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# Legislative Bulletin..........................................\..........April 10, 2008

**Contents:**

> Amendments to H.R. 2537---BEACH Protection Act of 2007

H.R. 2537, the BEACH Protection Act of 2007 (sponsored by *Rep. Pallone,
D-NJ*), is scheduled to be considered on the House floor on Thursday,
April 10, 2008, subject to a modified open rule ([**H.Res.
1083**](http://www.rules.house.gov/SpecialRules_details.aspx?NewsID=3266)),
making in order the following twelve amendments.

The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill,
except those regarding PAYGO and earmarks, waives all points of order
against the bill itself---except the PAYGO rule---and allows the Chair
to postpone consideration of the legislation at any time during its
consideration. The rule allows one motion to recommit with or without
instructions.

[Note]{.underline}: The summaries below are based on RSC staff review of
*actual amendment text*. For a summary of the underlying bill, see a
separate RSC document released today.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Brad Watson;
<brad.watson@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9719

**AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER UNDER THE RULE**

**1. *Johnson (D-TX). ***The amendment requires the Administrator of the
EPA, not later than October 1, 2010, to complete an evaluation and
validation of the rapid testing method for the water quality criteria.

**2. *McCarthy (D-NY). ***The amendment requires the Administrator of
the EPA to conduct a study on the "presence of pharmaceuticals and
personal care products... in coastal recreation waters."

**3. Fossella (R-NY).** The amendment would attach the Senate-passed
FISA bill to the underlying bill.

**4. *Kucinich (D-OH)*.** The amendment would require a state or local
government to make available to the public via the Internet, within 24
hours, information on any pathogenic contamination identified from an
identification and tracking program.

**5. Peterson (R-PA).** The amendment would attach the National
Environment and Energy Development Act (H.R. 2784) to the underlying
bill.

**6. Kirk (R-IL).** The amendment would require mercury to be treated as
a pathogen indicator for purposes of monitoring and notification
programs.

**7. Flake (R-AZ)*. *** The amendment prevents any money appropriated
for the BEACH Act grant program from being used for a Congressional
earmark (as defined by the House rules).

**8. Flake (R-AZ).** The amendment provides level funding for the BEACH
Act grant program, an annual authorized spending level of \$30 million.
The underlying bill increases the authorized spending level from \$30
million a year to \$40 million a year.

**9. Flake (R-AZ).** The amendment expresses the Sense of the Congress
that the BEACH Act grant program should remain a "formula-based grant
program" and that none of the funds should be earmarked.

**10. *Richardson (D-CA). *** The amendment requires the Administrator
of the EPA, within 12 months of enactment and biennially thereafter, to
update the National List of Beaches that have monitoring and
notification programs.

**11*. Inslee (D-WA)*.** The amendment requires the Administrator of the
EPA to conduct a study "on the long-term impact of climate change on
pollution of coastal recreation waters."

**12*.* Bilbray (R-CA*)*.** The amendment requires the Administrator of
the EPA to conduct a study "to assess the benefits of using molecular
diagnostics for monitoring and assessing the quality of coastal
recreation waters."

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