2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Re-Authorize A Bureau Of Reclamation
Program To Develop Strategies To Address Climate Change Impacts On Water
Resources. In July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act, which
"To support water-related research, it would reauthorize a Bureau of
Reclamation program to assess and develop strategies to address the
impacts of climate change on water resources." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 218-199, thus the bill was sent
to the Senate. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill.
[House Vote 414,
7/29/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/29/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5118]
The Bill Would Also Establish An Interagency Water Data Council To
Develop And Implement National Water Data Framework And Establish An
Open Access Evapotranspiration Data Program. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "establish an interagency water data
council to support the development and implementation of a national
water data framework; and establish an open access
evapotranspiration data program within the U.S. Geological Survey."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/29/22]
The Bill Would Direct The U.S. Geological Survey To Examine
Drought Impacts On Saline Lakes In The Great Basin, Including Great
Salt Lake. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would also
direct the U.S. Geological Survey to study the impact of drought
conditions on saline lakes in the Great Basin, including the Great
Salt Lake, a provision based on a bill introduced by Rep. Blake D.
Moore, R-Utah." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/29/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Appropriating $1.9 Billion To The
Bureau Of Reclamation For FY 2023 To Mitigate Droughts And Other Water
Resource Projects. In July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, which would
provide "$1.9 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to address drought
and other water resource projects." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote 220-207, thus the bill was sent to the Senate.
The Senate did not take substantive action on the legislation. Congress
passed and signed into law the FY 2023 Budget through H.R. 2617. [House
Vote 383, 7/20/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
7/20/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
8294]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2020 Minibus Appropriations Bill,
Which Provided $1.7 Billion For The Bureau of Reclamation, A Federal
Agency That Oversees Water Resource Management. In December 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted for the FY 2020 minibus spending bill, which
represented 8 of the 12 appropriations bills. According to Congressional
Quarterly, the bill "provides $1.7 billion for activities of the Bureau
of Reclamation, $110 million (7%) more than FY 2019 and $550 million
(50%) more than requested. The bureau is charged with developing water
supplies and reclaiming arid lands in the Western United States. Most of
that total, $1.5 billion, is for activities that support the
development, construction, management and restoration of water and
related natural resources. It also includes the requested $55 million
for the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund, $7 million less than
FY 2019." The vote was a motion to concur in the Senate amendment. The
House agreed to the motion by a vote of 297-120. The Senate later passed
the bill and the President signed the bill into law. [House Vote 689,
12/17/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/17/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.1865]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Provide Greater Liability Protections For
Permit Holders Under The Clean Water Act And To Limit The Government's
Ability To Revoke Issued Permits. In March 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for
, according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill (HR 7023), as amended,
that would modify the process and requirements for issuing permits under
the Clean Water Act, including permits issued by EPA for the discharge
of pollutants and those issued by the Army Corps of Engineers for the
discharge of dredge and fill materials and for building infrastructure
such as oil and gas pipelines over waterways. It would provide greater
liability protections for permit holders acting in good faith from
enforcement actions and third-party lawsuits, codify certain
requirements and practices for general permits and limit the ability of
executive agencies or federal courts to revoke or block permits that
have been issued. HR 7023 is the Creating Confidence in Clean Water
Permitting Act." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 213 to 205. [House Vote 101,
3/21/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/21/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7023]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Reauthorize The Marine Debris Act And To
Expand The Authorities And Funding Sources Of The National Oceanic And
Atmospheric Administration Regarding The Marine Debris Program. In
March 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for , according to Congressional
Quarterly, "the bill (HR 886), as amended, that would reauthorize the
Marine Debris Act through fiscal 2025. It would authorize $15 million
per year to fund programs to prevent, identify and reduce the occurrence
of marine debris. It would clarify that the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration can enter into agreements outside of
contracts for the Marine Debris Program and would permit NOAA to make
in-kind contributions as well as receive and expend funds from outside
sources. The bill also would create a CEO for the Marine Debris
Foundation and clarify the process for appointing and removing members
