The Anti-Environment Record of the 112th House of Representatives
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Last Updated November 14, 2012
Database of Anti-Environment Votes in the 112th Congress
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Democratic Staff
In the 112th Congress, the House of Representatives voted 317 times to block action to address climate change, to halt efforts to reduce air and water pollution, to undermine protections for public lands and coastal areas, and to weaken the protection of the environment in other ways.
Click here for a report released by the Democratic staff of the Energy and Commerce. See below for a searchable database of the anti-environment votes.
Total Anti-Environment Votes Under GOP House Majority in the 112th Congress:
317
Votes targeted at the Environmental Protection Agency: 145
- Votes to block actions that prevent pollution: 137
- Votes targeted at the Department of Energy: 55
- Votes to defund or repeal clean energy initiatives: 57
- Votes to promote offshore drilling: 47
Votes to dismantle the Clean Air Act: 95
- Votes targeted at the Department of the Interior: 81
- Votes to undermine protections for public lands and wilderness: 67
- Votes to block actions that address climate change: 53
- Votes to dismantle the Clean Water Act: 38
| Title | Sponsor | Statutes | Agencies | Description | Vote Date | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.R. 4480 | Connolly (D-VA) | Department of Interior |
Limits the provision requiring citizens to pay a $5,000 fee shall to challenge oil and gas leases by providing that the fee may not infringe upon the protections afforded by the First Amendment to the Constitution to petition for the redress of grievances Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | H.Amdt. 1302 |
Defeated 190-230 |
|
| H.R. 4480 | Rigell (R-VA) | Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act | Department of Interior |
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to lease an area off the coast of Virginia for oil and gas drilling within one year. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | H.Amdt. 1306 |
Passed 263 - 146 |
| H.R. 4480 | Holt (D-NJ) | Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act | Department of Interior |
Blocks new oil and gas leases on public lands for companies that have not yet renegotiated any royalty free leases they already own in the Gulf of Mexico. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | H.Amdt. 1307 |
Defeated 168 - 250 |
| H.R. 4480 | Wittman (R-VA) |
National Environmental Policy Act Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act |
Department of Interior |
Creates a burdensome new regulatory scheme for offshore wind development and waives environmental review for certain offshore wind towers. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | H.Amdt. 1308 |
Passed 256 - 161 |
| H.R. 4480 | Bass (D-CA) |
Requires the Transportation Fuels Regulatory Committee to analyze how to shield American consumers and the U.S. economy from gasoline price spikes by reducing U.S. dependence on oil. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | H.Amdt. 1310 |
Defeated 186 - 233 |
||
| H.R. 4480 | Capps (D-CA) | Clean Air Act | Environmental Protection Agency |
Nullifies provisions requiring a study and delaying EPA air quality rules if the Secretary of Energy determines that the study is infeasible or would be unreliable. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | H.Amdt. 1311 |
Defeated 162 - 254 |
| H.R. 4480 | Speier (D-CA) | Department of Interior |
Strikes language giving the Interior Department only 60 days to review onshore drilling permits. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | H.Amdt. 1313 |
Defeated 162 - 255 |
|
| H.R. 4348 | McKinley (R-WV) | Resource Conservation and Recovery Act | Environmental Protection Agency |
Bars EPA from regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste, limits EPA's authority to regulate coal ash a solid waste, and requires EPA to defer to state coal ash disposal programs. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | Motion to Instruct Conferees |
Passed 260-138 |
| H.R. 4480 | Slaughter (D-NY) |
Requires major oil and gas companies to forgo certain tax benefits before obtaining new leases on federal lands. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/21/2012 | Motion to Recommit |
Defeated 166 - 243 |
||
| H.R. 4480 | Polis (D-CO) | Department of Interior |
Bans hydraulic fracturing activities within 1,000 feet of a primary or secondary school on public lands leased under Title I of the bill. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/20/2012 | H.Amdt. 1292 |
Defeated Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 4480 | Quigley (D-IL) | Department of Interior |
Prevents new offshore drilling under Title I of the bill if the drilling would occur in ecologically sensitive areas or if it would harm the marine and coastal environment. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/20/2012 | H.Amdt. 1293 |
Defeated Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 4480 | Terry (R-NE) | Clean Air Act | Environmental Protection Agency |
Allows EPA to waive certain fuel requirements in a geographic area when there is a problem with distribution or delivery of fuel or fuel additives. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/20/2012 | H.Amdt. 1299 |
Passed Voice Vote |
| H.R. 2578 | Denham (R-CA) |
Endangered Species Act Marine Mammal Protection Act National Environmental Policy Act |
Department of Agriculture Department of Interior |
Creates a 100-mile zone along the U.S. borders in which environmental laws do not apply; allows clear-cutting in the Tongass National Forest; authorizes killing of sea lions in the Pacific Northwest; and overturns plan to protect nesting sea turtles in North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/19/2012 | Final Passage |
