Energy and Climate Debate -

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) and ranking member Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) remain optimistic that the Senate bipartisan energy bill will advance perhaps as early as this week, after the Senate completes work on legislation related to GMOs, but more likely after the Senate returns from next week’s recess. However, they will first need to overcome the hold placed on the bill by Sen. Lee (R-UT) over the compromise legislation to address the Flint water crisis, as well as a hold placed by Sen. Nelson (D-FL) who is insisting that an amendment offered by Sen. Cassidy (R-LA) that expands offshore drilling revenue sharing be removed from the list of amendments.

Negotiations are also continuing on reconciling the House- and Senate-passed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform bills, with reports that after exchanging in writing proposals for how to address differences, key decision-makers are now meeting face to face.