WASHINGTON, DC - Building upon the Energy and Commerce Committee’s record of bipartisan success, the U.S. Senate yesterday approved two bills, H.R. 316 and H.R. 724, as part of the committee’s effort to advance an “all-of-the-above" energy approach and effort to modernize government and clear burdensome red tape.
H.R. 316, the Collinsville Hydroelectric Relicensing Bill, authored by Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), provides the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with limited authority to reinstate two terminated hydroelectric licenses and transfer them to a new owner, the Town of Canton, Connecticut. The licenses are associated with the Upper and Lower Collinsville Dams on the Farmington River in Connecticut. Both projects are under one megawatt each. The committee unanimously approved H.R. 316 in January. Hydropower is an important component of the committee’s energy strategy to ensure Americans have access to affordable energy.
The second bill, H.R. 724, which passed the House by a vote of 405 to 0 in January, is bipartisan legislation that amends the Clean Air Act to eliminate the redundant requirement for auto dealers to provide certification of emissions standards compliance for new light-duty motor vehicles. Clean Air Act measures already ensure that new vehicles offered for sale comply with the standards, and the Environmental Protection Agency no longer enforces this requirement. Authored by Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), this commonsense bill will cut unnecessary red tape and provide much-needed regulatory relief for job creators.
“We continue to build upon our proud record of bipartisan success," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “These two committee bills advance our efforts to cut unnecessary red tape for job creators as well as promote renewable energy as part of our true, ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy."