Passed 232 - 188 |
| H.R. 2578 | DeFazio (D-OR) |
Blocks the Sealaska Native Corporation from exporting unprocessed timber obtained from clear-cutting in new areas of the Tongass National Forest. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/19/2012 | H.Amdt. 1286 |
Defeated 184 - 236 |
||
| H.R. 2578 | Bishop (R-UT) |
Endangered Species Act National Environmental Policy Act |
Department of Interior |
Narrows the bill's exemption for border patrol activities from environmental laws. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/19/2012 | H.Amdt. 1288 |
Passed Voice Vote |
| H.R. 2578 | Grijalva (D-AZ) |
Endangered Species Act National Environmental Policy Act |
Department of Interior |
Strikes a provision that creates a 100-mile zone along U.S. borders in which numerous environmental laws do not apply Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/19/2012 | H.Amdt. 1289 |
Defeated 177 - 247 |
| H.R. 5882 | Moran (D-VA), Welch (D-VT), and Pingree (D-ME) |
Prohibits the use of Styrofoam (polystyrene) products in food service facilities in the House of Representatives Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/08/2012 | H.Amdt. 1282 |
Defeated 178 - 229 |
||
| H.R. 5855 | Flores (R-TX) | Energy Independence and Security Act |
Blocks enforcement of Energy Independence and Security Act provisions that prohibit the government from entering into long-term contracts for the procurement of alternative fuels that are more polluting than conventional fuels Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/07/2012 | H.Amdt. 1264 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) | Clean Water Act |
Army Corps of Engineers Department of Energy |
Cuts funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs; blocks funding for salmon repopulation in the San Joaquin River; blocks the Army Corps of Engineers from protecting certain streams and wetlands under the Clean Water Act. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/06/2012 | Final Passage |
Passed 255 - 165 |
| H.R. 5325 | Lujan (D-NM) | Department of Energy |
Increases funds for defense environmental cleanup by $21.9 million by reducing funds for the NNSA Office of the Administrator by the same amount Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/06/2012 | H. Amdt. 1195 |
Defeated 174 - 244 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Jackson Lee (D-TX) | Department of Energy |
Increases funds for DOE's energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by $10 million by reducing funds for nuclear weapons activities Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/06/2012 | H. Amdt. 1205 |
Defeated 157 - 260 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Luetkemeyer (R-MO) | Army Corps of Engineers |
Blocks funding for the Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study, a congressionally-mandated study to examine flood risk prevention and the impacts of navigation, hydropower, irrigation and other activities on the river Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/06/2012 | H. Amdt. 1206 |
Passed 242 - 168 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Jackson Lee (D-TX) | Army Corps of Engineers |
Increases funding for Army Corps of Engineers construction and coastal restoration projects by reducing funds for nuclear weapons activities. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/06/2012 | H. Amdt. 1216 |
Defeated 150 - 260 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Flake (R-AZ) | Department of Energy |
Prohibits DOE from using funds for the Wind Powering America Initiative, which works with state and regional stakeholders to increase wind energy generation in the U.S. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/06/2012 | H. Amdt. 1231 |
Passed Voice-vote |
|
| H.R. 5855 | Bishop (R-UT) | Department of Homeland Security |
Cuts $3 million from funds for mitigation of environmental damage caused by border patrol activities Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/06/2012 | H.Amdt. 1242 |
Passed 230 - 186 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Hirono (D-HI) | Department of Energy |
Increases funds for the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy by $133 million by decreasing funds for fossil energy research. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1184 |
Defeated 131 - 257 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Matheson (D-UT) | Department of Energy |
Increases funds for cleaning up sites polluted with radioactive waste by $9.6 million by reducing funds for nuclear weapons activities by the same amount Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1187 |
Defeated 152 - 235 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Pearce (R-NM) | Department of Energy |
Increases funds for cleaning up sites polluted with radioactive waste by $89 million by reducing funds for the National Nuclear Security Administration Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1194 |
Defeated Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Young (R-AK) | Magnuson-Stevens Act | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Blocks funding for restoration and salmon repopulation in the San Joaquin River Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1199 |
Passed Voice Vote |
| H.R. 5325 | Blackburn (R-TN) | Department of Energy |
Prohibits the use of funds for new loan guarantees for clean energy projects under section 1705 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1201 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Luetkemeyer (R-MO) | Army Corps of Engineers |
