Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | January 15 - January 19, 2024

Highlights:

Reps. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced the Great Lakes Mapping Act (H.R.7020). This bipartisan bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out high-resolution mapping of the lakebeds of the Great Lakes by 2030, to improve understanding of the lake system’s ecosystems, bolster lake-related resilience and adaptation efforts, and identify economic opportunities. This EESI podcast episode explores past federally-funded efforts to build climate resilience across the Great Lakes. 

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and other lead cosponsors introduced the Critical Minerals Security Act (S.3631). The tripartisan bill will increase data collection efforts to identify countries that are home to critical minerals and rare earth elements used in renewable energy technologies, such as EV batteries, among other technologies. 

Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Christopher Deluzio (D-Pa.) introduced the Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act (H.R.7053). The bill will leverage some of the $4.7 billion in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to accelerate the plugging of harmful abandoned oil wells by removing red tape. Check out EESI’s article for more on how plugging these wells benefit both the climate and the economy.

To catch up on all of the recent environmental and energy legislation in Congress, read the PDF here.