Overnight Energy: Senate Dems block energy, water bill a third time

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED…: Senate Democrats blocked consideration of an energy and water spending bill on Monday for the third time because of a proposed Republican amendment dealing with Iran.

On a 50-42 vote, Democrats refused to close debate on the $27.5 billion bill, which increases funding for Department of Energy and Army Corps of Engineers programs.

{mosads}It was the third time they have blocked the bill from going forward, due to an amendment proposed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that would prohibit the White House from purchasing heavy water from Iran. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has now called for a straight vote on the amendment, and another vote on the spending bill this week.

McConnell encouraged Democrats on Monday to vote for the underlying spending bill and allow the appropriations process to move forward.

“The bill before us will support energy innovation and waterways infrastructure,” he said. “It will promote commerce and public safety. It will help maintain our nuclear deterrence posture. These are priorities that would be important to all of us so let’s continue to work today and move this bill forward.”

Democrats, though, have objected, saying the measure would earn a veto from the Obama administration. With McConnell’s procedural maneuvers on Monday, lawmakers could vote on both the Iran amendment and the spending bill as early as Wednesday.

Read more here.

MEET YOUR NEW NATIONAL MAMMAL: President Obama signed into law a measure Monday that designates the North American bison as the national mammal.

The bison is the largest mammal in the United States, and it joins the bald eagle as an animal symbol of the country.

The House and Senate both unanimously passed the National Bison Legacy Act last month, with support from various wildlife groups. Its original sponsors included Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Lacy Clay (D-Mo.).

“Bison are strong, proud and free, and a truly American icon with an incredible story,” Hoeven said in a statement.

“These noble creatures were brought back from the brink of extinction in our nation’s first great conservation effort.”

Read more here.

ARMY CORPS DENIES COAL TERMINAL PROJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday denied a permit for a new coal terminal in Puget Sound.

The Corps rejected the Gateway Pacific Terminal, a $700 million project to export Montana coal to Asia, because fishing rights for a local Native American tribe superseded plans for the port, the Missoulian reported.

Cloud Peak Energy was to mine coal on the Crow Reservation in Montana and ship it from Gateway Pacific. Instead, federal officials said Washington’s Lummi Nation had treaty-protected rights to the area in question.

“We are pleased to see that the Corps has honored the treaty and the constitution by providing a decision that recognizes the terminal’s impacts to our fishing rights,” Tim Ballew II, the chairman of the Lummi Business Council, said in a statement. “This decision is a win for the treaty and protects our sacred site.”

Montana Republicans opposed the decision.

“Today the U.S. Army Corps chose one tribe’s treaty rights over another, harming good-paying union and tribal jobs,” Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said in a statement.

“The Gateway Pacific Terminal would provide access to international markets for Montana coal and agriculture products – including Crow coal – creating much needed economic prosperity.”

ON TAP TUESDAY I: The Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute, Canada Institute, and the International Monetary Fund will host an event on manufacturing and energy. Jim Prentice, the former Premier of Alberta and Minister of the Environment in Canada, and IMF officials will speak.

ON TAP TUESDAY II: The 2016 Earth Day Network Climate Leadership Gala takes place in Washington. Attendees include Melanne Verveer from Georgetown’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security, and Karuna Singh, the head of Earth Day Network’s efforts in India.

AROUND THE WEB:

An Australian commission has recommended building a nuclear industry in the country after decades of opposition to such a plan, Reuters reports.  

Mercury completed a journey past the Sun today. NASA published a blog post on how scientists use the “transit method” to detect planets around other stars.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) has signed a bill to stop the state’s preparation for the Clean Power Plan, the Wichita Eagle reports.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Check out stories from Monday and this weekend…

-Democrats block spending bill over Iran amendment for the third time
-Senator to Dems: You can’t avoid Iran vote
-Bison declared national mammal
-California makes water-saving rules permanent
-Feds: Energy sector carbon emissions dipped in 2015
-Conservative groups target ozone law in push for rule’s rollback
-Week ahead: Senate looks for way forward on energy, water bill
-Oil magnate: ‘I’m amused’ by Clinton wanting to move away from fossil fuels

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