Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | October 13 2020 - October 22 2020

From 10/13 to 10/22, sixteen bills on environmental and energy topics were referred to committees: eight in the Senate and eight in the House.

Highlights

The most significant piece of legislation to emerge from this period is the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act (H.R.8632), introduced in the House on October 20 by Rep. Raul Grijalva and 13 original Democratic cosponsors. The bill would enact a comprehensive suite of programs to improve ocean health and conservation, build resilience along America’s coastlines, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through ocean-based tools like offshore wind deployment and the restoration of blue carbon ecosystems. The 324-page piece of legislation has received many endorsements, including from the Ocean Conservancy; the Natural Resources Defense Council; and Jane Lubchenco, former NOAA administrator and U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean.

Two important areas of bills during this period were adaptation and resiliency and transportation. In the Senate, S.4815 would provide for a National Disaster Safety Board. In both the House and Senate, bills to create a national zero-emissions vehicle standard (H.R.8635 and H.R.8635) were introduced.

 

Senate

 

Bills referred to committee

 

S.4845 - A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct surveys to collect data regarding the prevention, reduction, and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration, and forest wood and tree carbon sequestration, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS] (Introduced 10/22/2020)

Committees: Senate - Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

 

S.4826 - A bill to waive an advance notice requirement with respect to the Four Forest Restoration Initiative Phase 2 Stewardship contract.

Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ] (Introduced 10/21/2020)

Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources

 

S.4829 - A bill to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to provide for legal reform, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (Introduced 10/21/2020)

Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works

 

S.4835 - A bill to prohibit bank holding companies from facilitating fossil fuel production from new sources or new or expanded fossil infrastructure that would drive such production, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 10/21/2020)

Committees:  Senate - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

 

S.4834 - A bill to require the use of the voice and vote of the United States in international financial intuitions to advance the cause of transitioning the global economy to a clean energy economy and to prohibit United States Government assistance to countries or entities to support fossil fuel activity, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 10/21/2020)

Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations

 

S.4815 - A bill to provide for a National Disaster Safety Board.

Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (Introduced 10/20/2020)

Committees: Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

 

S.4816 - A bill to establish the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] (Introduced 10/20/2020)

Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources

 

S.4823 - A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to create a national zero-emission vehicle standard, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 10/20/2020)

Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works

 

House

 

Bills referred to committee

 

H.R.8626 - To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out a grant program to improve the energy resilience, energy democracy, and security of communities, prioritizing environmental justice communities, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (Introduced 10/20/2020)

Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Science, Space, and Technology

 

H.R.8627 - To express the sense of Congress that the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be the primary representative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Chesapeake Bay, to require the Secretary of the Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to provide grants supporting research on the conservation, restoration, or management of oysters in estuarine ecosystems, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4] (Introduced 10/20/2020)

Committees: House - Natural Resources

 

H.R.8632 - To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to provide for ocean-based climate solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global warming; to make coastal communities more resilient; and to provide for the conservation and restoration of ocean and coastal habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammal and fish populations; and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3] (Introduced 10/20/2020)

Committees: House - Natural Resources; Science, Space, and Technology; House Administration; Ways and Means; Transportation and Infrastructure; Foreign Affairs

 

H.R.8635 - To amend the Clean Air Act to create a national zero-emission vehicle standard, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (Introduced 10/20/2020)

Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.8622 - To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish national hazard preparation and response exercises, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7] (Introduced 10/16/2020)

Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.8580 - To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Little Manatee River as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16] (Introduced 10/13/2020)

Committees: House - Natural Resources

 

H.R.8582 - To amend the Clean Air Act to establish a tradeable performance standard covering emissions from the electricity generation and industrial sectors, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (Introduced 10/13/2020)

Committees: House - Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.8589 - To direct the Secretary of Transportation to provide vouchers to air carriers to purchase more fuel-efficient and quieter aircraft, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Rouda, Harley [D-CA-48] (Introduced 10/13/2020)

Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure