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July 18, 2022
Highlights:
This week, Congress focused on managing toxic substances like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and mercury. The bipartisan Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act (H.R.7289), introduced by Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Tex.), was reported by the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the hazards of and management opportunities for PFAS. A related bill (S.4492) was introduced in the Senate last month.
Additionally, a hearing was held by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the bipartisan Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act (S.1345/H.R.2761), introduced by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). This bill would require the EPA to establish a mercury monitoring program and online database to report on mercury concentration changes in the environment.
On the topic of the 2023 Farm Bill, the House Agriculture Committee held hearings on the forestry title of the bill and the state of credit for young, beginning, and underserved producers. EESI is tracking the environmental, energy, and climate highlights of the Congressional farm bill hearings here.
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July 15, 2022
Senate
There was no environmental or energy activity in the Senate.
House
Latest Committee Action
H.R.7569
Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2022
Sponsor: Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House - 07/15/2022 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 320.
H.R.8395
To amend the Clean Air Act to allow the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in identifying the best system of emission reduction for purposes of a standard of performance, to include measures that apply beyond an individual stationary source or category of stationary sources.
Sponsor: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House - 07/15/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R.8397
To authorize the National Mesonet Program of the National Weather Service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House - 07/15/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
H.R.8402
To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standard for a product that is not technologically feasible and economically justified, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lesko, Debbie [R-AZ-8] Committees: House - Energy and Commerce Latest Action: House - 07/15/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Committee Meetings
CLIMATE SMART FROM FARM TO FORK: BUILDING AN AFFORDABLE AND RESILIENT FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Climate Smart from Farm to Fork: Building an Affordable and Resilient Food Supply Chain''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
July 14, 2022
S.4542
A bill to establish the Dolores River National Conservation Area and the Dolores River Special Management Area in the State of Colorado, to protect private water rights in the State, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Action: Senate - 07/14/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.4540
A bill to amend the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 to improve provisions relating to the development of hydropower at Corps of Engineers facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
Latest Action: Senate - 07/14/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
S.4536
A bill to study how the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes are affected by drought and to require a feasibility study on drought solutions, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Romney, Mitt [R-UT] Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
S.4533
A bill to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program.
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] Committees: Senate - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Action: Senate - 07/14/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
S.4531
A bill to codify certain public land orders relating to the revocation of certain withdrawals of public land in the State of Alaska.
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources Latest Action: Senate - 07/14/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
H.R.8389
To study how the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes are affected by drought and to require a feasibility study on drought solutions, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House - 07/14/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
H.R.8383
To amend the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 to improve provisions relating to the development of hydropower at Corps of Engineers facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure Latest Action: House - 07/14/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
A 2022 REVIEW OF THE FARM BILL: THE STATE OF CREDIT FOR YOUNG, BEGINNING, AND UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: The State of Credit for Young, Beginning, and Underserved Producers''. Testimony was heard from Nathan Kauffman, Branch Executive, Vice President, and Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Omaha, Nebraska; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Reform: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 4258, to establish a governmentwide approach to improving digital identity, and for other purposes; H.R. 6548, to establish new Federal renewable energy use requirements, support the equitable transition to clean energy power generation, and require cumulative impact assessments for fossil fuel-fired power plant permitting, and for other purposes; H.R. 7602, to prevent organizational conflicts of interest in Federal acquisition, and for other purposes; H.R. 8322, to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish the Federal Real Antifraud Unified Directorate, to require agencies implement anti-fraud controls for programs susceptible to significant improper payments and high-priority programs, and for other purposes; H.R. 8325, to amend title 41, United States Code, to prevent personal conflicts of interest in Federal acquisition, and for other purposes; H.R. 8326, to amend title 13, United States Code, to improve the operations of the Bureau of the Census, and for other purposes; H.R. 7873, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 400 Southern Avenue Southeast in Washington, District of Columbia, as the ``District of Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office''; H.R. 8025, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 South 1st Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the ``Martin Olav Sabo Post Office''; H.R. 8026, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 825 West 65th Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the ``Charles W. Lindberg Post Office''; H.R. 8217, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 430 South Knowles Avenue in New Richmond, Wisconsin, as the ``Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson Post Office Building''; H.R. 8218, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 619 Hewett Street in Neillsville, Wisconsin, as the ``Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. Post Office''; and H.R. 8248, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 609 Portsmouth Avenue in Greenland, New Hampshire, as the ``Chief Michael Maloney Post Office Building''.
July 13, 2022
S.4511
A bill to ensure that claims for benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act are processed in a fair and timely manner, to better protect miners from pneumoconiosis (commonly known as "black lung disease"), and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P. [D-PA]
Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate - 07/13/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
S.2476
Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Latest Action: Senate - 07/13/2022 Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held.
