Sec. 3) The bill authorizes the use of trial-type hearings to resolve disputes related to a hydropower license application. Under certain circumstances, the hearing may be demanded by applicants or other parties for any disputed issues of material fact. FERC must consult with federal and state agencies and the public to compile best practices for performing studies and environmental reviews in connection with the timely and efficient completion of hydropower license proceedings. The bill creates a process to approve license amendments for qualifying hydropower projects. (Sec. 5) The Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior must consider the threat of invasive species when prescribing a fishway. (Fishways are structures placed on or around constructed barriers to give fish the opportunity to migrate.) (Sec. 6) FERC may examine the license for any project that is located in an area that was declared to be a disaster area in 2017.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 277.
Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-377, Part I.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 607 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3043 and H.R. 3441. Measure will be considered read. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3043. The resolution makes in order only those further amendments printed in the report and one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3441 with one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 607. (consideration: CR H8614-8641)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3043 and H.R. 3441. Measure will be considered read. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3043. The resolution makes in order only those further amendments printed in the report and one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3441 with one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 607 and Rule XVIII.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Randy Hultgren to act as Chairman of the Committee.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3043.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 607, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Grothman amendment No. 1.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 607, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Babin amendment No. 2.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 607, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jenkins (WV) amendment No. 3.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 607, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rush amendment No. 4.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Rush amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rush demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Mr. Upton moved that the Committee rise.
On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3043 as unfinished business.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8641-8642)
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3043.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 257 - 166 (Roll no. 620). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H8630-8633)
View VoteMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Energy
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAlternative and renewable resourcesDams and canalsElectric power generation and transmissionEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchFederal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLicensing and registrations
Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017
USA115th CongressHR-3043| House
| Updated: 11/9/2017
Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the lead agency for coordinating all federal authorizations and reviews related to hydropower license applications, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. FERC must establish a process to set a schedule for the review and disposition of each federal authorization following the filing of an application for a license. The bill expands the definition of "renewable energy" to include electric energy generated from hydropower projects. The bill authorizes FERC to extend the length of time of preliminary permits and to extend the time limit that a licensee has to commence construction on a hydropower project. (Sec. 3) The bill authorizes the use of trial-type hearings to resolve disputes related to a hydropower license application. Under certain circumstances, the hearing may be demanded by applicants or other parties for any disputed issues of material fact. FERC must consult with federal and state agencies and the public to compile best practices for performing studies and environmental reviews in connection with the timely and efficient completion of hydropower license proceedings. The bill creates a process to approve license amendments for qualifying hydropower projects. (Sec. 5) The Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior must consider the threat of invasive species when prescribing a fishway. (Fishways are structures placed on or around constructed barriers to give fish the opportunity to migrate.) (Sec. 6) FERC may examine the license for any project that is located in an area that was declared to be a disaster area in 2017.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 277.
Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-377, Part I.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 607 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3043 and H.R. 3441. Measure will be considered read. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3043. The resolution makes in order only those further amendments printed in the report and one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3441 with one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 607. (consideration: CR H8614-8641)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3043 and H.R. 3441. Measure will be considered read. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3043. The resolution makes in order only those further amendments printed in the report and one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3441 with one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 607 and Rule XVIII.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Randy Hultgren to act as Chairman of the Committee.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3043.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 607, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Grothman amendment No. 1.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 607, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Babin amendment No. 2.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 607, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jenkins (WV) amendment No. 3.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 607, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rush amendment No. 4.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Rush amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rush demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Mr. Upton moved that the Committee rise.
On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3043 as unfinished business.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8641-8642)
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3043.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 257 - 166 (Roll no. 620). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H8630-8633)
View VoteMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Republican Representative
Washington
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Energy
Related Bills
- S 115-724: A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.
- HR 115-2274: HYPE Act
- S 115-1460: A bill to provide for the modernization of the energy and natural resources policies of the United States, and for other purposes.
- HRES 115-607: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3043) to modernize hydropower policy, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3441) to clarify the treatment of two or more employers as joint employers under the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
- Introduced
- In Committee
- On Floor
- Passed Chamber
- Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAlternative and renewable resourcesDams and canalsElectric power generation and transmissionEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchFederal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLicensing and registrations