In This Issue:

- Energy and Climate Debate

- Congress

- Administration

- Department of Energy

- Department of Interior

- Environmental Protection Agency

- International

- States

- Excerpt from Energy and Climate Debate:

After President Obama immediately vetoed – his third veto ever – the Keystone XL Pipeline Act (S.1) upon his receipt of the legislation February 24, the Senate failed, 62-37, to override his veto March 4. Eight Democrats joined all 54 Senate Republicans in supporting the override attempt, but came up shy of the necessary two-thirds of Senators needed to override the veto. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and other congressional Republicans have indicated that they may try again to pass similar language, potentially as an amendment to must-pass legislation.

Despite weather cutting last week’s votes short, both chambers held several budget hearings, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on Arctic issues. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing March 4 on the Environmental Protection Agency’s fiscal year 2016 budget request at which Administrator Gina McCarthy testified to defend agency programs and during which Committee Chair Jim Inhofe (R-OK) released a critical assessment of President Obama’s budget request, especially the redirection of agency assets.