Update: May 9, 2000
I.
CARA SCHEDULE
II.
BOEHLERT COMPROMISE REACHED AMENDMENT
III.
MEMBERS HEARING "VOTE YES ON CARA!"
I. CARA SCHEDULE
CARA will land on the House floor tomorrow afternoon (May 10) for
deliberation and a vote. The Rules Committee is currently meeting to
outline the format that CARA will be debated tomorrow. They received
over 50 different amendments (see list of amendments at www.house.gov/rules), most
proposing property rights related or budget changes. The Rules
Committee is expected to approve between 20 and 30 amendments and
will determine the order that they will be addressed.
Because of the large number of amendments and the expectation
that a number of members will want to make floor statements about
the bill (many in support, some in opposition) the floor debate will
likely carry over into Thursday. The final vote will occur after all
amendments are debated and voted on.
In a statement delivered to all members of the House, Congressmen
Young, Miller, Tauzin, Dingell, Weller, and John, stated that " we
have agreed to ... oppose amendments that we believe upset the
delicate balance of this bill." The letter outlines concerns that
"endorsing changes that benefit one perspective opens the door to
other amendments, and that the overall result could be a bill that
is unacceptable to anyone." This strategy was successful in the
House Resources Committee markup when numerous property rights
amendments were offered only to be fought off repeatedly by Young,
Miller and Tauzin. The one exception, where all manager's are united
in support, is the compromise Boehlert amendment outlined below.
Top of page
II. BOEHLERT COMPROMISE REACHED
Representatives Boehlert, Markey and Pallone reached agreement
with CARA's key sponsors late last week to incorporate components of
their amendment in CARA. We understand that the compromise, outlined
below, will still be offered as an amendment but will be jointly
offered by Young, Miller, Tauzin, Dingell, Boehlert, Markey,
Pallone, and others. Because the manager's (CARA's key sponsors)
support the amendment, it should pass without any difficulties
The agreement helps to address potential incentives by creating a
onetime "snapshot" of historic production when determining states'
allocations for funds from Title I. Currently the legislation would
allow the allocation formula to be revisited every five years which
raised concerns that this might make states like Alaska be more
inclined to accept increased OCS development off their coastlines.
In addition, the compromise outlines a framework for a new Title
VIII "flexible funding" program in Interior that, at the request of
a governor and with a 50 percent match could channel funds to states
on a competitive basis to take advantage of large, historic
opportunities to conseve lands of regional or national signficance.
However it does not resolve where the funds will come from.
The reallocation of funding and clarification of uses of the
Title I funds (coastal impact assistance) and improvements to Title
III (wildlife funding) were not included in the compromise.
NWF is very pleased with the agreement that was struck and
believe that the changes will strengthen CARA. We remain committed
to seeing CARA pass through the House. We will focus efforts on the
Senate to incorporate changes that we continue to seek, in
particular the Title III improvements.
Top of page
III. MEMBERS HEARING "VOTE YES ON CARA!"
We understand that U.S. House of Representatives switchboards are
busy today as hundreds of CARA's supporters call their members of
Congress asking them to vote "yes" on CARA. This grassroots pressure
is critical to get a strong vote for final passage. YOUR HELP IS
STILL NEEDED!!! If you haven't called - or even if you have! - we
urge you to call your Representative Wednesday and Thursday. The
more they hear from their constituents on this the better, we can
assume that they all have short memories right now!
Just to remind you, the House switchboard number is:
202-224-3121. The two messages to relay are:
***** Vote Yes on CARA!!
***** Oppose any amendments not
supported by Reps. Young and Miller (see story about Boehlert
amendment above to clarify change from the earlier message).
Thanks for all of your outstanding help and efforts on this
critical initiative. And lets keep working for a big win when they
vote this week!
Top of page
| 
