Document Ra6b4ep3V4dErzRkgdO0pk2rk

To: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] From: Morning Score Sent: Mon 5/22/2017 2:03:16 PM Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Score: Quist leans on Sanders in final days of Montana special I -- RNC doubled DNC in April fundraising -- New GOP challenger for Stabenow in Michigan By Daniel Strauss | 05/22/2017 10:00 AM EDT With Scott Bland and Elena Schneider The following newsletter is an abridged version of Campaign Pro's Morning Score. For an earlier morning read on exponentially more races - andfor a more comprehensive aggregation ofthe day's most important campaign news - sign up for Campaign Pro today. (httpC/www^polMcopro.com/proin^^ BERNING IN MONTANA - Quist leans on Sanders to charge up Montana Democrats," by Campaign Pro's Elena Schneider: "At five rallies scattered across the state, Sanders and Quist tapped into the populist streak that runs through Montana, hitting on themes of women's health and getting dark money out of politics. In the two-day tour, Sanders and Quist catered to the same swath of voters that delivered victory for the former in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries, hoping that those voters will deliver again ... Some national Republicans are already pointing fingers at Gianforte more so than Republican disarray in Washington. Gianforte, dogged by reports that he blocked stream access on his ranch, dumped $5 million of his own money into his 2016 gubernatorial bid but lost by 4 points to Gov. Steve Bullock, even as President Donald Trump won Montana by 20. 'Greg Gianoforte is basically an unpopular incumbent trying to get reelected. Quist has $5 million and used that to attack Gianforte on TV, and that reminds people why they didn't like him six months ago,' said a GOP strategist who's working on the race. 'It's close, but Gianforte is keeping it at a single digit lead.'" Full story. - CEASE AND DESIST - Americans for Prosperity goes after Rob Quist for using a registered trademark: Attorneys for Americans for Prosperity, a group backed by the Kock brothers, sent a "cease and desist" letter to Democrat Rob Quist for using the phrase "Hands Off Our Health Care," which "is a registered trademark of AFP," per a spokesman for the group. Quist has used the phrase during his health care tour across Montana. But apparently, "the phrase was originated by AFP to fight against Obamacare," per an AFP spokesman. Read the full letter FEC WEEKEND - RNC doubled up DNC in April: The Republican National Committee raised $9.6 million and had $41.4 million on hand in April, according to newly filed FEC reports, while the Democratic National Committee raised $4.7 million and had $8.8 million in the bank, while spending more than it raised. In the House, the NRCC raised $10 million and had $31.3 million on hand after April, while the DCCC raised $9.1 million and had $16.6 million on hand. - MT-AL Republican Greg Gianforte gave his campaign another $500,000 on Friday, per a new FEC report. That's on top of $1 million Gianforte had already loaned his campaign by May 5, the end of the pre-special election period. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004557-00001 2018 WATCH - Republican businesswoman Lena Epstein, a former co-chairwoman of the Trump campaign in Michigan, is announcing that she's running for Senate to unseat Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. In a release out Monday: "Politicians have failed us, and Michigan citizens are looking for another way...I will take the fight directly to Debbie Stabenow because she has failed the people of Michigan after almost two decades in Washington with no major accomplishments. Twenty years of nothing is more than enough. Michigan deserves better." - Kelly eyes Senate bid, won't run for governor in Pennsylvania: "GOP Rep. Mike Kelly has decided not to run for governor in Pennsylvania but is considering running against Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in 2018, he said in a statement. 'Earlier this week I reached out to several of the potential Republican candidates for Governor to inform them that I will not be pursuing the GOP nomination for that race,' Kelly said Friday.'... I plan to spend much of the coming weeks thoroughly considering a campaign for the GOP nomination for next year's U.S. Senate race.'" Full story. Days until the 2017 election: 169. Days until the 2018 election: 533. Thanks for joining us.You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com and dstrauss@politico.com. You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec schneider, @politicokevin and @danielstrauss4. NEW THIS MORNING - Congressional Leadership Fund launches new TV ad on GA-06: The GOP super PAC's latest TV ad - part of its record-setting investment in the special election attacks Democrat Jon Ossoff for his "loyalty to Nancy Pelosi and ties to West Coast liberal donors," per a memo from the group. The ad features actors standing in front of San Francisco landmarks, saying things like: "There's a reason Bay Area liberals have contributed more to Jon Ossoff s campaign than people in Georgia. He's one of us." Watch the ad here. AD WATCH - "Montana Democrats target voters who could lose insurance with digital ads," by Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard: Full story. SCENES FROM THE LEFT COAST - "Democratic divisions on display as Bauman wins California party chairmanship," by POLITICO California's Carla Marinucci and David Siders: "A caustic contest between the party establishment and 'Bemiecraf activists gripped the nation's largest Democratic party in Sacramento this weekend, underscoring fierce Democratic divisions at the state level that continue to simmer five months into Donald Trump's presidency. Even as longtime party operative Eric Bauman eked out a razor thin victory over progressive newcomer Kimberly Ellis to win the chairmanship of the California Democratic Party, party leaders warned of turbulence ahead. After a raucous day of protests, Bauman was declared the victor Saturday night by a razor-thin 62 vote margin out of nearly 3,000 votes cast. His Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004557-00002 acceptance speech was marred by boos and protests from backers of Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign who complained of a rigged election and unsuccessfully demanded a recount in the closing hours of the convention. The tumult showed that in the country's largest state - which is controlled entirely by Democrats - the Hillary Clinton-Bernie Sanders divide of 2016 and the intra-party sparring that followed Clinton's November loss remain very much at the forefront." Full story. - "Feinstein scalded by anti-Trump fervor," by POLITICO California's David Siders and Carla Marinucci: "Liberal hecklers have protested outside Dianne Feinstein's home. She's been confronted at a Los Angeles fundraiser and a San Francisco town hall meeting by progressives angered by her skeptical view of single payer health care and support for some of Donald Trump's earliest nominees. In a state marked by its unfettered resistance to the president,... Feinstein's brand of moderation is showing signs of slipping out of favor ... Her public approval rating, while still in relatively positive territory, has ticked down. 'The time has absolutely changed for politicians like her,' said Robert Shearer, a state party executive board member who served as a delegate whip for Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign last year. As party activists convened here over the weekend for their annual convention, Shearer said of Feinstein, 'We are not going to tolerate it any more.'" Full story. RECRUITING STATION - "Democrats Enlist Veterans Ahead of 2018 House Elections," by the Wall Street Journal's Reid Epstein: "Fifteen veterans have already launched 2018 House campaigns, and 10 more may enter races by this summer, Democratic officials say. ... For the first time this year, the DCCC is working with VoteVets, a liberal political-action committee with which the party's House campaign arm has often been at odds. VoteVets, which in the past has backed Democratic veterans in primary challenges, is now targeting competitive general election races. ... VoteVets is set this week to endorse Ms. Houlahan, along with Jason Crow against GOP Rep. Mike Coffman in Colorado and Doug Applegate and Josh Butner against GOP Reps. Darrell Issa and Duncan Hunter in Southern California. - "In upstate New York, former Army intelligence officer Pat Ryan is preparing to challenge GOP Rep. John Faso. ... Dan Feehan, a 34-year-old Army veteran who served as a Defense Department official in the Obama administration, is preparing to run in" open MN-01, being vacated by Democratic Rep. Tim Walz. Full story. FUNDRAISING WATCH - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will fundraise and appear at a public event with Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch in South Florida on May 26, the Miami Herald reports. ADMINISTRATION SPEED READ - "Donald of Arabia," by POLITICO Magazine's Blake Hounshell: "Those who expected Donald Trump to fly into Riyadh and insult his Saudi hosts with the kinds of broadsides he delivered on the campaign trail against Islam and Muslims needn't have worried. The president who once accused Saudi Arabia of complicity in the 9/11 attacks praised its 'magnificent' and 'sacred land.' He looked comfortable trading pleasantries and sipping coffee with King Salman, the aging scion of the country's founding ruler, King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. He soaked up the gaudy chandeliers, the gilded wall trimmings... [Trump] promised to 'apply new approaches informed by experience and judgment.' But he also warned Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004557-00003 several times that the United States wouldn't be bearing any burden or paying any price to vanquish the terrorists that he had once boasted would be quickly and easily defeated." Full story, - "Trump Discovers the Dangers of Governing at Daredevil Speed," by The New York Times' Glenn Thrush: "President Trump was determined to leave his mark on Washington quickly. Now the city is leaving its bruising mark on him, with the same astonishing swiftness that has been a hallmark of his lightning-strike political career....Aides