Infrastructure Alert - December 11, 2012

On November 27, President Obama signed S.1956, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011, into law.  The law allows the Department of Transportation to exempt U.S. airlines from the carbon tax imposed by the EU.  However, the EU has delayed the implementation of the emissions trading proposal that was the impetus of the bill.

On the Hill

On December 5, the House passed a resolution of concurrence with the Senate version of H.R. 2838, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012.  If enacted, the two-year bill authorizes $8.6 billion in FY2013 spending and $8.7 billion in FY2014 spending for the Coast Guard.  Additionally, the bill reduces regulatory burdens on the maritime industry and small businesses.  H.R. 2838 would allow $1.5 billion in Coast Guard annual acquisition spending, less than the $1.9 billion recommended by the Governmental Accountability Office.  The bill passed on a voice vote and now awaits consideration by