Advanced Search
May 11, 2021
From April 27 to May 7, Congress introduced a total of 77 bills, resolutions, and amendments related to environmental and energy topics. One bill, S.914, and one joint resolution, S.J.Res.14, passed the Senate. The Senate and House held 18 hearings and markups related to environmental and energy topics.
Highlights
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on the National Climate Bank Act, S.283, and the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the Restoring Resilient Reef Act, H.R. 160.
Energy has been a major topic in Congress. Three bills, H.R.3048, H.R.3053, and H.R.2836, seek to prohibit oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. H.R.2885 and S.1432 would establish an electric grid resilience grant program and an electric grid resilience research and development program. Other bills, such as H.R.2854 and H.R.2780, also address resilience. Finally, H.R.2948 aims to promote domestic manufacturing of fuel efficient and zero emissions vehicles, and H.R.2852 aims to establish a rebate program to promote the purchase and installation of electric vehicle equipment.
Senate
Bills/joint resolutions passed Senate
S.J.Res.14 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review".
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
S.914 - Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Bills referred to committee
S.1525 - A bill to establish a Federal agenda to transform, heal, and renew the United States by investing in a vibrant economy, to provide funds to certain Federal investment programs that meet related labor, equity, and environmental standards, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Committees: Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
S.1518 - A bill to amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to authorize appropriations for the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund.
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Committees: Senate - Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
S.1507 - A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate certain limitations with respect to pre-production plastic pellet pollution, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
S.1506 - A bill to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to carry out a grant and revolving loan program to provide funding for projects to increase the resiliency and energy efficiency of communications networks, and for other purposes.
Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation
S.1493 - A bill to sustain economic development and recreational use of National Forest System land in the State of Montana, to add certain land to the National Wilderness Preservation System, to designate new areas for recreation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
S.1485 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include fuel cells using electromechanical processes for purposes of the energy tax credit.
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Committees: Senate - Finance
S.1484 - A bill to improve the management of forage fish.
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
S.1479 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for taxpayers who remove lead-based hazards.
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
S.1475 - A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the issuance of permits under title V of that Act for certain emissions from agricultural production.
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
S.1466 - A bill to authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a regional program to assess, monitor, and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
S.1458 - A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to encourage the planting of cover crops following prevented planting, and for other purposes.
S.1455 - A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to provide funds to States and Indian tribes for the purpose of promoting economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
S.1447 - A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to extend the period during which certain reclamation fees are required to be paid.
S.1432 - A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish an electric grid resilience grant program and an electric grid resilience research and development program.
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
S.1420 - A bill to establish an integrated national approach to respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal governments and other entities, and for other purposes.
S.1415 - A bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to reinstate the ban on the export of crude oil and natural gas produced in the United States, and for other purposes.
Committees: Senate - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
S.1414 - A bill to provide for the establishment of clean technology consortia to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of clean technologies, and for other purposes.
S.1405 - A bill to authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to significant actions that exacerbate climate change, to reinforce comprehensive efforts to limit global average temperature rise, and for other purposes.
S.1395 - A bill to promote scientific research and development opportunities for connected technologies that advance precision agriculture capabilities.
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
S.1387 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the credit for electricity produced from certain renewable resources, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
S.1378 - A bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act to allow for the retirement of certain animals used in Federal research, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
S.1376 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the definition of municipal solid waste.
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
S.1372 - A bill to amend and enhance the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act to improve the conservation of sharks, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
S.1371 - A bill to prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained national investment in agriculture research.
S.1370 - A bill to establish a Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
S.1363 - A bill to prohibit recipients of disaster recovery relief assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development from penalizing applicants that declined assistance from the Small Business Administration.
S.558 - FLOODS Act
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
S.421 - Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Committees: Senate - Indian Affairs
S.381 - National Ocean Exploration Act
S.283 - National Climate Bank Act
Committee hearings
EPA BUDGET
The Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee held a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2022 for the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Michael S. Regan, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.
FUTURE OF AUTOMOBILES
The Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports concluded a hearing to examine the future of automotive mobility, safety, and technology, after receiving testimony from John Bozzella, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and Ann Wilson, Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, both of Washington, D.C.; Rana Abbas Taylor, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Northville, Michigan; and Reuben Sarkar, American Center for Mobility, Ypsilanti, Michigan.
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ON FEDERAL LANDS
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources concluded a hearing to examine energy development on federal lands, focusing on the current status of the Department of the Interior's onshore oil and gas leasing program, after receiving testimony from Nada Wolff Culver, Deputy Director, Policy and Programs, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, Cheyenne; Governor Brian Vallo, Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico; Vicki Hollub, Occidental, Washington, D.C.; and Kathleen Sgamma, Western Energy Alliance, Denver, Colorado.
NATIONAL CLIMATE BANK ACT
The Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety concluded a hearing to examine S. 283, to establish a National Climate Bank, after receiving testimony from Senator Van Hollen; Rusty Bell, Campbell County Commissioner, Gillette, Wyoming; Reed Hundt, Coalition for Green Capital, Chevy Chase, Maryland; Duanne Andrade, Solar and Energy Loan Fund, Fort Pierce, Florida; and Jason Isaac, Life: Powered, Austin, Texas.
CLIMATE CHALLENGES
The Committee on Finance concluded a hearing to examine climate challenges, focusing on the tax code's role in creating American jobs, achieving energy independence, and providing consumers with affordable, clean energy, after receiving testimony from Jason Walsh, BlueGreen Alliance, and Alex Brill, American Enterprise Institute, both of Washington, D.C.; Maria M. Pope, Portland General Electric, Portland, Oregon; and Kevin Sunday, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Harrisburg.
Advancing science-based climate solutions
Top-Rated Climate Nonprofit – 4-Star Charity