of the foundation. It would require the foundation's principal office to
be in a coastal shoreline community or the National Capital Region. The
bill would also require the development and implementation of best
practices to conduct outreach to Native American tribes. HR 886 is the
Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 326 to 73. [House Vote 80,
3/11/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/11/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
886]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The House GOP's 2018 Farm Bill, Which
Reauthorized Farm Programs Such As Crop Subsidies, Reauthorized SNAP -
But With New Work Requirements -, And Gave The EPA The Authority To
Delay Protections Against Pesticides. In June 2018, Fitzpatrick voted
against the House GOP Farm Bill. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"Passage of the bill that would reauthorize and extend federal farm and
nutrition programs through fiscal 2023, including crop subsidies,
conservation, rural development and agricultural trade programs and the
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. It would require
individuals receiving SNAP benefits, who are 18-59 years old, to work or
participate in work training programs for a minimum of 20 hours per
week, and would require the Department of Agriculture to establish a
database to track individuals receiving SNAP benefits. The bill would
reauthorize and extend supplemental agricultural disaster assistance
programs, the current sugar policies and loan rates, several
international food aid programs, nonrecourse marketing assistance loans
for loan commodities, several dairy programs, including the dairy risk
management program (previously the margin protection program) and would
modify certain utility standards in the Home Energy Assistance Program
to require SNAP benefits recipients to provide documentation of such
expenses in order to receive increased benefits using the Standard
Utility Allowance. The bill would authorize, with modifications, the
farm risk-management program, which gives agriculture producers a choice
of receiving price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage, on a
covered-commodity-by-covered-commodity basis, for the 2019 through 2023
crop years. The bill would reauthorize several conservation programs,
and would increase the conservation reserve program from 24 to 29
million acres and reduce from 750,000 to 500,000 acres the cap for
Farmable Wetland Program enrollment. It would also increase the amount
authorized annually for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for
the 2019 through 2023 crop years, with a maximum authorization of $3
billion in 2023. It would eliminate the conservation stewardship program
and would also allow the Environmental Protection Agency to determine
whether a pesticide is likely to jeopardize the survival of a federally
designated threatened or endangered species, or the habitat of such a
species, without having to consult with federal agencies." The vote was
on passage. The House adopted the bill by a vote of 213 to 211. A
modified version of the bill was later signed into law. [House Vote
284, 6/21/18;
Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The House GOP's 2018 Farm Bill, Which
Reauthorized Farm Programs Such As Crop Subsidies, Reauthorized SNAP
With New Work Requirements, And Gave The EPA The Authority To Delay
Protections Against Pesticides. In May 2018, Fitzpatrick voted against
the House GOP Farm Bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Passage
of the bill that would reauthorize and extend federal farm and nutrition
programs through fiscal 2023, including crop subsidies, conservation,
rural development and agricultural trade programs and the Supplemental
Nutritional Assistance Program. It would require individuals receiving
SNAP benefits, who are 18-59 years old, to work or participate in work
training programs for a minimum of 20 hours per week, and would require
the Department of Agriculture to establish a database to track
individuals receiving SNAP benefits. The bill would reauthorize and
extend supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs, the
current sugar policies and loan rates, several international food aid
programs, nonrecourse marketing assistance loans for loan commodities,
several dairy programs, including the dairy risk management program
(previously the margin protection program) and would modify certain
utility standards in the Home Energy Assistance Program to require SNAP
benefits recipients to provide documentation of such expenses in order
to receive increased benefits using the Standard Utility Allowance. The
bill would authorize, with modifications, the farm risk-management
program, which gives agriculture producers a choice of receiving price
loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage, on a
covered-commodity-by-covered-commodity basis, for the 2019 through 2023
crop years. The bill would reauthorize several conservation programs,
and would increase the conservation reserve program from 24 to 29
million acres and reduce from 750,000 to 500,000 acres the cap for
Farmable Wetland Program enrollment. It would also increase the amount
authorized annually for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for
the 2019 through 2023 crop years, with a maximum authorization of $3
billion in 2023. It would eliminate the conservation stewardship program
and would also allow the Environmental Protection Agency to determine
whether a pesticide is likely to jeopardize the survival of a federally
designated threatened or endangered species, or the habitat of such a
species, without having to consult with federal agencies." The vote was
on passage. The House rejected the bill by a vote of 198 to 213. The
House later took a revote several weeks later and passed the bill. A
modified version of the bill was later signed into law. [House Vote
205, 5/18/18;
Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize $3 Million In FY 2023 For The
