Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | June 3 - June 7, 2024

Highlights:

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Reps. Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) introduced the Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act (S.4441/H.R.8598), which would provide new farmers and ranchers immediate access to start-up funds as they break ground on their operations. EESI’s article, "Growing Career Opportunities for Young People in Agriculture", addresses the financial barriers faced by first-generation farmers, young farmers, and farmers of color.

Reps. Gregory Murphy (R-N.C.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) introduced the Prevent Environmental Hazards Act (H.R.8637) to give coastal homeowners greater capacity within the National Flood Insurance Program to prepare for the impacts of climate change, from coastal erosion to hurricanes and storm surges. Jeff Peterson, co-facilitator at the Coastal Flood Resilience Project, discussed more policy solutions for coastal resilience on EESI’s podcast, The Climate Conversation. Listen to the episode here.

Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced a bill (S.4458) to reauthorize the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006. This reauthorization would provide a blanket authorization for the Bureau of Reclamation to undertake projects that deliver potable water to rural communities in the western United States — as opposed to the current system of authorizing projects individually— effectively streamlining and accelerating access to clean water in rural areas.

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