Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved the nomination of Allison M. Macfarlane to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the President Obama's designee as Chair and the re-nomination of Kristine L. Svinicki to be a Member of the NRC. The nominees will now go to the full Senate for consideration.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the EPW Committee, said: "I am pleased that the Committee approved the President's nominee, Dr. Macfarlane, because she brings the critical experience, intelligence, scientific background, and integrity that we need in the NRC Chairman. I could not support Commissioner Svinicki's re-nomination, because I do not believe that she has demonstrated the commitment to safety that the American people have a right to expect in this post-Fukushima era."

The Committee also passed several water and wildlife measures by voice vote, which will also go to the full Senate for consideration.

H.R. 1160, McKinney Lake National Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act

H.R. 1160 was introduced by Rep. Larry Kissell (D-NC) and would convey the McKinney Lake National Fish Hatchery in Hoffman, North Carolina, to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to serve as a component of the state's fish and wildlife management program.

S. 1201, National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (NFHCA)

S. 1201 was introduced by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and would support partnerships of federal, state, and tribal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to conserve and protect aquatic fish habitats.

S. 1324, Captive Primate Safety Act

Introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer, David Vitter (R-LA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), S.1324 would prohibit the interstate commerce of primates, such as monkeys and apes, for the exotic pet trade. The Captive Primate Safety Act targets the selling and private possession of primates, which require professional care and have harmed owners and innocent bystanders on numerous occasions. The bill would not impact zoos, universities or wildlife sanctuaries.

S. 2018, Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act

Introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Joe Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal, S. 2018 reauthorizes funding to support the longstanding restoration and stewardship efforts in the Long Island Sound.

S. 3264, A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program

S. 3264, introduced by Senators David Vitter and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), would reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Program for FY 2013 - 2017.

S. 2104, Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2012

S. 2104 was introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Boxer, and James Inhofe (R-OK), and would reauthorize research grants designed to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of water and wastewater treatment.

S. 3304, The Federal Buildings Designation Act of 2012

Introduced by Senator Boxer, The Federal Buildings Designation Act of 2012 incorporates H.R. 362, sponsored by Rep. Michael Conaway (R-TX). The bill would 1) designate the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Headquarters (ATF) building in Washington, DC, as the "Eliot Ness ATF Building" and the reflecting pool located on the grounds of that building as the "Ariel Rios Reflecting Pool"; 2) redesignate the EPA headquarters building as the "William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building; and 3) redesignate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, TX, as the "George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building".

H.R. 1791, Introduced by Rep. Thomas Rooney (R-FL), To designate the United States courthouse under construction at 101 South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the "Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse"

S. 3311, A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 2601 2nd Avenue North, Billings, Montana, as the "James F. Battin United States Courthouse"

Introduced by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), the bill would transfer the name of the soon-to-be decommissioned federal courthouse in Billings, Montana, to a new federal courthouse in Billings, currently under construction.

General Services Administration (GSA) Resolutions

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