EPA To Contract With The National Academies Of Sciences, Engineering And
Medicine And The National Science Foundation To Study PFAS, Including
PFAS Treatments And Safe Alternatives. In July 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Federal PFAS Research
Evaluation Act, which would "authorize $3 million in fiscal 2023 for
the EPA to enter into two agreements with the National Academies of
Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to study PFAS, or per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances. It would specify that one agreement would
direct a study on research and knowledge gaps identified at the 2020
Federal Government Human Health PFAS Research Workshop. The National
Science Foundation, in addition to the EPA, would enter into the second
agreement, which would direct a study on the research and development
needed to advance the understanding of human and environmental
contamination by PFAS, including strategies for PFAS treatment and safe
alternatives to the chemicals. It would require both agreements to be
reached within 90 days of the appropriation of funds, and the National
Academies' reports to be submitted to Congress within 540 days of the
agreements being finalized. It would direct the White House Office of
Science and Technology Policy, within 180 days of the reports'
submission, to submit to Congress a plan to coordinate federal PFAS
research, development and demonstration activities." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote 359-62, thus the bill was
sent to Senate. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill.
[House Vote 389,
7/26/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/26/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7289]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Required A Report On The
Progress Of The Defense Department's Implementation Of On-Site PFAS
Destruction Technologies Without Incineration And Extended The
Moratorium On PFAS Incineration. In July 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which would
"require the undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
to submit a report to Congress on the progress of the Defense
Department's implementation of on-site PFAS destruction technologies
not requiring incineration and extend the moratorium on PFAS
incineration enacted in the fiscal 2022 NDAA." The vote was on the
adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote
233-196. [House Vote 330,
7/14/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/14/22;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
267;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7900]
2019: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The FY 2020 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA), Which Contained Provisions To Reduce PFA
Exposure. In December 2019, Fitzpatrick effectively voted for the FY
2020 NDAA. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure prohibits
the release of fluorinated firefighting foam at military installations
except in cases of emergency response or in limited circumstances for
training or testing of equipment where complete containment, capture,
and proper disposal mechanisms are in place to ensure no foam is
released into the environment. The agreement requires the department to
finalize a military specification for PFAS firefighting agent by January
2023, and it prohibits their use in firefighting after October 2023. It
also imposes a complete ban on fluorinated foams on military
installations by October 2024, although the department may extend the
date for up to one year using a waiver authority [...] The measure
also requires the EPA to include PFAS and their associated salts in the
toxics release inventory." The vote was on adoption of the conference
report to accompany the bill. The House adopted the conference report by
a vote of 377-48. The bill was later passed by the Senate and signed
into law by the President. [House Vote 672,
12/11/19; Congressional
Quarterly,
12/17/19;
Congressional Actions,
S.1790]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize Various Water Resource
Development And Environmental Infrastructure Projects With A Total Of
$5 Billion In Funding. In December 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for ,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill, as amended, that would
authorize a wide range of Army Corps of Engineers projects and programs
related to water resource development. It would authorize 21 new
construction projects and 162 new feasibility studies as well as 40
feasibility studies for modifying existing projects. It would add more
than 190 new environmental infrastructure projects to existing
authorizations and would authorize more than $3.3 billion in new
funding for such projects. It would require the corps to expedite
feasibility studies for 36 previously authorized projects. It also would
modify 64 existing infrastructure projects to authorize an additional
$1.6 billion in environmental infrastructure, including a $20 million
increase in funding for the Chesapeake Bay oyster recovery program. It
also would deauthorize several projects including a navigation
initiative for Connecticut's Thames River. The bill also would establish
a 10-year pilot program for alternative means of delivering water
projects. Among other provisions, it would reauthorize the Economic
Development Administration within the Commerce Department for five years
through fiscal 2029. The measure also would redistribute unobligated
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act funds to states
through the Surface Transportation Block Grant program. It also would
require the General Services Administration to sell certain unused
federal property and consider consolidating or offloading federal
buildings unless at least 60 percent of the building's federal workers
return to the office." The House passed the bill by a vote of 399 to 18.
