Energy and Climate Debate -

Energy and climate issues have had a big week, with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approving its bipartisan broad energy package and President Obama unveiling the final Clean Power Plan. The House departed last week for the August recess, and the Senate will do the same later this week, but energy and environment issues will continue to play a big role on the national and international stages through the rest of the year.

After the House and Senate managed last week to approve a three-month $8 billion extension of the Highway Trust Fund (H.R. 3236), President Obama signed the measure just before highway funding authority expired July 31. The new deadline for Congress to draft a long-term highway fix is October 29, and members will return after the Labor Day holiday to a packed fall schedule that also includes appropriations, reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, the customs bill, the Iran nuclear deal, tax extenders, the debt limit, criminal justice reform, and energy legislation, to name a few. The Senate is dealing with Planned Parenthood and cybersecurity legislation this week.