Senate

Bernard McNamee, a Republican who is currently executive director of DOE’s Office of Policy, was confirmed Thursday by the Senate as a FERC Commissioner on a straight party-line vote of 50-49.

Trade associations representing the oil and gas industry said that despite a return to divided government in Congress for the next two years, last week’s midterm elections both produced and retained candidates that the industry believes they can work with effectively.

*Part three of four. From east to west, this series previews the Nov. 6 midterm elections and their implications for the oil and natural gas industry. It offers a glimpse of candidates running for state and federal offices, the prominent energy-related issues factoring into campaigns, ballot initiatives and the fight for control of the U.S. House and Senate, which could have implications for key energy committees. Part 1 reviewed Appalachian issues;Part 2 looked at the major issues at stake across the West; andPart 4 focused on implications of a possible Democratic takeover of the House.

*Part one of four. From east to west, this series previews the Nov. 6 midterm elections and their implications for the oil and natural gas industry. It offers a glimpse of candidates running for state and federal offices, the prominent energy-related issues factoring into campaigns, ballot initiatives and the fight for control of the U.S. House and Senate, which could have implications for key energy committees. Part 2 reviews western U.S. energy issues and races;Part 3 highlights key issues in Senate races; andPart 4 focuseson implications of a possible Democratic takeover of the House.

Four Republican senators have introduced a bill designed to clarify Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), which the oil and natural gas industry hopes will help prevent states from using the law to block or delay infrastructure projects, including interstate oil and gas pipelines.

Republican lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House and Senate have introduced companion bills that would enact an updated version of the Oil and Gas Act of 1984 to clarify language and address the current challenges facing conventional producers

Two senators were assigned Tuesday to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Tina Smith (D-MN).

House Republicans passed a $1.5 trillion comprehensive tax reform bill on Tuesday that lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and preserves important tax credits used by the oil and gas industry.

With comprehensive tax reform winning passage in the Republican-controlled Senate on Saturday, lawmakers in the House, where the GOP also holds sway, are preparing to hold conference committee talks to iron out differences, including on energy issues, between bills passed in the House and Senate.