GOP rejects naming Yucca repository after Reagan as House panel approves slew of bills

E&E News
By Emily Yehle
April 9, 2014

With 86 landmarks already bearing the name of former President Reagan, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has a unique proposal for the 87th: the Ronald Reagan Nuclear Waste Repository at Yucca Mountain.

"This would seem to me to be a really, really significant accomplishment of the president and would probably be the best way that he could be honored and be commended by the people of Nevada," DeFazio said in his pitch today to colleagues on the House Natural Resources Committee. Reagan signed the bill that set up the repository.

The tongue-in-cheek amendment from the committee's ranking member came as the panel marked up a hodgepodge of public lands bills, including H.R. 4017 to designate as "Mount Reagan" a peak of Frenchman Mountain, which borders the Las Vegas Valley.

The Mount Reagan bill, from Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.), met little resistance beyond Democrats poking fun at the measure. But in a markup that was otherwise routine, lawmakers took a moment to joust over the proliferation of Reagan namesakes.

"I think this is a terrific amendment. I think we may want to consider going big with this Reagan enthusiasm and just name the planet," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), musing that it might get Republicans to pay more attention to global warming.

"That would probably not be germane," countered Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.). "We're talking about mountains. You're talking about the world."

In the end, DeFazio's amendment was defeated and the bill passed by voice vote.

The committee also passed nine other bills, six by unanimous consent in a single voice vote. Among the three that saw more extensive debate was H.R. 2208, which would extend through 2017 the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

The law invests federal funds into the protection of important waterfowl habitat. So far, it has cleared the way for the conservation of more than 25 million acres using $1 billion in federal funds and $2 billion in outside support.

Both Democrats and Republicans support the original bill, which was introduced by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.). But an amendment from Hastings alienated Democrats, who now question whether it will have a chance in the Senate.

Among other things, the amendment -- which was successfully adopted today, along party lines -- would set limitations on how the Interior Department could acquire lands. Specifically, it aims to limit direct-fee land purchases and instead pushes Interior to acquire land through conservation easements, which are agreements with landowners not to develop lands in return for tax breaks.

Hastings argued that such easements cost the government far less than buying the land outright. But Democrats said the amendment would tie the hands of officials, who already aim to use the most cost-effective option.

"I have not heard anyone suggest that we have a problem of too much wetland acquisition. ... We're fixing a problem that does not exist," Huffman said, adding that the amendment is a "poison pill" in a bill that would otherwise have strong bipartisan support. "I wish we wouldn't do this."

The bill passed by voice vote.

The panel also passed H.R. 4309 by voice vote; the bill would amend the Sikes Act to improve the administration of agreements for land management related to Department of Defense readiness. A Republican amendment to the bill that would ensure state coordination also passed, with opposition from Democrats.

The only bill that received a roll call vote was H.R. 4253, which would permanently transfer public lands to the military in Alaska, Nevada and New Mexico. The Bureau of Land Management tracts are currently used as military ranges for training and testing purposes.

Democrats opposed the bill, arguing that it would make it harder to get the land back from the military in the future for other uses, such as grazing and energy development.

In addition, the six bills that passed by unanimous consent are:

H.R. 503, by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), to authorize the National Desert Storm Memorial Association to establish the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial as a commemorative work in Washington, D.C.

H.R. 863, by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), to establish a commission to study the possible creation of a National Women's History Museum.

H.R. 2430, by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), to adjust the boundaries of Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park to include Hinchliffe Stadium.

H.R. 3802, by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), to extend the legislative authority of the Adams Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in honor of former President John Adams and his legacy.

H.R. 4002, by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma at the request of that tribe.

H.R. 4120, by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), to amend the National Law Enforcement Museum Act to extend the termination date.