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Commerce Committee Approves Measure that Tempers Spread of Invasive Species
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved S. 1578, The Ballast Water Management Act of 2007, as amended, which strengthens the existing national ballast water management program for aquatic nuisance species, including uniform, mandatory national standards for ballast water treatment.
“This ballast water legislation strengthens existing federal authorities and enhances important environmental protections aimed at further stemming the tide of invasive species entering our waters from ships,” said Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye. “The Committee’s approach is a pragmatic, bipartisan approach that offers the opportunity for meaningful and effective environmental legislation to move through the Senate and ultimately reach the President’s desk.”
Ballast water is the water ships generally carry for stability that is usually discharged as cargo is unloaded. It is a major source of invasive species in U.S. waterways that can cause both environmental and economic damage.
Specifically, the Ballast Water Management Act of 2007, introduced by Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska):
- Implements a recommendation by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to adopt a national ballast water management program for aquatic nuisance species, including uniform, mandatory national standards for ballast water treatment. It also implements an international agreement, negotiated in the International Maritime Organization.
- Strengthens existing federal law by amending the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (NANPCA) to require mandatory ballast water treatment technology on all vessels that come to a U.S. port. The bill sets performance standards 100 times stronger than the minimum international standards and includes provisions for strengthening these standards in the future, with a goal of zero discharge.
- Requires, until treatment is required, the exchange of ballast water with water in mid-ocean to reduce the number of aquatic nuisance species being transported.
- Provides states with the authority to develop programs to regulate invasive species from ships so long as the provisions do not conflict with the federal program. Such programs could include all of the provisions included in the federal program – treatment standards, other management practices, research and technology development, as well as other provisions such as the imposition of port fees.
- Allows states to establish no discharge zones in sensitive state waters, a mechanism for strengthening the performance standards in the future, and a right of action for states against the Coast Guard and EPA.
- Authorizes $50 million for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 for the Coast Guard to implement the bill, of which up to a total of $10 million could be provided to states that enter cooperative agreements with the Coast Guard.
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18th - |
Senator Hutchison Calls for Improved Bus Safety Standards
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called for improved safety of over-the-road buses and enhanced National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations governing bus safety during a Senate Surface Transportation Subco...
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18th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for DTV Transition Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the Full Committee hearing on Oversight of the DTV Transition: Countdown to February 2009, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 2:30 p.m. The full witness list is below.
With February 17, 2009 less than five months away, the Committee will assess the Federal Communication...
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18th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for U.S.-Korea Automobile Trade Imbalance Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the upcoming Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on The Imbalance in U.S.-Korea Automobile Trade, scheduled for September 24, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. A full witness list is below.
The hearing will examine the reasons for the imbalance in U.S.-Korea bilateral ...
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17th - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Consumer Privacy Issues Related to Broadband Service Providers
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Full Committee hearing on Broadband Providers and Consumer Privacy, scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Committee will examine broadband provider practices with respect to consumer privacy.
Broadband Providers and Consumer PrivacyFull CommitteeDate: Thursday, Septemb...
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16th - |
Senator Hutchison Commends Dept. of Commerce for Helping Nursing Homes with DTV Converter Box Program
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) today commended the U.S. Department of Commerce and Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez for allowing residents with post office boxes and those living in nursing homes to participate in the digital television (DTV) converter box coupon program. Previously, only residents with physical addresses could participate. This meant that those who ...
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16th - |
Inouye Calls for Immediate Passage of S.1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) delivered the following statement at today’s hearing on why broadband matters.
“In our hearing today we explore why broadband matters. Broadband matters because broadband communications have become the great economic engine of our time. Broadband deployment drives opportunities for business, education, ...
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16th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Bus Safety Hearing
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12th - |
Commerce Committee to Hear Testimony from Corporation for Public Broadcasting Nominees
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12th - |
Commerce Committee to Review Progress of DTV Transition with FCC, NTIA
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12th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Hearing on Consumer Benefits of Broadband
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11th - |
Commerce Committee Releases MARAD Bill Financial Disclosure Certification
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today filed its report on S. 2997, the Maritime Administration Act for Fiscal Year 2009. In accordance with Senate Rule XLIV, the Committee provides the attached financial disclosure certification.
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11th - |
Commerce Committee Cancels Hearing to Examine Marine Protected Areas
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10th - |
Senator Hutchison Cosponsors Calling Card Legislation to Help Consumers
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today signed on as a cosponsor to legislation that would assist consumers with pre-paid calling cards and ensure that fees and terms are easier to understand. The bill, S. 2998, would require pre-paid calling card providers and distributors to disclose the numbe...
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9th - |
Commerce Committee to Hold Hearing on Consumer Benefits of Broadband
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8th - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Marine Protected Areas
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8th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Prepaid Calling Card Hearing
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