Blocks the Army Corps of Engineers from completing the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1204 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Harris (R-MD) | Department of Energy |
Prohibits DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy from using funds for international activities, except for projects in Israel Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1209 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Burgess (R-TX) | Energy Independence and Security Act | Department of Energy |
Blocks DOE from implementing its energy efficient light bulb standards. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1210 |
Passed Voice Vote |
| H.R. 5325 | Jordan (R-OH) | Department of Energy |
Blocks DOE from providing loan guarantees to renewable energy systems, electric power transmission systems, or leading edge biofuel projects Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1219 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Graves (R-MO) | Army Corps of Engineers |
Reduces funding for the Missouri River Recovery Program Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1220 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Landry (R-LA) | Army Corps of Engineers |
Blocks the Army Corps of Engineers from requiring that developers offset and mitigate the loss of wetlands in Louisiana. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1221 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Landry (R-LA) | Energy Independence and Security Act | Department of Energy |
Blocks DOE from using funds to carry out a national media campaign to increase energy efficiency and reduce oil consumption Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1222 |
Passed Voice Vote |
| H.R. 5325 | Schweikert (R-AZ) | Department of Energy |
Blocks DOE from using funds to enforce efficiency standards for showerheads Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1224 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Fortenberry (R-NE) | Department of Energy |
Blocks DOE from implementing efficiency standards for battery chargers and external power supplies, including golf cart battery chargers Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1226 |
Passed Voice Vote |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Flores (R-TX) | Energy Independence and Security Act | Department of Energy |
Blocks enforcement of Energy Independence and Security Act provisions that prohibit the government from entering into long-term contracts for the procurement of alternative fuels that are more polluting than conventional fuels Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/05/2012 | H. Amdt. 1227 |
Passed Voice Vote |
| H.R. 5325 | Moran (D-VA) | Clean Water Act |
Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Protection Agency |
Preserves the authority of EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to protect streams, tributaries, and wetlands under the Clean Water Act. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/01/2012 | H. Amdt. 1175 |
Defeated 152 - 237 |
| H.R. 5325 | Kaptur (D-OH) | Department of Energy |
Increases funding for DOE energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by $10 million by reducing the DOE administrative account by the same amount Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/01/2012 | H. Amdt. 1176 |
Defeated 183 - 200 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Tonko (D-NY) | Department of Energy |
Increases funding for DOE energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by $180 millionby reducing funds for nuclear weapons activities. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/01/2012 | H. Amdt. 1179 |
Defeated 148 - 236 |
|
| H.R. 5325 | Hahn (D-CA) | Department of Energy |
Increases funds for DOE's energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by $50 million by reducing funds for fossil energy research. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
06/01/2012 | H. Amdt. 1181 |
Defeated 139 - 245 |
|
| H.R. 4310 | Petri (R-WI) and Johnson |
Allows DOD to count direct-use solar, such as windows and skylights, toward its goal of generating 25% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
05/18/2012 | H.Amdt. 1133 |
Passed Voice Vote |
||
| H.R. 4348 | Barrow (D-GA) | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
Instructs the conferees to include provisions approving the Keystone XL pipeline without environmental review of the actual route. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
05/18/2012 | Motion to Instruct Conferees |
Passed 261 - 152 |
|
| H.R. 4310 | Gallegly (R-CA) |
Endangered Species Act Marine Mammal Protection Act |
Department of Interior |
Expands U.S. Navy exemptions from the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act for harm to southern California sea otters and gives the fishing industry the same exemption indefinitely. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
05/17/2012 | H.Amdt. 1100 |
Passed Voice Vote |
| H.R. 5326 | Flores (R-TX) | Energy Independence and Security Act |
Blocks enforcement of Energy Independence and Security Act provisions that prohibit procurement of alternative fuels that emit more carbon pollution than conventional fuel Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
05/09/2012 | H.Amdt. 1078 |
Passed 250-173 |
|
| H.R. 5326 | Flores (R-TX) |
Prohibits use of funds to implement the National Ocean Policy, relating to U.S. stewardship of oceans and the Great Lakes. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
05/09/2012 | H.Amdt. 1079 |
Passed 246 - 174 |
||
| H.R. 5326 | Landry (R-LA) | Endangered Species Act | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Prohibits NOAA from using funds to reduce sea turtle mortality in shrimp fisheries in the southeastern United States. Floor debate: TEXT | VIDEO |
05/09/2012 | H.Amdt. 1088 |
Passed 218 - 201 |