AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION for AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

Railroads RRR

Support removal of the antitrust exemptions for the railroads, and support reforms at the Surface Transportation Board in order to ensure that rail customers are not the subject of monopoly shipping rates. Supported S. 2777, which passed the Senate Commerce Committee.

Contacted: Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Treasury, Dept of; SENATE; Energy, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); White House Office; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Surface Transportation Board (STB)

Bills named: S. 2777 (113th)

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN

Supported legislation, S. 1802, modifying final rule on swap dealers under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act regarding special entities and the $25 million ceiling on their hedging transactions (S. 1802 is a companion bill to H.R. 1038, which previously has passed the House) Supported more limited role in Dodd-Frank for non-profit energy end-users. Supported funding for CFTC. Support including H.R. 1038/S. 1802 in CFTC Reauthorization bill.Supported the CFTC in rulemaking (RIN 3038-AE19) allow special entities to hedge by engaging in swap transactions in the same way as do other types of electric utiltiies, and generally supported final rule.

Contacted: Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Surface Transportation Board (STB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Energy, Dept of; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Treasury, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); White House Office; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Bills named: H.R. 1038 (113th), S. 1802 (113th)

Utilities UTI

Expressed concerns about or opposition to markets issues related to regional transmission organizations, including proposed energy imbalance market and existing mandatory capacity markets. Encouraged oversight of FERC more generally. Monitored issues related to electric vehicles, particularly regarding funding issues. Continued support of revised Senergy efficiency bill, S. 1392Worked to ensure small utilities that are defined as small businesses under SBREFA get appropriate consideration under any pending and future EPA and FERC regulations. Supported H.R. 2542, which modified the Regulatory Flexibility Act and passed the House. Supported Senator Klobuchar bill related to preventing copper theft. Support H.R. 1199 to delete Section 433 of EISA 2007, which mandates that all federal buildings use no fossil fuel by 2030. Also support other efforts to fix this issue. Support S. 2620, the Grid Reliability Act of 2014 (companion bill to H.R. 271.) While not a federal issue, discussed issues surrounded distributed generation (namely, rooftop solar) with DOE staff. Discussed the Quadrennial Energy Review (and it's focus on distribution, transmission and storage of energy) with DOE and the White House and submitted statements and other materials related to that process. Discussed the need for enhanced liability protection for electric utilities who are subject to a cybersecurity attack. Briefed Senators and House Members and staff on the physical security of the electric system, and opposed additional legislation resulting in greater regulation. Discussed the issue of the availability of spare transformers with DOE and others. Support information sharing legislation such as CISPA, H.R. 3523, and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2014, S. 2588. Supported cybersecurity related bills S. 2519 and S. 1353.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Energy, Dept of; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Surface Transportation Board (STB); White House Office; SENATE; Treasury, Dept of; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Bills named: S. 2588 (113th), H.R. 3523 (113th), H.R. 2542 (113th), S. 1353 (113th), S. 2620 (113th), S. 2519 (113th), H.R. 271 (113th), H.R. 1199 (113th)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Supported the continued use of tax-exempt financing for municipal/public power purposes, and opposed provisions, like those included in the Administration's FY 2015 budget proposal, to tax municipal bonds. Supported H. Res. 112, highlighting the value of tax-exempt financing, and authored by Reps. Terry and Neal. Monitored impacts of sequestration on Build America Bonds (BABs), including H.R. 789 and H.J.Res. 59.Monitored the Tax Reform Act of 2014 (not introduced) for proposals to tax interest paid on municipal bonds.

Contacted: Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Energy, Dept of; White House Office; SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Treasury, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB)

Bills named: H.J.Res. 59 (113th), H.Res. 112 (113th), H.R. 789 (113th)

Telecommunications TEC

Monitored the issue of "retransmission consent" with regard to access to cable programming. Also monitored the issues of program access and video competition. Monitored pole attachment rate issue. Support municipal broadband deployment, and educated House Telecommunications Subcommittee on these issues as they begin to rewrite the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Contacted: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Treasury, Dept of; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); White House Office; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Energy, Dept of

Copyright/Patent/Trademark CPT

Monitored efforts in Congress to address abuse of the patent system by patent assertion entities (PAEs), commonly known as patent trolls.

Contacted: SENATE; White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Energy, Dept of; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Treasury, Dept of; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Opposed any efforts to change the purpose of the PMAs from marketing clean federal hydropower to promoting non-hydro renewables -- still monitoring DOE activities on the PMAs. Opposed to modifying or eliminating tax-exempt financing in any budget proposal, including FY 2015 Administration proposal to cap deductions at 28 percent for higher income earners. Oppose proposal in President's FY 2015 budget to continue to investigate divestiture of TVA.

Contacted: Energy, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); White House Office; Treasury, Dept of; SENATE; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Environment/Superfund ENV

Monitored issues related to the Endangered Species Act -- support efforts to review the law and improve it.

Contacted: SENATE; White House Office; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Energy, Dept of; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of

Energy/Nuclear ENG

Supported bills to ensure regulatory relief for small hydro facilities, such as H.R. 678, H.R. 267, S. 306, and S. 545, and monitoring agency implemenation. Monitored Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and nuclear waste issues. Monitored issues involving the export of natural gas (liquefied natural gas or LNG).

Contacted: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Treasury, Dept of; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Energy, Dept of; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Executive Office of the President (EOP); White House Office; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Bills named: H.R. 267 (113th), S. 306 (113th), S. 545 (113th), H.R. 678 (113th)

Clean Air and Water (quality) CAW

Support legislation (H.R. 2218) re: EPA regulation of coal ash as a non-hazardous waste. Opposed to EPA's proposed rulemaking on a New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) for greenhouse gases at future fossil-fuel fired power plants, and do not believe CCS adequately demonstrated (EPAOAR-20130495). Opposed to EPA proposed rulemaking on NSPS for existing power plants (EPAHQOAR20130602), and briefed House Science Committee members and staff on state perspectives on the issue.Opposed to EPA's proposed Waters of the U.S. rule under the Clean Water Act (EPA-HW-OW-2011-0880. Supported H.R. 5078, Waters of the United States Regulatory Protection Act, which passed the House.Supported Whitfield-Manchin bill (H.R. 3826) to establish a more rigorous process for EPA to be able to establish NSPS for greenhouse gas emissions. Support H.R. 1900 related to Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act. Monitored Water Resources Development Act (WRDA/WRDDA) implementation, with emphasis on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reform and dam safety.

Contacted: Internal Revenue Service (IRS); SENATE; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Energy, Dept of; White House Office; Treasury, Dept of; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Bills named: H.R. 3826 (113th), H.R. 2218 (113th), H.R. 5078 (113th), H.R. 1900 (113th)