Infrastructure Investment Practice

Issue Alerts

New Ethics and Lobbying Reform Legislation Signed Into Law

Jonathan Simon
September 24, 2007

President Bush signed into law comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform legislation that make important changes to the congressional rules governing the acceptance of gifts and travel expenses, as well as to internal congressional procedures relating to earmarks.

Congress, DHS, and Water Utilities Act on Infrastructure Security Issues

Jay Ryan
January 6, 2005

This issue alert provides an overview of the provisions of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that may be of particular interest to industry, and reports on developments related to congressional jurisdiction over homeland security issues, the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cargo Security Strategy, a Congressional Budget Office report on Homeland Security, and recently issued security guidance for water utilities.

Bipartisan Commission Advocates New Energy and Environmental Policies

Bob Nordhaus, Kyle Danish
December 14, 2004

A private, bipartisan commission issued a report advocating the adoption of new national policies addressing oil security, climate change, natural gas supply, and other energy-related issues. The report was released by the National Commission on Energy Policy, which includes top industry officials, labor representatives, environmentalists, and former government officials.

Prospects for Legislative Action in a Lame Duck Session of the 108th Congress

Curt Rich
October 12, 2004

As expected, Congress adjourned this week without completing work on several key pieces of legislation. As a result, the House and Senate are expected to reconvene in a lame duck session the week of November 15 and resume consideration of these measures. This alert provides an overview of the status of the major legislative initiatives still pending and looks at the feasibility of further action during the lame duck session.

Articles

Railroad Transportation of Nuclear Waste and Other Hazardous Materials

Michael McBride
The Electricity Journal
April 2008

Railroads continue to have duties to shippers and the public, and they may not take the law into their own hands. Except for emergencies – and then only for the duration of the emergency – they must carry all commodities without regard to whether they are dangerous, unless the proper agency of the federal government has relieved them of that obligation.