H.R. 8156 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8156 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 29, 2024Mr. Newhouse (for himself, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Bentz, and Mr. Zinke) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress an updated report on the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality. 1. GAO report on the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality (a) Report required Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress an updated version of the report titled The Council on Environmental Quality: A Tool in Shaping National Policy, published March 19, 1981. (b) Information related to the Lower Snake River dams The updated report required under subsection (a) shall provide information on the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality in National Wildlife Federation, et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service, et al. (Case No. 3:01–cv–00640–SI), including— (1) a determination whether the Council on Environmental Quality is satisfying its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (including the duties and functions of the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality established under the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.)), which shall include identifying the basis for such determination; (2) a determination whether— (A) there is a continuing need for the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality in National Wildlife Federation, et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service, et al. (Case No. 3:01–cv–00640–SI); or (B) such roles, responsibilities, and practices could be effectively carried out by another Federal agency; (3) information on how often the Council on Environmental Quality enters into contracts with, or relies on information provided by, non-governmental or non-profit organizations to perform or inform studies, reports, and analysis by the Council on Environmental Quality; and (4) the percent of Presidential appointees, full time employees, part time employees, and contractors of the Council on Environmental Quality that— (A) are or have been employed at a covered organization; or (B) hold or have held a volunteer position, political campaign position, or political fundraising position at a covered organization. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered organization The term covered organization means a non-governmental organization or non-profit organization that has an interest in— (A) litigation that the Council on Environmental Quality is involved in; or (B) the policies developed or recommended by the Council on Environmental Quality. (2) Lower Snake River dams The term Lower Snake River dams means the following dams in the State of Washington, authorized by section 2 of the Act of March 2, 1945 (chapter 19, 59 Stat. 21): (A) Ice Harbor Dam. (B) Lower Monumental Dam. (C) Little Goose Dam. (D) Lower Granite Dam.