Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | January 8 - January 12, 2024

Highlights:

In the Senate, the Connect Our Parks Act (S.2018) passed out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and will now be up for a vote on the Senate floor. Introduced by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Angus King (I-Maine), this bipartisan bill will expand broadband access in the country’s national parks. These efforts will bolster park rangers’ capacity to maintain park land and improve park navigation, among other benefits.

The Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2023 (S.432), introduced by Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Deerfield River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2023(S.608), introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), also passed the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and is scheduled for a full Senate vote. The bills would designate portions of the rivers as “Wild and Scenic,” which would prevent them from being dammed or diverted. EESI’s article, “Keeping the Gila River Wild for People and the Planet,” takes a closer look at the importance of this designation. 

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources concluded a hearing on federal incentives for electric vehicle development, with a focus on ensuring domestic manufacturing for a reliable and secure supply chain through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). For more on how these laws are working to boost domestic electric vehicle manufacturing, check out EESI’s article tracking IRA and IIJA investments.

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