Around the House

A little legislative roundup from the House of Representatives…

HR 4200, the “salvage logging” bill, which we covered here and here has unfortunately passed by a vote of 243-182. The two most vulnerable incumbents in North Carolina, Robin Hayes and Charles Taylor, both voted for its passage. Virginia Foxx, unsuprisingly (and despite a visit to her office) supported the bill. Click here to see how your representative voted.

The “Interior Bill” passed 293-128.
This bill:

— Approved a restriction on road-building in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska.

— Barred the Interior Department from selling wild horses for slaughter as part of its wild horse and burro adoption program.

— Told the Environmental Protection Agency not to implement a 2003 directive that environmentalists contend reduces wetlands protection.

And the perhaps the BEST news of the day, was that the House did not overturn the offshore drilling ban which covers 85% of America’s coastal waters from Alaska to New England. The amendment to overturn the ban not only failed, it went down in flames – 279-141. :coolsmile: Ill see yall at the beach! (as soon as it warms up a tad…)

About JW Randolph

Raised on the banks of the Tennessee River, JW's work to create progress in his home state and throughout Appalachia has been featured on the Rachel Maddow Show, The Daily Kos and Grist. He served first as Appalachian Voices’ Legislative Associate and then Tennessee director until leaving to pursue a career in medicine in 2012.