| Northeast-Midwest Institute Weekly Update |
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Today 3-4pm: NEMWI Briefing on Transportation Climate Initiative
| Today, Monday, April 23, NEMWI will host a Capitol Hill briefing on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States' Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI). TCI seeks to a) increase use of alternative fuels and vehicles; b) create sustainable communities that reduce vehicle miles traveled; c) adopt innovative communication technologies to improve the transportation system's efficiency; and d) increase freight movement's efficiency. NEMWI's briefing will be in the Capitol Visitor Center, Congressional Meeting Room South, from 3-4pm, and will address: state involvement in TIC; agency staff opinions and expectations of the collaboration; and the relationship between federal policy and TCI. Speakers will include: Vicki Arroyo, Georgetown Climate Center; Brett Taylor, Delaware Department of Transportation; and John Thomas, U.S. EPA.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Beth Zgoda, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute (202.464.4003).
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NEMW Coalition Members Introduce Mississippi River and Great Lakes Legislation
| Members of the House and Senate Northeast-Midwest Coalitions introduced bills of interest to NEMW waterways on April 19. Rep. Dave Camp (MI) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) introduced HR 4406 & S 2317, respectively, to compel the Secretary of the Army to complete the Great Lakes-Mississippi River Inter-basin Study within 18 months and to focus particular attention on the permanent prevention of the spread of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basins. Additionally, Rep. Ron Kind (WI) introduced HR 4458 to promote Department of the Interior efforts to provide a scientific basis for the management of sediment and nutrients in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and for other purposes.
For more information, contact Colin Wellenkamp, Director, Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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House Holds Hearing on Inland Waterways
| On April 18, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on "How Reliability of the Inland Waterway System Impacts Economic Competitiveness." Chaired by Subcommittee Chairman, Robert Gibbs (OH), the Subcommittee heard from Major General John Peabody, Commander, Mississippi River Valley Division, United States Corps of Engineers. The Subcommittee also heard from the Soy Transportation Coalition and the American Society of Civil Engineers, and shipping industry leaders. Discussion focused on HR 4342, Waterways Are Vital for the Economy, Energy, Efficiency, and Environment Act of 2012 (WAVE4 Act). HR 4342 would revise cost-share requirements for navigation infrastructure relating to dam reconstruction and lock rehabilitation. No further hearings or mark-ups has been scheduled for HR 4342.
For more information, contact Colin Wellenkamp, Director, Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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