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October 25, 2021
From October 18 to 22, several pieces of legislation were introduced in the Senate related to wildfires, including S.1734 , S.2404, S.2650, and S.2806. The House Committee on Natural Resources held two hearings on the status and response to the Colorado River drought. In the lead up to COP26, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing on combating climate change through international development. To learn more about what Congress needs to know in the lead up to COP26, check out EESI’s briefing series.
October 22, 2021
Senate
The Senate was not in session and stands adjourned until 3:00 p.m., on Monday, October 25, 2021.
House
H.R.5560
Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act
Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3] (Introduced 10/12/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House - Armed Services; Agriculture; Transportation and Infrastructure; Intelligence (Permanent Select)
Latest Action: House - 10/22/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
H.R.5692
To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in western waters, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3] (Introduced 10/22/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure; Natural Resources
Latest Action: House - 10/22/2021 Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of...
H.R.5698
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Agency to establish a program to enhance the transparency, quality, and availability of life-cycle assessment data, and harmonize life-cycle assessment approaches to calculating greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental factors, in the production of products made primarily of eligible materials through environmental product declarations or a similar mechanism as determined appropriate by the Administrator, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lamb, Conor [D-PA-17] (Introduced 10/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Oversight and Reform; Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House - 10/22/2021 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Reform, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall...
H.R.5701
To repeal the renewable fuel program of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sponsor: Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10] (Introduced 10/22/2021) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House - 10/22/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
October 21, 2021
Latest Committee Action
S.1734
National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 05/20/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Action: Senate - 10/21/2021 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
S.2404
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (Introduced 07/20/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
S.2436
FIRESHEDS Act
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James [R-ID] (Introduced 07/22/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
S.2561
A bill to amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to provide that a land resource management plan or land use plan approved, amended, or revised under those Acts shall not be considered to be a continuing Federal agency action or constitute a discretionary Federal involvement or control for a distinct Federal purpose, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (Introduced 07/29/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
S.2564
Protect Collaboration for Healthier Forests Act
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (Introduced 07/29/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Latest Action: Senate - 10/21/2021 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held
S.2650
Wildfire Resilient Communities Act
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 08/05/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
S.2806
Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] (Introduced 09/22/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
S.2836
America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joseph [D-WV] (Introduced 09/23/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
S.3036
A bill to require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to maintain a program that improves wildfire forecasting and detection, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacklyn [D-NV] (Introduced 10/21/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate - 10/21/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
S.3046
A bill to codify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain landscape-scale forest restoration projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (Introduced 10/21/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Latest Action: Senate - 10/21/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S.3051
A bill to assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo habitat and the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian land.
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (Introduced 10/21/2021) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate - Indian Affairs
Latest Action: Senate - 10/21/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
S.3053
A bill to amend the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a plan and national guidance document to improve precipitation estimates, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory [D-NJ] (Introduced 10/21/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Latest Action: Senate - 10/21/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee Meetings
NATURAL RESOURCES LEGISLATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 1734, to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to encourage and expand the use of prescribed fire on land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Forest Service, with an emphasis on units of the National Forest System in the western United States, S. 1964, to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to provide for the establishment of a Ski Area Fee Retention Account, S. 2404, to improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, S. 2436, to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to establish emergency fireshed management areas, S. 2561, to amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to provide that a land resource management plan or land use plan approved, amended, or revised under those Acts shall not be considered to be a continuing Federal agency action or constitute a discretionary Federal involvement or control for a distinct Federal purpose, S. 2564, to establish a pilot program under which the Chief of the Forest Service may use alternative dispute resolution in lieu of judicial review for certain projects, S. 2650, to provide mandatory funding for hazardous fuels reduction projects on certain Federal land, S. 2806, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to select and implement landscape-scale forest restoration projects, to assist communities in increasing their resilience to wildfire, and S. 2836, to improve revegetation and carbon sequestration activities in the United States, after receiving testimony from Senator Bennet; Christopher B. French, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Jeffery Rupert, Director, Office of Wildland Fire, Department of the Interior; Bill Crapser, Wyoming State Forestry Division, Cheyenne, on behalf of the National Association of State Foresters; Paul Johansen, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, South Charleston; and Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, Portland, Oregon.
H.R.5653
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to modify certain allotments under that Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Waltz, Michael [R-FL-6] (Introduced 10/20/2021) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House - 10/21/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4252, to provide additional funding for scholarships for students at 1890's institutions; H.R. 5608, the ``Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act''; H.R. 4489, the ``National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act''; H.R. 5609, the ``Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021''; and H.R. 5589, the ``Pyrolysis Innovation Grants Act''. H.R. 4542 and H.R. 5589 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. 5608, H.R. 4489, and H.R. 5609 were ordered reported, without amendment.
