Advanced Search
March 21, 2023
Highlights:
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), with a particular focus on the act’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure provisions.
Also on the topic of water quality, S.806 was introduced in the Senate. The bill would create a grant program for purchasing point-of-entry and point-of-use drinking water quality improvement programs, systems that can be installed on a faucet or within a building to remove contaminants.
In the House, H.R.1645 was introduced. The bill would establish a nationwide biochar research network. Expanding the use of biochar, which is featured in EESI’s Agriculture and Climate article series, is supported by several federal agriculture programs authorized by the farm bill. EESI’s resources for the 2023 Farm Bill, including our farm bill hearing tracking, can be found here.
Finally, in the Senate, S.776 was introduced. The bill would designate sections of the Gila River in New Mexico as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. EESI’s article, “Keeping the Gila River Wild for People and the Planet” shares more on the meaning of securing this designation for the river.
March 17, 2023
Senate
Committee Action:
There was no environmental or energy-related activity in the Senate.
House
H.R.1152
Water Quality Certification and Energy Project Improvement Act of 2023
Sponsor: Rouzer, David [Rep.-R-NC-7]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House - 03/17/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 5.
H.R.1614
To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on National Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management for the public to use for recreational target shooting, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Moore, Blake D. [Rep.-R-UT-1]
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Agriculture
Latest Action: House - 03/17/2023 Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
H.R.1615
To prohibit the use of Federal funds to ban gas stoves.
Sponsor: Armstrong, Kelly [Rep.-R-ND-At Large]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House - 03/17/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
H.R.1640
To prohibit the Secretary of Energy from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule titled "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Conventional Cooking Products", and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Lesko, Debbie [Rep.-R-AZ-8]
Latest Action: House - 03/17/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R.1642
To amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for an annual National Recreational Pass for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
Sponsor: McClintock, Tom [Rep.-R-CA-5]
H.R.1645
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a national biochar research network, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [Rep.-R-IA-1]
Committees: House - Agriculture
Latest Action: House - 03/17/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
H.R.1657
To provide for a land exchange in the Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Stauber, Pete [Rep.-R-MN-8]
Committees: House - Natural Resources
Latest Action: House - 03/17/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
H.Con.Res.26
Expressing the sense of Congress relating to nuclear power being a necessary clean baseload energy source to achieve a reliable, secure, and green electric grid.
Sponsor: Donalds, Byron [Rep.-R-FL-19]
March 16, 2023
S.834
A bill to amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to reauthorize the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bennet, Michael F. [Sen.-D-CO]
Committees: Senate - Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Latest Action: Senate - 03/16/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
S.843
A bill to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize the use of funds for certain additional Carey Act projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Risch, James E. [Sen.-R-ID]
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Action: Senate - 03/16/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.844
A bill to authorize the declaration of a hazardous train event, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Casey, Robert P., Jr. [Sen.-D-PA]
Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate - 03/16/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
S.870
A bill to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the United States Fire Administration and firefighter assistance grant programs.
Sponsor: Peters, Gary C. [Sen.-D-MI]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/16/2023 Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
S.873
A bill to improve recreation opportunities on, and facilitate greater access to, Federal public land, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Manchin, Joe, III [Sen.-D-WV]
Committee Meetings:
USDA OVERSIGHT: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Department of Agriculture, after receiving testimony from Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture.
There was no environmental or energy-related activity in the House.
March 15, 2023
S.802
A bill to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to provide for a consistent definition for plant biostimulants.
Sponsor: Braun, Mike [Sen.-R-IN]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/15/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
S.806
A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a grant program to assist with the purchase, installation, and maintenance of point-of-entry and point-of-use drinking water quality improvement products, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Baldwin, Tammy [Sen.-D-WI]
S.808
A bill to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite hazardous fuel or insect and disease risk reduction projects on certain National Forest System land, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Thune, John [Sen.-R-SD]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/15/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S802)
S.809
A bill to transfer funds for Energy Efficiency Improvements and Renewable Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities to the Attorney General to award grants to States to promote safety and security in schools.
Sponsor: Rounds, Mike [Sen.-R-SD]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/15/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.Res.113
A resolution recognizing the need for greater access to rural and agricultural media programming.
Sponsor: Hyde-Smith, Cindy [Sen.-R-MS]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/15/2023 Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S806)
DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ACT: Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, focusing on perspectives on the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, after receiving testimony from Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency; Katheryn Emery, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water and Waste Management Director, Charleston; Randy E. Hayman, Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies; and Thomas W. Sigmund, NEW Water, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.
March 14, 2023
S.776
A bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of the Gila River system in the State of New Mexico as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Heinrich, Martin [Sen.-D-NM]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/14/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
S.783
A bill to require the Energy Information Administration to submit to Congress and make publicly available an annual report on Federal agency policies and regulations and Executive orders that have increased or may increase energy prices in the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Scott, Rick [Sen.-R-FL]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/14/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.784
A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on the effects of special recreation permits on environmental justice communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cortez Masto, Catherine [Sen.-D-NV]
S.785
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Fischer, Deb [Sen.-R-NE]
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
Latest Action: Senate - 03/14/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
S.796
A bill to exempt discharges of fire retardant by Federal land management agencies, State governments, political subdivisions of States, and Tribal governments from the permitting requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Lummis, Cynthia M. [Sen.-R-WY]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/14/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
S.798
A bill to amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make financial assistance to States under the Land and Water Conservation Fund available for water quality projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rubio, Marco [Sen.-R-FL]
Passed House:
H.J.Res.27
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'".
Sponsor: Graves, Sam [Rep.-R-MO-6]
Committee Report: H. Rept. 118-6
Latest Action: Senate - 03/14/2023 Received in the Senate.
H.R.1
Lower Energy Costs Act
Sponsor: Scalise, Steve [Rep.-R-LA-1]
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Energy and Commerce; Agriculture; Transportation and Infrastructure; Budget
Latest Action: House - 03/14/2023 Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Budget, 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.
H.R.1577
To amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions, reflect modern technologies, optimize interagency coordination, and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process.
Sponsor: Graves, Garret [Rep.-R-LA-6]
Latest Action: House - 03/14/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
H.R.1586
To allow the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to use a fire retardant, chemical, or water for fire suppression, control, or prevention activities.
Sponsor: LaMalfa, Doug [Rep.-R-CA-1]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure; Natural Resources; Agriculture
Latest Action: House - 03/14/2023 Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, 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.
H.R. 1607
To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Schweikert, David [Rep.-R-AZ-1]
H.R.1608
To amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Smith, Adrian [Rep.-R-NE-3]
Latest Action: House - 03/14/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
March 13, 2023
H.R.1355
TAPP American Resources Act
Sponsor: Westerman, Bruce [Rep.-R-AR-4]
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Agriculture; Budget
Latest Action: House - 03/13/2023 Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.
Advancing science-based climate solutions
Top-Rated Climate Nonprofit – 4-Star Charity