Episode 18 - News from Washington

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Episode Highlights:

• [3:05] Check out our Twitter account: @bwtlpodcast.
  
  
• [6:05] Trump and the EPA - back in 2015, President Trump spoke about how EPA is harming his hair. He was referencing the showerheads promoted by EPA's WaterSense program.  
  
  
  • EPA does not require WaterSense products be used, but some states or local governments may make a regulation that requires such products.
    
    
• [9:50] EPA Administrator - Scott Pruitt is still going through the nomination process.
  
  
• [11:36] Secretary of the Interior - Ryan Zinke's nomination has still not been voted on but all signs point to him being confirmed as well.
  
  
• [11:52] Secretary of Agriculture - Sunny Perdue's confirmation hearing will not take place until mid-to-late February. 
  
  
• [13:30] Executive Orders - President Trump has signed numerous executive orders during his first week, including one about pipelines.
  
  
  • ​This EO advances the Dakota Access Pipeline and Keystone XL. The process will now be in place to move these projects forward.
    
    
• [17:35] Social media and the presidency - With the new administration in place, they have started putting some holds on releasing information.
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  • The original restrictions on USDA and the Agriculture Research Service were lifted though.
    
    
• [20:43] Farm Bill update - The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold its first farm bill hearing on Feb. 23, 2017. This hearing will take place in Kansas. 
  
  
• [22:50] Infrastructure Projects - there was a leaked list of priority infrastructure projects.