Environmental

C&G client, Florida Aquarium in Havana

Cohen & Grigsby’s Federal Government Affairs practice helped the firm’s client, The Florida Aquarium, secure a rare and important role in upcoming environmental policy talks in Havana, Cuba. The Aquarium was the only non-national research organization to receive a personal invitation from the US Ambassador’s office and will participate in policy talks impacting the Gulf of Mexico, Florida coastlines, and the Caribbean Basin.

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If you have questions please Aaron Grau at agrau@cohenlaw.com our Federal Government Affairs Principal.

Legislation Considered – September 2014

 Environmental

  • Rep. Hahn (R-Northampton County) sponsored a bill that amends the Clean Streams Law to allow riparian buffers and riparian forest buffers to be used as an option among best management practices designed to protect water quality in cases of earth or land disturbance from construction or reconstruction. (House Bill 1565)

Economic Development

  • Rep. Benninghoff (R-Centre County) sponsored a bill that amends the Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act to reduce the borrowing capacity for Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) projects by cutting annual borrowing capacity by $50 million beginning in fiscal year 2018-2019 until the debt limit reaches $2.95 billion. (House Bill 2420)
  • Sen. Pileggi (R-Delaware County) sponsored a bill that would amend the Transit Revitalization Investment District Act to modernize the act and to provide an additional way of funding Transit Revitalization Investments Districts, also known as TRIDs. (Senate Bill 1210)

Elder Abuse

  • In response to reports of elder abuse, Rep. Knowles (R-Schuylkill County) has introduced legislation directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to review the existing elder abuse task forces and to develop a profile of each existing task force model. (House Resolution 929)

Health Care

  • Sen. Folmer (R-Lebanon County) sponsored a bill that would establish the Medical Cannibas Act, which allows health care providers to recommend the use of marijuana for medical purposes. (Senate Bill 1182)

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If you have questions about the budget or any introduced legislation, please contact Michelle Vezzani at MVezzani@cohenlaw.com or the public affairs professional with whom you work.

Cohen & Grigsby Public Affairs is a specialized practice group made up of public affairs professionals and attorneys who know how to navigate where government and business intersect. Members have served at all levels of local and state government and are from all sides of the political spectrum.

New Legislation Introduced – September 2014

Government Reform

  • Senator Baker (R-Luzerne County) is introducing legislation providing for a comprehensive gift ban, prohibiting elected officials and other public employees from accepting cash gifts and non-cash gifts–including meals, travel, lodging, and entertainment (with exceptions)–from individuals and entities trying to influence government action.

Environmental

  • Sen. Solobay (D-Washington County) has introduced legislation calling upon the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respect the primacy of state government in developing guidelines for regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants and to rely on state regulators to develop performance standards for carbon dioxide emissions that consider the unique economic, resource, and energy needs and issues of Pennsylvania. (Sen. Resolution 438)
  • Senate Resolution 439 also sponsored by Sen. Solobay calls upon the EPA to schedule public hearings on the proposed Clean Power Plan rule in coalfield communities and to withdraw the proposed rule or revise it to eliminate the economic shock that will occur to coalfield communities in the state. Representative Snyder (D-Greene County) is introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

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If you have questions about the budget or any introduced legislation, please contact Michelle Vezzani at MVezzani@cohenlaw.com or the public affairs professional with whom you work.

Cohen & Grigsby Public Affairs is a specialized practice group made up of public affairs professionals and attorneys who know how to navigate where government and business intersect. Members have served at all levels of local and state government and are from all sides of the political spectrum.