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March 17, 2020
From March 2, 2020 to March 16, 2020, 28 bills were referred to committee to address environmental and energy issues.
Highlights
During this time period, Congress introduced a number of bills aimed at research and development. H.R.6084 would create a program for research and development into hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy, and H.R.6097 would create a similar program for nuclear energy research. H.R.6113 would establish an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Water.
Members of the House Committee on Armed Services also introduced two climate-related bills. H.R.6119 would direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a report on the national security implications of climate change, and H.R.6176 would require the Secretary of Energy to develop a solar workforce training course for members of the Armed Forces.
The American Energy Innovation Act (S.2657) saw debate on the Senate floor. Senators introduced over 200 amendments to the bill, which has seen its progress stall as a result of debate over amendments.
Be sure to read through the rest of the round-up. EESI has curated bills most relevant to energy, environment, and climate topics. The bill list belows is drawn directly from congress.gov.
Senate
Bills Referred to Committee:
S.3381 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to reauthorize the Essex National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 03/03/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
S.3391 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out an active transportation investment program to make grants to eligible applicants to build safe and connected options for bicycles and walkers within and between communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 03/04/2020) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
S.3403 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to establish a lower Missouri River flood prevention program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO] (Introduced 03/05/2020) Cosponsors: (7)
S.3413 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to direct the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to study the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (Introduced 03/05/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
S.3418 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide capitalization grants to States to establish revolving funds to provide hazard mitigation assistance to reduce risks from disasters and natural hazards, and other related environmental harm.
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (Introduced 03/09/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
S.3422 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to amend title 54, United States Code, to establish, fund, and provide for the use of amounts in a National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Indian Education, and to provide permanent, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO] (Introduced 03/09/2020) Cosponsors: (54)
S.3427 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to digitize and make publicly available geographic information system mapping data relating to public access to Federal land and waters for outdoor recreation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
S.3429 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to amend the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 with respect to assessments of conservation programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate - Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
S.Res.537 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A resolution encouraging the Trump Administration to maintain protections under the National Environmental Policy Act and reverse ongoing administrative actions to weaken this landmark law and its protections for American communities.
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (6)
S.3479 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to encourage the planting of cover crops following prevented planting, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] (Introduced 03/12/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
S.3480 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize additional assistance to address pollution from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalklyl substances and other emerging contaminants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (Introduced 03/12/2020) Cosponsors: (19)
S.3485 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to expand the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to expand revenue sharing for offshore wind, to reauthorize the National Oceans and Coastal Security Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (Introduced 03/12/2020) Cosponsors: (2)
House
H.R.6043 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To reduce illegal wildlife trafficking and importation by extending State Department reporting on foreign wildlife trafficking activity, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3] (Introduced 03/02/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House - Foreign Affairs; Natural Resources
H.R.6050 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To include Puerto Rico as an eligible applicant location for WaterSMART grants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large] (Introduced 03/02/2020) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House - Natural Resources
H.R.6053 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a household well water testing website, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5] (Introduced 03/02/2020) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce
H.R.6057 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in western waters, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. McAdams, Ben [D-UT-4] (Introduced 03/02/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure; Natural Resources
H.R.6084 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To provide for a program of hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy research, development, demonstration, and commercial application, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (Introduced 03/04/2020) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology
H.R.6097 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To provide for a program of nuclear energy research, development, demonstration, and commercialization, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lamb, Conor [D-PA-17] (Introduced 03/05/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
H.R.6112 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To require operators of oil and gas production facilities to take certain measures to protect drinking water, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (Introduced 03/05/2020) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Energy and Commerce; Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.6113 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To establish an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Water, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24] (Introduced 03/05/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
H.R.6119 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To direct the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report on the national security implications of climate change.
Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (Introduced 03/05/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House - Armed Services
H.R.6167 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To require certain financial assistance under the State energy program and the Weatherization Assistance Program to be distributed without undue delay to support State and local high-impact energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives.
Sponsor: Rep. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE-At Large] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
H.R.6169 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To require the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to digitize and make publicly available geographic information system mapping data relating to public access to Federal land and waters for outdoor recreation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Agriculture; Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.6171 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to publish a national strategic action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.6176 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To require the Secretary of Energy to develop a solar workforce training course for certain members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House - Education and Labor; Armed Services
H.R.6182 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To amend the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 with respect to assessments of conservation programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House - Agriculture
H.R.6185 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose an excise tax on the extraction of certain water for bottling, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-23] (Introduced 03/10/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House - Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce
H.R.6191 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To establish a regulatory system for sustainable offshore aquaculture in the United States exclusive economic zone, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7] (Introduced 03/11/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Agriculture
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