talked about living in dread of'5 o'clock,' marking the arrival of the daily dump of damaging leaks or fresh reports of staff infighting. What unnerves Mr. Trump and his staff the most is the eerily familiar tempo of these disclosures. It is as if some unseen adversary has copied Mr. Trump's own velocity and ferocity in an attempt to destroy him, several people close to the president said. Sources are shuttling all kinds of information about Mr. Trump to reporters at a pace the White House cannot match." Full story. CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "He's made it very clear, at the end of this we're going to have to vote" - Sen. John Thune on early discussions Republican senators have had on moving the House Republican healthcare bill through the Senate, via POLITICO'S Burgess Everett and Jennifer Haberkorn. To view online'. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/mormng-score/2017/05/22/quist-leans-on-sanders-in-finaL days-of-montana-special-220428 To change your alert settings, please go to https://secure.politico.com/settings/settings This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004557-00004 To: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] From: Morning Energy Sent: Mon 5/22/2017 2:04:10 PM Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Energy, presented by POET: Skeptical lawmakers await first official Trump budget -- Energy deals signed in Saudi Arabia as Trump visits -- Controversial waters bill hits House floor again By Anthony Adragna | 05/22/2017 10:00 AM EDT With help from Ben Lefebvre and Darius Dixon LET'S GET READY TO BUDGET! President Donald Trump may be out of the country, but all eyes are on the White House for the release of the fiscal year 2018 spending plan, which is expected to land on Tuesday. And if Friday's leak of the EPA budget numbers is indicative, federal agencies should expect the administration to stick pretty close to the deep cuts proposed in the March "skinny" budget. The EPA summary calls for a 31 percent overall budget cut for the agency and outlines significant rollbacks for programs that have been championed by lawmakers from both parties. Lawmakers sounded warnings last week that the proposed cuts for 2018 were likely to be cast aside by Congress. Rep. Mike Simpson, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, predicted deep GOP budget divisions would result in a yearlong continuing resolution, while Rep. Ken Calvert , who leads the EPA spending panel, said it would be "very difficult" to pass a package with anything like the cuts Trump's team called for last time around. But... it appears the administration, led by 0MB Director Mick Mulvaney, is dead set on spending a message so keep a close eye on lawmakers' reactions to the document Tuesday. ICYMI: Pro's Budget & Appropriations Briefs Sarah Ferris and Jennifer Scholtes looked at how GOP lawmakers preemptively blasted the budget. And they reported how it reflects ongoing, internal White House divisions. TRUMP HITS ISLAMIC STATE'S OIL SALES: Trump didn't delve into energy much at all during his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Saudi Arabia Sunday, but he did call for countries around the world to "cut off the financial channels that let ISIS sell oil, let extremists pay their fighters, and help terrorists smuggle their reinforcements." A wave of energy deals announced: Saudi Aramco announced $50 billion worth of deals Saturday with various U.S. companies, including GE, Baker Hughes and Halliburton, that the oil and gas giant said would create thousands ofjobs. Exxon Mobil and Saudi Basic Industries agreed to conduct a detailed study on the proposed Gulf Coast Growth Ventures project in Texas that when up and running could create 12,000 permanent jobs. GE announced $15 billion worth of agreements that span a variety of industries, including the oil and gas sector. The announcements came as dozens of top U.S. executives gathered for a conference that coincided with Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia. IT'S ANOTHER WEEK OF FUN EVERYONE! I'm your host Anthony Adragna, and Akin Gump's Christopher Treanor was first to identify Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin as the chief Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004558-00001 executive with a flock of nine children. For today: How many of the 50 states produce at least some wine? Send your tips, energy gossip and comments to aadragna@politico.com, or follow us on Twitter @AnthonyAdragna, @Morning Energy, and @POLITICOPro. IT'S BAAAAAAACK: House lawmakers are expected this week to consider (again) a controversial piece of legislation that would exempt pesticide applicators from needing a Clean Water Act permit when spraying over water. The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (H.R. 953) hits the House Rules Committee today ahead of likely floor action later in the week. The House passed an earlier iteration of the bill in May 2016. DEVON EARLY BENEFICIARY OF PRUITT'S EPA: Five days after Scott Pruitt's Senate confirmation to run the EPA, Oklahoma's Devon Energy announced it would reconsider an air pollution settlement with the agency, The New