[House Vote 493,
12/10/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/10/24;
Congressional Actions, S.
4367]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Suspending The EPA's Or State
Government's Authority To Require A Permit To Use Pesticides Near
Navigable Water. In May 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against legislation
that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit[ed]
the EPA and states from requiring permits for the point source use of a
pesticide registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act. It would [have] prohibit[ed] the EPA or states from
requiring a Federal Water Pollution Control Act permit for the use of
registered pesticides near navigable waters." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 256 to 165. The Senate took no
substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 282,
5/24/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/24/17; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
953]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize Certain Water And Water Leasing
Rights To Address Water Shortages For Tribes In Arizona. In July 2022,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the
Continental Divide Trail Completion Act, which would "authorize certain
water and water leasing rights to address tribal water shortages in
Arizona." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 218-199, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate did not
take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 414,
7/29/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/29/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5118]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize An Additional $530 Million For
Completion And Maintenance Of The White Mountain Apache Tribe Rural
Water System And Miner Flat Dam Project. In December 2022, according
to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that would
"extend the deadline, from April 30, 2023, to Dec. 30, 2027, for the
Interior Department to publish a statement of findings for the White
Mountain Apache Tribe Rural Water System and Miner Flat Dam project. The
bill would also adjust the funding previously authorized for the project
to reflect changes in construction cost indices, including by
authorizing an additional $530 million for use in completing or
maintaining the water system. It would require the Bureau of Reclamation
to report to Congress annually on expenditures from the water system
project's funds." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by
a vote of 378 -- 33, thus the bill was sent to President Biden and it
ultimately became law. [House Vote 537,
12/21/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/21/22;
Congressional Actions, S.
3168]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize $3 Billion For Western Water
Projects, Including Water Recycling And Reuse Projects, And Over $1
Billion For Water Resource Projects. In July 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Continental Divide
Trail Completion Act, which "Among provisions related to water resources
and drought response, the bill would authorize $3 billion for Western
water projects, including $1.3 billion for water recycling and reuse
projects, and over $1 billion for tribal water resource projects." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 218-199,
thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate did not take
substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 414,
7/29/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/29/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5118]
The Bill Would Authorize $1 Billion For A Grant Program In The
Bureau Of Reclamation To Support Tribal Clean Water Access
Projects. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would
authorize $1 billion for a new Bureau of Reclamation competitive
grant program to fund tribal clean water access projects, a
provision Neguse originally introduced." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/29/22]
The Bill Would Authorize $500 Million For The Interior Secretary
To Enact Policies To Prevent Critical Reservoirs On The Colorado
River From Declining To Substantial Low Levels. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "To address drought, the bill would
authorize $500 million for the Interior secretary to use to prevent
key reservoirs on the Colorado River, including Lake Mead and Lake
Powell, from declining to critically low levels." [Congressional
Quarterly, 7/29/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The EPA To Develop Water Quality
Standards And Effluent Limitation Standards For All Measurable Per- And
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. In July 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2023, which would "require the EPA to develop water
quality criteria and effluent limitation standards for all measurable
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, within two years and four
years of enactment, respectively." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote 329-101, thus the bill was sent to the Senate.
The Senate did not take substantive action on the legislation. The FY
2023 Defense Authorization was passed with H.R. 7776. [House Vote 350,
7/14/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/14/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7900]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For Defense Authorization Act For FY 2023,
Which Included The Water Resources And Development Act. In December
2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the
James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023,
which would, in part, "include the Water Resources and Development Act
and the fiscal 2023 intelligence authorization." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 350-80, thus the bill
was sent to the Senate for final concurrence. The Senate concurred with
the House, sent the final bill to President Biden, and it ultimately
became law. [House Vote 516,
12/8/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/8/22;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
1512;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7776]