Todays news from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): State Dept. Report Due on Oil Pipeline: The State Department today plans to release a much-anticipated environmental review on the Keystone XL pipeline. “No one who is serious about reversing global warming could support the #KeystoneXL pipeline, Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Twitter on Tuesday morning before President Obamas State of the Union address, Politico reported. Vermont Yankee Shutdown: Sen. Sanders wants states to have a greater oversight role in decommissioning nuclear power plants. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairwoman Allison Macfarlane told Sanders and his fellow members of the Senate environment committee that NRC rules allow a local advisory board to offer input on the decommissioning process. Sanders wants to give states more authority. The issue has arisen in Vermont since Vermont Yankee nuclear plant owner Entergy Corp. announced last summer that the plant would close at the end of 2014, The Associated Press and Brattleboro Reformer, WCAX-TV, WVNY-TV and WPTZ-TV reported. Home Heating Help for Vermont: The state was granted $2.5 million more in federal money for heating assistance. Sens. Sanders and Patrick Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch said “any relief is welcome” for families in the state struggling to heat their homes but pledged to press for additional help for low-income Vermonters struggling to pay for heating costs, according to an AP report in the Bennington Banner. Farm Bill Cuts Food Stamps: A $100-billion-per-year compromise farm bill passed the House by a vote of 251-166. The bill contains cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as food stamps but leaves intact most crop subsidies. A Brattleboro Reformer editorial quoted Sen. Sanders assessment of the bill. The good news is that this legislation provides support for family-based dairy farmers in Vermont and throughout the country. The bad news is that it makes harmful cuts in nutrition programs.” Continue reading here: sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/013114
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 14:18:35 +0000