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March 28, 2023
Highlights:
In the Senate, the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act (S.919) was introduced. The bill, considered the most comprehensive environmental justice legislation in history, would strengthen anti-discrimination protections, require consideration of cumulative health impacts in permitting decisions, fund grants for environmental justice projects, and require agencies to improve community engagement under the National Environmental Policy Act for actions affecting environmental justice communities, among other provisions.
A House version of the bill, H.R.1705, was also introduced. EESI’s resources cover the basics of the original Environmental Justice for All Act (H.R.5986/S.4401) of the 116th Congress, the community discussions surrounding that bill, and New Jersey’s environmental justice work.
In addition, another environmental justice bill, H.R.1673, was introduced in the House. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to work with state and local officials to help clean up 100 low-income or predominately minority communities that have suffered from environmental law violations.
In the House, a bill (H.R.1743) was introduced that would repeal fossil fuel subsidies, as well as establishing gas price rebates for 2022. EESI’s fact sheet on fossil fuel subsidies takes a look at proposals to reduce these subsidies.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, S.900 was introduced. The bill would create a competitive grant program for land-grant colleges and universities to support farmers in conservation and climate practice adoption, many of which are described in EESI’s climate and agriculture article series
Finally, the Senate Committee on the Budget held a hearing on how climate change is changing insurance markets. The hearing examined the destabilizing power of the climate uncertainties and risks, like wildfires and sea level rise.
March 24, 2023
Senate
Committee Action:
There was no environmental or energy-related activity in the Senate.
House
H.R.1740
To amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 to establish payment and performance security requirements for projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bost, Mike [Rep.-R-IL-12]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House - 03/24/2023 Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
March 23, 2023
S.966
A bill to provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Risch, James E. [Sen.-R-ID]
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
Latest Action: Senate - 03/23/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
S.968
A bill to prohibit the procurement of solar panels manufactured or assembled in the People's Republic of China.
Sponsor: Scott, Rick [Sen.-R-FL]
Committees: Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Action: Senate - 03/23/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Committee Meetings:
CYBERSECURITY VULNERABILITIES TO ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the steps needed to address the cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the United States' energy infrastructure, after receiving testimony from Puesh Kumar, Director, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, Department of Energy; Robert M. Lee, Dragos, Inc., Hanover, Maryland; and Stephen L. Swick, American Electric Power, Columbus, Ohio.
H.R.1705
To restore, reaffirm, and reconcile environmental justice and civil rights, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Judiciary; Transportation and Infrastructure; Agriculture; Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
H.R.1023
To repeal section 134 of the Clean Air Act, relating to the greenhouse gas reduction fund.
Sponsor: Palmer, Gary J. [Rep.-R-AL-6]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 18.
H.R.1058
Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act
Sponsor: Armstrong, Kelly [Rep.-R-ND-At Large]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Transportation and Infrastructure; Natural Resources
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 16.
H.R.1070
To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to provide the owner or operator of a critical energy resource facility an interim permit under subtitle C that is subject to final approval by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [Rep.-R-GA-1]
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 13.
H.R.1085
REFINER Act
Sponsor: Latta, Robert E. [Rep.-R-OH-5]
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 12.
H.R.1115
Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act
Sponsor: Burgess, Michael C. [Rep.-R-TX-26]
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 15.
H.R.1121
Protecting American Energy Production Act
Sponsor: Duncan, Jeff [Rep.-R-SC-3]
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-19, Part I.
H.R.1131
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to authorize the use of flexible air permitting with respect to certain critical energy resource facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Joyce, John [Rep.-R-PA-13]
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 10.
H.R.1140
To authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to waive application of certain requirements with respect to processing and refining a critical energy resource at a critical energy resource facility, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Pence, Greg [Rep.-R-IN-6]
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 9.
H.R.1141
Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act
Sponsor: Pfluger, August [Rep.-R-TX-11]
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 8.
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023
H.R.1743
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal fossil fuel subsidies for oil companies, to establish gas price rebates to individuals for 2022, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Casten, Sean [Rep.-D-IL-6]
Committees: House - Ways and Means
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R.1766
To amend the Federal Power Act to establish a procedure for the siting of certain interstate electric transmission facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Quigley, Mike [Rep.-D-IL-5]
Latest Action: House - 03/23/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the U.S. Forest Service. Testimony was heard from Randy Moore, Chief, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; and Mark Lichtenstein, National Budget Director, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY: Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Department of Energy. Testimony was heard from Jennifer Granholm, Secretary, Department of Energy.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES: Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing on H.R. 764, the “Trust the Science Act''; H.R. 886, the “Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act”'; H.R. 1245, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a final rule relating to removing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife, and for other purposes; and H.R. 1419, the “Comprehensive Grizzly Bear Management Act of 2023”. Testimony was heard from Steven Guertin, Deputy Director for Policy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; Nancy Wallace, Marine Debris Program Director, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; Brian Nesvik, Director, Wyoming Game and Fish Department; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES: Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on H.R. 200, the “Forest Information Reform Act”; H.R. 1473, the “Targeting and Offsetting Existing Illegal Contaminants Act”; H.R. 1567, the “Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions Act”; and H.R. 1586, the “Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023”. Testimony was heard from Chris French, Deputy Chief for National Forest Systems, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; and public witnesses.