S.1345
Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
S.4515
A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to stipulate, as a condition on the sale at auction of any crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, that the crude oil not be exported to certain countries, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Latest Action: Senate - 07/13/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.4520
A bill to establish the Food Safety Administration to protect the public health by ensuring the safety of food, preventing foodborne illness, maintaining safety reviews and reassessments of food additives, enforcing pesticide residue tolerances, improving the surveillance of foodborne pathogens, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
S.J.Res.55
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Council on Environmental Quality relating to "National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions".
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works Latest Action: Senate - 07/13/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
APPROPRIATIONS: DOI
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2023 for the Department of the Interior, after receiving testimony from Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior.
LOWERING ENERGY PRICES
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy concluded a hearing to examine pathways to lower energy prices in the United States, after receiving testimony from Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota Public Service Commission, and Ron Ness, North Dakota Petroleum Council, both of Bismarck; David J. Bissell, Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative, Lihue, Hawaii; and John Larsen, Rhodium Group, Pelham, Massachusetts.
AIR QUALITY MONITORING LEGISLATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 1345, to establish a national mercury monitoring program, S. 2476, to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a pilot program for hyperlocal air quality monitoring projects in environmental justice communities, and an original bill entitled, ``Public Health Air Quality Act'', after receiving testimony from Senator Collins; Representative Blunt Rochester; J. Alfredo Gomez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office; Kathy Fallon, Clean Air Task Force, Boston, Massachusetts; Jason Isaac, Life:Powered, Austin, Texas; Dana Johnson, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Washington, D.C.; and Bart Eklund, Haley and Aldrich, McLean, Virginia.
H.R.7289
Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act
Sponsor: Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
Latest Action: House - 07/13/2022 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 313.
H.R.8338
To require the Secretary of Transportation to develop and submit a report to Congress on recommendations to reduce train noise and vibrations near homes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure Latest Action: House - 07/13/2022 Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
H.R.8352
To protect clean air and public health by expanding fenceline and ambient air monitoring and access to air quality information for communities affected by air pollution, to require hazardous air pollutant monitoring at the fenceline of facilities whose emissions are linked to local health threats, to ensure the Environmental Protection Agency promulgates rules that require hazardous air pollutant data measurement and electronic submission at fencelines and stacks of industrial source categories, to expand and strengthen the national ambient air quality monitoring network, to deploy air sensors in communities affected by air pollution, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE-At Large]
Latest Action: House - 07/13/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R.8358
To establish the Food Safety Administration to protect the public health by ensuring the safety of food, preventing foodborne illness, maintaining safety reviews and reassessments of food additives, enforcing pesticide residue tolerances, improving the surveillance of foodborne pathogens, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
H.R.8366
To require the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish the Community Resilience and Restoration Fund.
Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Committees: House - Natural Resources
Latest Action: House - 07/13/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
A 2022 REVIEW OF THE FARM BILL: FORESTRY
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry held a hearing entitled ``A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Forestry''. Testimony was heard from Randy Moore, Chief, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; and public witnesses.
NUCLEAR WASTE CLEANUP: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing entitled ``Nuclear Waste Cleanup: Research and Development Opportunities for the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management''. Testimony was heard from William White, Senior Advisor, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy; Nathan Anderson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 2794, the ``Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act''; H.R. 3686, the ``Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act''; H.R. 5715, to reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund, and for other purposes; H.R. 6364, to amend the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act to extend the exception to the closure of certain roads within the Recreation Area for local businesses, and for other purposes; H.R. 6442, the ``Partnership Agreements Creating Tangible Savings Act''; H.R. 6654, the ``Climate Adaptation Science Centers Act''; H.R. 6936, the ``Stamp Out Invasive Species Act''; H.R. 7283, the ``Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from Abandoned Mines Act''; H.R. 7496, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to install a plaque at the peak of Ram Head in the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, United States Virgin Islands, to commemorate the slave rebellion that began on St. John in 1733; and H.R. 7693, the ``National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022''. H.R. 2794, H.R. 3686, H.R. 5715, H.R. 6442, H.R. 6654, and H.R. 7283 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 6364, H.R. 6936, H.R. 7496, and H.R. 7693 were ordered reported, without amendment.
July 12, 2022
S.4510
A bill to protect clean air and public health by expanding fenceline and ambient air monitoring and access to air quality information for communities affected by air pollution, to require hazardous air pollutant monitoring at the fenceline of facilities whose emissions are linked to local health threats, to ensure the Environmental Protection Agency promulgates rules that require hazardous air pollutant data measurement and electronic submission at fencelines and stacks of industrial source categories, to expand and strengthen the national ambient air quality monitoring network, to deploy air sensors in communities affected by air pollution, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Latest Action: Senate - 07/12/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
H.R.8336
To amend the Clean Air Act to provide for the establishment of standards to limit the carbon intensity of the fuel used by certain vessels, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]
Latest Action: House - 07/12/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R.8337
To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a carbon sequestration research initiative, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3]
Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House - 07/12/2022 Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
July 11, 2022
There was no environmental or energy activity in the House.
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