Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | March 10 - March 14, 2025

Highlights:

Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act (H.R.2117/S.1073). The bill would help set new farmers and ranchers up for success by extending crop and livestock insurance discount periods from five years to ten years. For more policy solutions to the barriers faced by beginning farmers, check out EESI’s article, “Growing Career Opportunities for Young People in Agriculture.”

Reps. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and Max Miller (R-Ohio) reintroduced the IMPACT Act 2.0 (H.R.2122). The bill aims to boost the competitiveness of low-emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt production in the United States. Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) reintroduced a Senate counterpart, the Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act (S.1067), last week. EESI’s briefing, Clean Manufacturing in America, discusses the benefits of bolstering domestic manufacturing of clean energy, energy efficient, and climate-smart components. 

Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) reintroduced the Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act (S.1019) to strengthen rural water and wastewater utilities’ resilience to extreme weather events. If passed, the bill would provide water utility operators with disaster preparedness training and technical assistance to address system vulnerabilities.

Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), and David Joyce (R-Ohio) reintroduced the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (H.R.2145), which would establish a pilot program to improve recycling accessibility in rural communities through state and local partnerships. 

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