York Times reports. It's part of the change in how energy companies are dealing with EPA now that Pruitt is at the helm, a shift that has benefited his long-time political ally. Tweeted: The White House may be in turmoil, but Pruitt still tweeted out a couple of pictures with Vice President Mike Pence on Friday. He also posted a picture of a speech he gave to the Council for National Policy, a secretive group of conservative activists. And he met Friday with Rep. Pete Olson , a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and author of legislation that would alter how EPA sets ozone limits. SCIENCE PANEL CHAIR TO TESTIFY: Deborah Swackhamer, chairwoman of EPA's Board of Scientific Counselors, testifies Tuesday at a House Science Committee hearing entitled "Expanding the Role of States in EPA Rulemaking," Pro's Annie Snider reports. The professor of public policy and environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota leads the EPA scientific advisory board that has been targeted by Pruitt for a membership revamp. HOME STRETCH IN RACE TO REPLACE ZINKE: Voters head to the polls Thursday in a much-watched contest to fill Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's seat as Montana's congressional representative. Sen. Bernie Sanders hit the stump for Democrat Rob Quist Saturday afternoon in Missoula. Both Quist and Republican Greg Gianforte have seen a late flood of television advertising in the contest. DISMISSAL SOUGHT: The Massachusetts and New York attorneys general of have asked a court to dismiss Exxon Mobil's lawsuit alleging the AG offices have harassed the oil major. Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and New York AG Eric Schneiderman in a filing Friday said the harassment suit could have a chilling effect for regulators investigating allegations of corporate wrongdoing, adding that Exxon failed to "allege a ripe injury." The attorneys are investigating the oil major under allegations that it defrauded investors by sitting on its in-house research on climate change. Exxon and some Republicans have called the investigations politically motivated. PERRY'S IN OAK RIDGE, BOYS: Continuing his tour of national laboratories, Energy Secretary Rick Perry tours Oak Ridge National Laboratory today at 4 p.m. in Knoxville, Tenn. Also coming along: Sen. Lamar Alexander, top Energy appropriator, and Rep. Chuck Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004558-00002 Fleischmann. ANOTHER INCIDENT AT HANFORD: Just days after a tunnel storing nuclear waste partially collapsed, a contractor working at the Hanford site Friday detected radioactive contamination on the clothing of one of its workers, according to the AP. Workers removed the tainted protective clothing and no further contamination was detected, but Washington Gov. Jay Inslee expressed further concern about the latest incident. "It is another urgent reminder that Congress needs to act, and they need to act quickly," he said in a statement. That comes as Inslee and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown sent a letter to Trump, Perry and Mulvaney calling for increased federal spending on the clean up of the aging nuclear reservation. "New legal requirements require, and recent developments at the site have emphasized, the need for robust resources to ensure the federal government continues to make progress in cleanup," the two Democratic governors wrote. MAIL CALL! THAT'S NO FUN(DING): Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maria Cantwell, ranking members of the Senate Small Business and Energy committees, sent a letter to Perry and Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon asking why federal research and development grants to small businesses are being held up by the Trump administration. "We have consistently heard from small businesses that delays and missed deadlines by federal agencies have an outsize impact on small businesses," they wrote. "Unlike large firms and major research institutions, small businesses simply do not have the resources to tide them over when the government fails to meet its own deadlines." BUILDING SUPPORT FOR CCS: Reps. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) and Marc Veasey (D-Texas) are circulating a dear colleague letter in hopes of building support for legislation (H.R. 2011) that would boost the deployment of carbon capture and sequestration technologies. The bill would allow the use of tax-exempt private activity bonds to cut the upfront cost of installing the pricey technologies. ** A message from POET - one of the world's largest ethanol producers: With scientists and engineers, POET operates 30 biofuel facilities & America's first cellulosic biofuel plant. We produce a cleaner fuel for millions of drivers, every day. We're POET and we're driving innovation, from the ground up. Learn more here. ** SALT LAKE FOR NATIONAL MONUMENTS: Jackie Biskupski, the mayor of Salt Lake City, sent a. letter to Zinke Friday asking him to retain the existing designations of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments without changes. "Any federal decision to modify acreage or roll back protection of these incredible spaces will have negative and farreaching impacts on Salt Lake City, as well as our entire state," she wrote. HITTING THE TOWN: Twenty CEOs from the Large Public Power Council, which represents the 26 largest consumer-owned utilities in the U.S. are in town today and tomorrow for meetings with administration officials and lawmakers on tax reform, infrastructure and cybersecurity. The group also celebrates its 30th anniversary with a reception tonight. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004558-00003 FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE: The League of Conservation Voters is out with a new video urging action to resist Trump's environmental agenda. It features video from the People's Climate March, as well as interviews with Sen. Tom Carper, Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and former EPA Administrator Carol Browner. MOVER, SHAKER: Suzanne Hammelman has been named president and chief operating officer of the Hawthorn Group, which offers communications advice to investor-owned utilities and other regulated industries. She was previously the firm's chief client officer. Karen Wayland, a veteran energy policy adviser to bother former Sen. Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, starts today as the newly minted executive director of the Clean Energy Project, a Nevada-focused advocacy nonprofit. Wayland's most recent post was with the Energy Department's Energy Policy and Systems Analysis office and advising former Deputy Energy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall. Outgoing executive director Jennifer Taylor plans to work with the Project as an advisor on state policy. AND WELCOME: The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has joined the Main Street Energy Alliance, which opposes efforts to alter the point of obligation requirement under the Renewable Fuel Standard. QUICK HITS - Scott Pruitt's first 100 days at the EPA have shown he's unlike any former chief. Business Insider. - Wind Project in Wyoming Envisions Coal Miners as Trainees. New York Times. - Shell shareholders to vote for new climate change goals. The Guardian. - Swiss voters embrace shift to renewable energy. Reuters. - In 2017 alone, enough US coal plants to power Qatar have announced closures. Quartz. - Duke Energy files lawsuit against environmentalists over NC coal power plant. The News & Observer. THAT'S ALL FOR ME! * * A message from POET - one of the world's largest ethanol producers: With scientists and engineers, POET is a biofuels company built from innovation. POET operates 30 biofuel facilities across eight states & America's first cellulosic biofuel plant. Across the country, we support 40,000 renewable energy jobs producing a cleaner fuel for millions of drivers, every day. We are securing a cleaner future for all of us. We're POET and we're driving innovation, from the ground up. Learn more here. ** To view online'. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004558-00004 http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/mormng-energy/2017/05/22/skeptical-lawmakers-await-firstofficial-trump-budget-220431 To change your alert settings, please go to https://secure.politico.com/settings/settings This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004558-00005 To: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] From: Morning Transportation Sent: Mon 5/22/2017 2:03:05 PM Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Transportation, presented by Delta Air Lines: Court throws out FAA registration rule -- Laptop ban talks move stateside -- Democrats seek to stop raids on airport security funds By Tanya Snyder and Brianna Gurciullo | 05/22/2017 10:00 AM EDT With help from Stephanie Beasley and Lauren Gardner NO DRONES GO: A federal appeals court Friday threw out the FAA's registration requirement for recreational drone users on the grounds that current law clearly forbids it, our Lauren Gardner reports for Pros. A 2012 law precludes the FAA from instituting "any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft," the definition of which the agency relied upon when mandating registration of hobbyists' small craft in December 2015. Hobby (drone) lobby: Expect drone groups representing both commercial users and hobbyists to storm the Hill in the coming months to ask for legislative language allowing the registry to continue in some form. Organizations like the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Small UAV Coalition blasted out statements vowing to work with lawmakers on the issue, which they say is critical to ensuring drones are safely incorporated into the national airspace. Conveniently enough, there's this little bill called an FAA reauthorization that needs to make it through Congress by Sept. 30, so expect this issue to get some play. What's next: The FAA is "carefully reviewing" the decision, per a spokesman. It could opt to petition the appellate court for a rehearing with the full bench ofjudges - a three-judge panel heard this case in March. If that doesn't work, the agency could take it to the Supreme Court - or leave the ruling be. HAPPY MONDAY: Thanks for tuning in to POLITICO'S Morning Transportation, your daily tipsheet on all things trains, planes, automobiles and ports. We are your MT hosts today, so please send tips, feedback and lyrics to tsnyder@politico.com or @TSnyderDC and bgurciullo@politico.com or @brigurciullo. "If you're out on the road / Feeling lonely and so cold / All you have to do is call my name / And I'll be there on the next train." Want to keep up with MT's song picks? Follow our Spotify playlist. THIS WEEK: Tuesday - Sen Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed speak with Chuck Todd and Axios' Jim VandeHei about infrastructure. The Senate Commerce space subcommittee holds a hearing on "how the outer space treaty will impact American commerce and settlement in space." Connected CarTalk D.C. holds a happy hour. