Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | January 29 - February 2, 2024

Highlights:

In the House, the Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act (H.R.4051) passed out of the Natural Resources Committee, and is scheduled for a vote on the House floor. Introduced by Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Garret Graves (R-La.), and Marc Veasey (D-Texas), this bipartisan bill will improve research and funding to address the impacts of shark predation on fishing conditions and marine ecosystems.

Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), alongside Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.) introduced the Partnerships for Agricultural Climate Action (PACA) Act of 2024 (H.R.7146). The bill will provide grants to agricultural producers who implement climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience measures. These grants will also provide technical and financial support to new, low-income, and minority farmers. EESI’s Farm Bill in Focus briefing series explores bipartisan solutions for addressing the climate crisis on U.S. farms and ranches. 

Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Penn.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) reintroduced the PFAS Accountability Act (H.R.7194/S.3725). The bicameral bill would facilitate the ability of victims of significant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination to sue PFAS manufacturers.

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