March 22, 2023
S.318
Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act
Sponsor: Sullivan, Dan [Sen.-R-AK]
Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate - 03/22/2023 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
S.912
A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to provide technology grants to strengthen domestic mining education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Barrasso, John [Sen.-R-WY]
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Action: Senate - 03/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.919
A bill to restore, reaffirm, and reconcile environmental justice and civil rights, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Duckworth, Tammy [Sen.-D-IL]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
S.927
A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address Rapid Ohia Death, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hirono, Mazie K. [Sen.-D-HI]
Committees: Senate - Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Latest Action: Senate - 03/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
S.934
A bill to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes.
S.937
A bill to amend Public Law 117-169 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from using funds for methane monitoring to be used to monitor emissions of methane from livestock, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Thune, John [Sen.-R-SD]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S911)
S.944
A bill to promote low-carbon, high-octane fuels, to protect public health, and to improve vehicle efficiency and performance, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Grassley, Chuck [Sen.-R-IA]
S.946
A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to establish a procedure for the siting of certain interstate electric transmission facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Whitehouse, Sheldon [Sen.-D-RI]
S.947
A bill to lower energy costs by increasing American energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, by promoting transparency, accountability, permitting, and production of American resources, and by improving water quality certification and energy projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Kennedy, John [Sen.-R-LA]
S.950
A bill to amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to make a technical correction to the water rights settlement for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cortez Masto, Catherine [Sen.-D-NV]
Committees: Senate - Indian Affairs
Latest Action: Senate - 03/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
S.Res.117
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President and the Secretary of State should ensure that the Government of Canada does not permanently store nuclear waste in the Great Lakes Basin.
Sponsor: Stabenow, Debbie [Sen.-D-MI]
Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations
Latest Action: Senate - 03/22/2023 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S911-912)
Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--USFS: Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2024 for the Forest Service, after receiving testimony from Randy Moore, Chief, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
CLIMATE CHANGE: Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine how climate change is changing insurance markets, after receiving testimony from Eric Andersen, Aon, Chicago, Illinois; Nancy Watkins, Milliman Inc., San Francisco, California; Benjamin J. Keys, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, Philadelphia; Judith A. Curry, Climate Forecast Applications Network, Atlanta, Georgia; and Jerry Theodorou, R Street Institute, Washington, D.C.
EPA BUDGET: Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2024 for the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Michael S. Regan, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.
H.R.1236
Protect the West Act of 2023
Sponsor: Crow, Jason [Rep.-D-CO-6]
Committees: House - Agriculture; Natural Resources
Latest Action: House - 03/22/2023 Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.
H.R.1242
Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act of 2023
Sponsor: Garamendi, John [Rep.-D-CA-8]
Committees: House - Armed Services; Agriculture; Intelligence (Permanent Select); Transportation and Infrastructure; Natural Resources
H.R.1713
To provide for Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture joint research and development activities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Lucas, Frank D. [Rep.-R-OK-3]
Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology; Agriculture
Latest Action: House - 03/22/2023 Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.1715
To direct the Department of Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct collaborative research in order to advance numerical weather and climate prediction in the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Miller, Max L. [Rep.-R-OH-7]
Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House - 03/22/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
H.R.1720
To modify permitting requirements with respect to the discharge of any pollutant from the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant in certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Peters, Scott H. [Rep.-D-CA-50]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House - 03/22/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
H.R.1721
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: Pingree, Chellie [Rep.-D-ME-1]
Committees: House - Agriculture
Latest Action: House - 03/22/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
H.R.1726
To require the Secretary of the Interior to partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address Rapid Ohia Death, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Tokuda, Jill N. [Rep.-D-HI-2]
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Agriculture
Latest Action: House - 03/22/2023 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.Res.243
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President and the Secretary of State should ensure that the Government of Canada does not permanently store nuclear waste in the Great Lakes Basin.
Sponsor: Kildee, Daniel T. [Rep.-D-MI-8]
Committees: House - Foreign Affairs
Latest Action: House - 03/22/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
March 21, 2023
S.879
A bill to provide greater output, price stability, and regulatory certainty with respect to domestic energy production in the United States and exports, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cruz, Ted [Sen.-R-TX]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/21/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.881
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for the purchase of certain new electric bicycles.
Sponsor: Schatz, Brian [Sen.-D-HI]
Committees: Senate - Finance
Latest Action: Senate - 03/21/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
S.900
A bill to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish a competitive grant program under which the Secretary of Agriculture provides grants to land-grant colleges and universities to support agricultural producers in adopting conservation and innovative climate practices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Young, Todd [Sen.-R-IN]
Latest Action: Senate - 03/21/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
H.R.1670
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 with respect to pre-agreement costs of emergency watershed protection measures, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Curtis, John R. [Rep.-R-UT-3]
Latest Action: House - 03/21/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
H.R.1673
To advance environmental justice by addressing cumulative impacts and underenforcement, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: DeGette, Diana [Rep.-D-CO-1]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources
Latest Action: House - 03/21/2023
H.R.1685
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for the purchase of certain new electric bicycles.
Sponsor: Panetta, Jimmy [Rep.-D-CA-19]
Latest Action: House - 03/21/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
H.Res.239
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that offshore wind projects along the Atlantic coast require more comprehensive investigations examining the impact to the environment, relevant maritime industries, and national defense before being leased or constructed.
Sponsor: Van Drew, Jefferson [Rep.-R-NJ-2]
Committees: House - Natural Resources
Latest Action: House - 03/21/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources
March 20, 2023
There was no environmental or energy-related activity in the House.
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