NY21 — Invasive species and land conservation
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, continues an emphasis on water quality and land conservation, a strategy that moderates her environmental record and demonstrates bipartisanship.
Anthony F. Hall reported in the Lake George Mirror on July 5 that Stefanik’s office clarified with federal agencies that New York would not lose funding if gates to boat launches on Lake George are locked at night to prevent boats from entering the water without being inspected for invasive species.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation had feared the state would lose federal funding if “unfettered access” to the lake was not maintained.
Stefanik on June 5 co-sponsored legislation Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., introduced Jan. 9 to include algae blooms in the definition of a “major disaster” in federal disaster relief programs.
The legislation — HR 414 — had 14 co-sponsors, eight Republicans and six Democrats, as of July 13, according to the Library of Congress government information web site.
Stefanik is expected to seek re-election in 2020.
Tedra Cobb of Canton, a business consultant and former St. Lawrence County legislator, is seeking the Democratic nomination.
Cobb lost to Stefanik in 2018.
Democrats have criticized Stefanik’s environmental record, particularly her votes against legislation to address coal-fired power plants.
In Stefanik’s 2016 and 2018 re-election bids, some environmental advocates either stayed neutral or tacitly supported Stefanik because of her stance on water quality and land conservation issues, and because of her leadership of a Republican coalition that acknowledged the importance of addressing climate change.
Stefanik had a 51 percent score on the 2018 League of Conservation Voters score card, the highest score of any House Republican from New York and the fourth highest score of any House Republican.
She has a cumulative score of 33 for her first five years in Congress.
On Feb. 14, Stefanik was an original co-sponsor of legislation Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, introduced to allocate 50 percent of federal oil, gas, coal and alternative energy lease revenues, up to a maximum of $1.3 billion per fiscal year, for four years to a fund to address the maintenance backlog at the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education.
Based on co-sponsorship, the legislation has more than enough support to pass if it comes to the floor.
The legislation — HR 1225 — had 297 co-sponsors, as of July 13, 176 Democrats and 121 Republicans, including 21 co-sponsors from New York.
On July 19, Stefanik co-sponsored legislation Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, D-N.J, introduced June 11 to make the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund a permanent program.
She is one of 12 Republican co-sponsors.
The program, which provides federal grants to states for conservation projects, has been used by New York to purchase conservation easements in the Adirondack Park.
The legislation — HR 3195 — had 132 co-sponsors, 120 Democrats and 12 Republicans, including 17 New York House members, as of July 13.
On June 24, 1919, Stefanik co-sponsored legislation Rep. Daniel Lipinski, D-Illinois, introduced June 5 to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a competition with cash prizes to research and development commercial products that would address climate change and improve the environment. The proposed legislation appropriates $20 million to undertake the competition.
The legislation — HR 3100 — had 11 co-sponsors, six Republicans and five Democrats, as of July 13.
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Maury Thompson covered 12 area congressional races during his career as a reporter for The Post-Star of Glens Falls, N.Y. He retired in 2017 to pursue an “encore career” as a freelance writer and documentary film producer specializing in the history of politics, labor organizing and media in New York’s North Country. He is a registered Democrat.
