WASHINGTON NOTEBOOK Energy efficiency is goal for Pryor, Oregon senator

By Alex Daniels

Posted: March 7, 2010 at 3:04 a.m.

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WASHINGTON — Arkansas’ Sen. Mark Pryor and Oregon’s Sen. Jeff Merkley, both Democrats, are pushing legislation designed to promote energy-efficient buildings.

“Buildings represent 40 percent of the energy used in the United States, and many have old equipment that waste energy and money,” Pryor said in a statement.

The bill would provide tax rebates and low-interest loans for building owners to take part in the “Building Star” program, by retrofitting their structures with updated energy systems and structural renovations.

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the bill would reduce the pollution that contributes to climate change by 21 million metric tons, or the equivalent of about 4 million cars each year.

On Wednesday, Sen. Blanche Lincoln pressed U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to open the Cuban market for American agricultural goods. Kirk testified before the Senate Finance Committee, on which Lincoln sits, about the Obama administration’s trade objectives.

“Opening trade relations with Cuba is long overdue, and I will continue my efforts to ensure that our producers gain access to this multibilliondollar market,” said Lincoln, a Democrat and the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Lincoln also pressed Kirkto allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture, rather than the Food and Drug Administration, to inspect imported catfish.

The 2008 farm bill called for such a change, which supporters say would restrict a flood of Chinese and Vietnamese catfish that has challenged the domestic catfish industry.

Two days after the hearing, a significant foreign market was opened up to U.S. producers. Russia and U.S. negotiators announced Friday that the Russian market was now open to U.S. pork and pork products.

In late 2009, Russia closed down trade on a majority ofthe $257 million worth of pork products the United States exports there, citing health concerns.

On Tuesday, Lincoln met with Maj. Gen. Bill Wofford, the adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard, and other state Guard leaders.

After the meeting, Lincoln announced that she is drafting a bill that would allow local governments to apply for additional federal compensation if a public-safety officer or first responder was ordered into National Guard active duty for more than 30 days.

Front Section, Pages 8 on 03/07/2010

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