OFFSHORE WIND, ONSHORE BENEFITS: GROWING THE DOMESTIC WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing entitled ``Offshore Wind, Onshore Benefits: Growing the Domestic Wind Energy Industry''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PREPARING FOR COP26: UNITED STATES STRATEGY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact; and Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber held a joint hearing entitled ``Preparing for COP26: United States Strategy to Combat Climate Change through International Development''. Testimony was heard from Gillian Caldwell, Climate Change Coordinator, U.S. Agency for International Development; Jake Levine, Chief Climate Officer, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; and Jonathan Richart, Deputy Vice President, Infrastructure, Environment, and Private Sector, Millennium Challenge Corporation.
RUNIT DOME AND THE U.S NUCLEAR LEGACY IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Runit Dome and the U.S. Nuclear Legacy in the Marshall Islands''. Testimony was heard from Matthew Moury, Associate Under Secretary for Environment, Health, Safety and Security, Department of Energy; Nikolao Pula, Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
JUDICIOUS SPENDING TO ENABLE SUCCESS AT THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight; and Subcommittee on Energy held a joint hearing entitled ``Judicious Spending to Enable Success at the Office of Nuclear Energy''. Testimony was heard from Katy Huff, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
October 20, 2021
S.3031
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to modify certain allotments under that Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (Introduced 10/20/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
Latest Action: Senate - 10/20/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
S.3034
A bill making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 10/20/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate - Appropriations
Latest Action: Senate - 10/20/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
PFAS CHEMICALS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine evaluating the Federal response to the persistence and impacts of PFAS chemicals on our environment, after receiving testimony from Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency.
H.R.5634
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to contracts for oil spill response, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] (Introduced 10/19/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Latest Action: House - 10/20/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Latest Action: House - 10/20/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND RESPONSE MEASURES--DAY TWO
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife held a hearing entitled ``Colorado River Drought Conditions and Response Measures--Day Two''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
October 19. 2021
S.180
Buffalo Tract Protection Act
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (Introduced 02/02/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Latest Action: Senate - 10/19/2021 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
S.528
La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act
Sponsor: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ] (Introduced 03/02/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
S.607
End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (Introduced 03/04/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
S.1214
State Grazing Management Authority Act
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (Introduced 04/19/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
S.1411
Lander County Land Management and Conservation Act
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (Introduced 04/28/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
S.1459
PUBLIC Lands Act
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (Introduced 04/29/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committee Print: H.Prt. 117-2
S.1493
Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] (Introduced 04/29/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
S.1538
Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 05/10/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
S.1583
Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (Introduced 05/12/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
S.1589
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 05/12/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
S.2130
RISEE Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (Introduced 06/17/2021) Cosponsors: (10)
S.2994
A bill to list certain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous air pollutants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (Introduced 10/19/2021) Cosponsors: (5)
Latest Action: Senate - 10/19/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
LEGISLATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining concluded a hearing to examine S. 180, to withdraw certain Bureau of Land Management land from mineral development, S. 528, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to La Paz County, Arizona, S. 607, to discourage speculative oil and gas leasing and to promote enhanced multiple use management of public land and National Forest System land, S. 1214, to amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with States to provide for State administration of allotment management plans, S. 1411, to provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land to Lander County, Nevada, to designate certain wilderness areas in Lander County, Nevada, S. 1459, to provide for the protection of and investment in certain Federal land in the State of California, S. 1493, to sustain economic development and recreational use of National Forest System land in the State of Montana, to add certain land to the National Wilderness Preservation System, to designate new areas for recreation, S. 1538, to amend the Smith River National Recreation Area Act to include certain additions to the Smith River National Recreation Area, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain wild rivers in the State of Oregon, S. 1583, to reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, S. 1589, to designate certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the State of Oregon as wilderness and national recreation areas, to withdraw certain land located in Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws, S. 1631, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land in the State of Arizona to the Arizona Board of Regents, S. 2130, to modify the disposition of certain outer Continental Shelf revenues and to open Federal financial sharing to heighten opportunities for renewable energy, S. 2433, to require the Secretary of the Interior to develop and maintain a cadastre of Federal real property, and S. 2524, to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to exclude certain payments to aged, blind, or disabled Alaska Natives or descendants of Alaska Natives from being used to determine eligibility or certain programs, after receiving testimony from Senators Whitehouse and Padilla; Steve Feldgus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Lands and Mineral Management; and Christopher B. French, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Department of Agriculture.
H.R.5619
To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing a fee on certain facilities for methane emissions.
Sponsor: Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4] (Introduced 10/19/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
Latest Action: House - 10/19/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R.5620
To amend the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to establish a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Working Group, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4] (Introduced 10/19/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House - 10/19/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
H.R.5628
To withdraw certain Federal land in the Pecos Watershed area of the State of New Mexico from mineral entry, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (Introduced 10/19/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House - Natural Resources
Latest Action: House - 10/19/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Latest Action: House - 10/19/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
October 18, 2021
There was no environmental- or energy-related activity in Congress.
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