Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is moving full-speed ahead toward a planned vote this week on his chamber’s version of President Trump’s tax and spending bill, despite pushback from GOP colleagues and serious doubts about his prospects. Republicans say Thune and other Senate GOP leaders have told them the bill is on track for a vote before the July 4...
Author: The Hill
Colorado River ‘water market’ could bring security to farmers, fish and families: Study
Applying a market-based approach to Colorado River management could ensure more robust and reliable supplies for farmers, communities and the environment, a new study has found. Without considerable cutbacks in basin-wide water consumption, fish populations could face dire consequences for at least one month of the irrigation season, scientists warned in the study, published Friday...
Trump pulls out of Pacific Northwest salmon restoration agreement
President Trump pulled the U.S. out of a Biden-era agreement with several tribes that aimed to restore salmon in the Pacific Northwest. Trump, in a late Thursday memo, described the Biden administration’s agreement as an example of “radical environmentalism” and said his administration would instead prioritize power generation from hydroelectric dams in the region. The Biden-era agreement came...
Trump’s cuts to National Park Service rankle Republicans
President Trump’s proposed cuts to the National Park Service (NPS) are troubling some Republicans. The Trump administration has proposed a 30 percent cut to the park service’s operations and staffing budgets. In addition, the administration’s budget calls for transferring some park service sites to the states — a provision that is sparking particular ire from...
Senate Environment and Public Works panel releases ‘big, beautiful bill’ text
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released text for its portion of the Trump legislative agenda policy bill that Republicans are trying to get across the finish line, becoming the first Senate panel to do so. The committee’s text appears similar to provisions passed by the House. It’s not one of the committees that...
Solar panel arrays may help sustain grasslands during drought: Study
The placement of solar panels in Colorado’s grasslands could help decrease water stress and increase plant growth by about 20 percent during dry years, a new study has found. In these semi-arid areas, where grasslands often don’t get as much water as they need, the partial shading offered by solar systems can help plants get...
California launching multistate coalition to advance clean cars
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced his intentions Friday to help launch a multistate, clean-car coalition after the Senate voted to upend the Golden State’s stricter-than-federal emissions rules the previous day. The Affordable Clean Cars Coalition will work on sustaining the country’s transition to cleaner and more affordable cars, while also supporting U.S. automotive manufacturers and preserving...
Trump administration approves first expedited uranium mining project
The Trump administration on Friday authorized the relaunch of operations at a southeastern Utah uranium mine — marking its first use of a newly fast-tracked environmental review process. The Velvet-Wood mine, set to be reopened by Canadian company Anfield Energy, contains both uranium and vanadium, a mineral used to strengthen steel equipment in cars, building...
Thune tees up vote to nix California’s EV mandate, defying Senate parliamentarian
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is teeing up a contentious vote to overturn California’s electric vehicle mandate, defying a ruling from the Senate parliamentarian. “This week, we’re going to be moving to take up Congressional Review Act resolutions to overturn Clean Air Act preemption waivers the Environmental Protection Agency granted to California that allow California to...
Senate approves Trump No. 2 picks for Energy, Interior
The Senate has approved President Trump’s picks for the No. 2 positions at the Energy and Interior departments. Tuesday evening, the Senate voted 52-44 to approve James Danly to be the deputy Energy secretary. Independent Sen. Angus King (Maine), who typically caucuses with Democrats, joined Republicans in voting in favor of the nomination. And on Wednesday, the upper chamber approved...








