OK, so it’s been a while. I’m effectively trying to maintain two blogs – one in my professional capacity over at AGU with the science communication blog The Plainspoken Scientist and this one here. Between that, my duties with The Story Collider (two shows in DC since my last post), two conferences, and planning for teaching this summer, Ecoroulette has suffered. But, we’re back! and I’ve waded through two months of legislation just for you!

Fossil Fuels

H.R.4535 : Keep It in the Ground Act of 2016
–Would prohibit drilling on the outer Continental Shelf. Similar bills have been introduced previously and never made it very far.
H.R.4749 : NC OFFSHORE Act
–Basically the opposite of H.R.4535, this legislation would make it easier to procure leases for oil and gas drilling for the coast of NC.
H.R.4827 : Coal Ash Landfill Safety Act
–Would direct the EPA to execute more comprehensive reviews on coal ash landfills.

Conservation & Nature

H.R.4545 : Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2016
–Would expand federally protected lands in parts of TN.
H.R.4558 : United States Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Protection Act
–Similar to previously-introduced legislation, would allow USFWS to seek monies from folks who damage USFWS property. E.g. the former occupiers of the Malheur NWR.
H.R.4739 : Greater Sage Grouse Protection and Recovery Act of 2016
–Would place a greater focus on state-based Greater Sage Grouse recovery plans as opposed to the current federal protections.
S.2608 : American Discovery Trail Act of 2016
–Would allow the placement of signage along the trail. Seriously.
S.2667 : Gulf States Protection and Restoration Coordination Act
–Would designate the Gulf of Mexico Alliance as a Regional Coordination Partnership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and for other purposes.

Disease

H.R.4561 : Zika Is Preventable Plan Act
–Would authorize use of Ebola funds for Zika prevention.
H.R.4562 : Zika Authorization Plan Act of 2016
–Would amend and reauthorize the Public Health Service Act (to Zika Authorization Plan Act of 2016), to include language to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases.
H.R.4563 : Zika Immunization Plan Act
–Otherwise known as the ZIP Act, would amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide credit for the development of a Zika vaccine.
S.2634 : One Health Act of 2016
–This is actually really cool. Would direct The President, acting through the 8 National Science and Technology Council, shall coordinate 9 and support a national, interagency One Health Program 10 to address infectious diseases in animals and the environment, and to help prevent the transmission of known and emerging infectious diseases between animal populations 2 and human populations.

GMO

H.R.4713 : Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act
–Would change food labeling requirements, specifically of salmon, to ensure that products were labeled accordingly.

Exploration

H.R.4752 : Space Exploration, Development, and Settlement Act of 2016
–Would direct NASA to explore other planets for potential human settlement.
S.2635 : Coast Guard Icebreaker Recapitalization Act
–Would basically give the US the tools and resources to establish an effective ice-breaking fleet since ours are all breaking down or out of commission.