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004559-00001 Wednesday - The House Budget Committee holds a hearing on Trump's full fiscal 2018 proposed budget. The House Appropriations homeland security subcommittee holds a hearing on Trump's request for the DHS budget. The National League of Cities unveils its 2017 assessment of speeches by U.S. mayors. Thursday - The Senate Budget Committee holds a hearing on Trump's full fiscal 2018 proposed budget. The Senate Appropriations homeland security subcommittee holds a hearing on Trump's request for the DHS budget. The Railroad Safety Advisory Committee holds a meeting. In New York City, the Young Professionals in Infrastructure hold a workshop on public-private partnerships. INTERNATIONAL LAPTOP BAN TALKS MOVE STATESIDE: U S and European officials will hold the first of several meetings Monday in Washington to discuss the possible expansion of the so-called laptop ban to include airports in Europe, several sources told our colleagues at POLITICO Europe . DHS is mulling the idea of banning large electronics in-cabin on flights from some airports in Europe and beyond, in addition to the 10 airports in the Middle East and Africa where those devices were banned in March. Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke met with officials from the European Commission last week and agreed to keep discussions going. This week's meetings are expected to focus on actions the EU has taken to address security threats and terrorism and technical issues, like testing the safety of storing potentially explosive lithium-based batteries in cargo holds. House members now up to speed: DHS Secretary John Kelly briefed House members before they left for the weekend. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee's transportation panel, said she left the briefing feeling confident that DHS is thinking strategically. She said at some point the panel would be interested in examining the impacts of the ban, though that could be in a non-public setting. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) missed this briefing but said the security threats are credible and that the administration will undoubtedly apply the ban to more airports. GBTA PROJECTS SL3B IN LOSSES AMID LAPTOP BAN BUZZ: As the travel and airline industries await news about a likely expansion of the ban on in-cabin laptops and other large electronic devices, the Global Business Travel Association is predicting a loss of over $1.3 billion in travel-related expenditures in the United States for 2017. GBTA worries that "the cumulative impact of anti-travel policies," including Trump's multiple attempts at a travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries, convey the sentiment "that the United States is closed for business." In their "uncertainty forecastreleased Friday, GBTA envisions reduced spending on hotels, food, rental cars and shopping, including a $250 million drop in spending from business travelers from Europe and the Middle East. Even worse, they fear "the longer-term impact... as companies begin to host meetings and events in other destinations." NEW STAFF AT DOT: DOT posted a list over the weekend of political staff appointed to work under Secretary Elaine Chao, including several we've previously reported. Several had worked for Chao in the Labor Department during the George W. Bush administration, including Anthony Bedell, deputy assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs; Laura Genero, senior adviser for strategic communications; and senior adviser Tamara Somerville. Lauren has more for Pros. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004559-00002 KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY STACK: Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) introduced a bill Friday that seeks to stop the practice of diverting some passenger security fees for other purposes. The lawmakers say the bill (H.R, 25.14 ), introduced just as summer travel season is set to heat up, would "ease congestion and long lines" at airports screening checkpoints by relieving TSA staffing shortages. The bill would stop Congress from raiding revenues collected from airline passenger security fees to offset unrelated government spending, which they say has siphoned $15 billion away from airport security since 2013. ** A message from Delta Air Lines: Our daily briefing: At Delta we're constantly innovating to make your travel smoother. We tapped