Bill S.4711 titled “A bill to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to amend regulations relating to exemptions for engines and equipment for purposes of national security, and for other purposes” was read the second time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works by the Senate. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Thom Tillis.
Bill S.4717 titled “A bill to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Land Management and the Director of the National Park Service to carry out activities to control the movement of aquatic invasive species into, across, and out of Federal land and waters, to provide for financial assistance from the Commissioner of Reclamation to Reclamation States for watercraft inspection and decontamination stations, to amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to make certain technical corrections, and for other purposes” was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works by the Senate. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Michael Bennet with Steve Daines as cosponsor.
Most bills have a hearing where those involved explain why they are for or against the bill. Roughly 8,000 bills are addressed by committees each year but only about 800 make it to the floor of Congress, according to ushistory.org.
A 2019 report from the Brookings Institute argued committees aren’t capable of delving fully into the issues they address and are forced to rely on lobbyists.
| Bill Name | Sponsor | Action |
|---|---|---|
| A bill to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to amend regulations relating to exemptions for engines and equipment for purposes of national security, and for other purposes. | Sen. Tillis, Thom | Senate |
| A bill to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Land Management and the Director of the National Park Service to carry out activities to control the movement of aquatic invasive species into, across, and out of Federal land and waters, to provide for financial assistance from the Commissioner of Reclamation to Reclamation States for watercraft inspection and decontamination stations, to amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to make certain technical corrections, and for other purposes. | Sen. Bennet, Michael F. | Senate |