RFID technology to keep your bags in check at all times. Giving you more peace of mind from check-in to baggage claim. Learn more: delta.com/dca ** SOUNDS LIKE SAFETRACK : In an open letter to President Donald Trump on Sunday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appealed for federal help to avoid "a summer of agony" for users of Penn Station as Amtrak conducts extensive track repairs. Cuomo asserted that the subway system and alternative routes into the city will be "swamped" and overloaded. The governor said he was "open to working with the federal government on any and all short-term options," including "privatizing Penn Station's operations, and perhaps giving the whole complex over to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which Cuomo jointly controls with Gov. Chris Christie." Dana Rubenstein has more, including the full text of the letter, in POLITICO New York. MORE RULE DELAYS FROM DOT: DOT announced Friday that it's extending delays on two rules - one requiring passenger railroads to identify and address potential hazards and another mandating that new hybrid cars make a noise to warn pedestrians. The agency also asked for public comment about whether it's really necessary for airlines to collect information about tarmac delays and whether such requirements are overly burdensome. U.S. INFRASTRUCTURE GETS SOME NEW SUGAR DADDIES: As Trump met with Saudi dignitaries over the weekend, business interests also bloomed between the two countries. Top Trump donor Steve Schwartzman's investment firm, Blackstone, secured a $20 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to invest in U.S. infrastructure, anchoring what Schwartzman envisions as $100 billion in infrastructure funding, primarily in the United States. "The fund was one of several business deals between an American company and Saudi Arabia announced after Mr. Trump's arrival," reported the New York Times . "At a ceremony in Riyadh on Saturday, General Electric said it had agreements for $15 billion worth of projects. And the Trump administration helped line up $110 billion worth of arms deals, negotiations in which senior officials played prominent roles." GET OUT OF TOWN: Airlines for America predicts that the number of people traveling with U.S. carriers will jump 4 percent this summer compared to the same season last year. A4A anticipates more than 234 million people will take flights with U.S. airlines starting June 1 and ending Aug. 31 - a record for the industry. "Rising U.S. GDP, a steadily improving economy, all time high household net worth and low airfares are fueling the expected growth in summer air Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004559-00003 travel," John Heimlich, the group's vice president and chief economist, said in a statement. ELAINE CHAO BIKE-LESS ON BIKE TO WORKDAY: Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao celebrated Bike to Work Day Friday with DOT employees. But where's her bike? GOOD TALK: Our very own Kathryn A. Wolfe joined Jacob Fischler from CQ Roll Call and Melanie Zanona from The Hill to chat Friday about whafs known and still unknown about the Trump administration's expected infrastructure plan. Check out their discussion with Eugene Mulero from Transport Topics. THE AUTOBAHN: - "Ford Motor Is Replacing Mark Fields as C.E.O." The New York Times. - "FAA in line for more money for space awareness, STRATCOM says." POLITICO Pro. - "Much-maligned U.S. infrastructure shows signs of improvement." The Wall Street Journal. - "U.S. regulators approve VW diesel fix for 84,000 vehicles." Reuters. - "Disruptive passenger duct taped to his seat as flight lands under military escort." The Washington Post. - "The pros and cons of privatizing Penn Station, explained." NJ.com. - "Tesla factory workers reveal pain, injury and stress: 'Everything feels like the future but us.'" The Guardian. - "Uber threatens to fire self-driving car executive." The Wall Street Journal. - "Driver charged with murder in Times Square crash." CNN. - "Sheriff David Clarke plagiarized portions of his master's thesis on homeland security." CNN. THE COUNTDOWN: DOT appropriations run out in 132 days. The FAA reauthorization expires in 132 days. Highway and transit policy is up for renewal in 1,228 days. * * A message from Delta Air Lines: Our daily briefing: At Delta we're constantly innovating to make your travel smoother. We tapped into RFID technology to keep your bags in check at all times. Giving you more peace of mind from check-in to baggage claim. Our pursuit of constantly solving problems doesn't stop there. Turbulence is notoriously difficult to predict. That's why we developed our industry-leading Flight Weather Viewer app. It helps our pilots better spot and avoid unexpected turbulence with real-time graphics of observations and forecasts on the flight deck. Making your journey smoother while also reducing our carbon footprint. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004559-00004 Learn more: clelta.com/dca ** To view online'. To change your alert settings, please go to httpsC/secrire.Dolilieo.com/setriHgs/setrings This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00004559-00005