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October 1, 2019
Here is your Congressional Round-Up for September 17th-27th! The Senate introduced nine bills and eight bills were approved by committees. The House introduced nineteen bills and held six committee hearings.
Congress will be out of session from September 30th-October 15th.
This month, the House of Representatives introduced legislation pertaining to federal funds for disaster relief, as well one resolution in response to the new IPCC report and another in support of teaching climate change in schools.
The Senate also introduced bills in response to the IPCC report and disaster relief funding, and approved a bill out of committee on energy savings through public-private partnerships.
The PREPARE Act (Preparedness and Risk management for Extreme weather Patternns, Assuring Resilience and Effectiveness) was introduced in the House by Congressmen Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Daniel Webster (R-FL). If passed, it would support interagency oversight for resilience and risk management priorities and require agencies to incorporate extreme weather in planning activiites.
Bills Introduced:
S.2491
A bill to terminate certain rules issued by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce relating to endangered and threatened species, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
S.2508
A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a council to conduct a survey and analysis of the employment figures and demographics in the energy, energy efficiency, and motor vehicle sectors of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
S.Res.316
A resolution supporting the clean vehicle emissions standards of the United States and defending the authority of States under the Clean Air Act to protect the people of those States from harmful air pollution.
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (33)
S.2542
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make qualified biogas property and qualified manure resource recovery property eligible for the energy credit and to permit renewable energy bonds to finance qualified biogas property, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 09/24/2019) Cosponsors: (1)Committees: Senate - Finance
S.2544
A bill to provide tax relief for the victims of Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael, and certain California wildfires.
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC] (Introduced 09/25/2019) Cosponsors: (6)
S.Res.334
A resolution instructing the managers on the part of the Senate on the bill S. 1790 (116th Congress) to insist upon the provisions contained in section 316 of the Senate bill (relating to a prohibition on the use of perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances for land-based applications of firefighting foam).
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (Introduced 09/25/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
S.Res.337
A resolution expressing concern about the fires in the Amazon rainforest.
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (Introduced 09/25/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations
S.Res.342
A resolution expressing the need for immediate climate action in response to the report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change entitled "Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate".
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 09/25/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation
S.2565
A bill to establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy, to authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 09/26/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Bills Approved By Committee:
S.903
Nuclear Energy Leadership Act
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (Introduced 03/27/2019) Cosponsors: (19)
S.1201
Enhancing Fossil Fuel Energy Carbon Technology Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV] (Introduced 04/11/2019) Cosponsors: (8)
S.1706
Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO] (Introduced 06/04/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
S.1245
All-of-the-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND] (Introduced 04/30/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
S.1685
Launching Energy Advancement and Development through Innovations for Natural Gas Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (Introduced 05/23/2019) Cosponsors: (4)
S.1857
Federal Energy and Water Management Performance Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (Introduced 06/13/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
S.2260
Save Our Seas 2.0: Improving Domestic Infrastructure to Prevent Marine Debris Act
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (Introduced 07/24/2019) Cosponsors: (6)
S.2580
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (Introduced 09/26/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate - Appropriations
H.R.4340
To assist in the conservation of highly endangered amphibian species in foreign countries, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
H.R.4341
To assist in the conservation of critically endangered species in foreign countries, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (12)
H.R.4346
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjustments to the regulation of surface-disturbing activities and to protect taxpayers from unduly bearing the reclamation costs of oil and gas development, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
H.R.4347
To enhance the Federal Government's planning and preparation for extreme weather and the Federal Government's dissemination of best practices to respond to extreme weather, thereby increasing resilience, improving regional coordination, and mitigating the financial risk to the Federal Government from such extreme weather, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (9)
H.R.4348
To terminate certain rules issued by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce relating to endangered and threatened species, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (23)
H.R.4357
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a program to charge and collect not less than the fair market value for forest botanical products harvested on National Forest System lands, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
H.R.4358
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit to Congress a report on preliminary damage assessment and to establish damage assessment teams in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
H.R.4364
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjustments to the fiscal terms for fossil fuel development and to make other reforms to improve returns to taxpayers for the development of Federal energy resources, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. McAdams, Ben [D-UT-4] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
H.R.4376
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require Federal agencies impacted by a major disaster to submit to Congress a report on the estimated cost of the impact, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
H.R.4385
To amend section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act to adjust the renewable fuel obligation to account for the full volume of gasoline and diesel produced by small refineries that are exempt under paragraph (9), and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (11)
H.R.4441
To amend titles 49 and 10, United States Code, to provide for the authority of the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border protection with respect to national security determinations concerning wind turbines proposed to be constructed in the United States in bodies of water that border Canada, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Collins, Chris [R-NY-27] (Introduced 09/20/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
H.R.4447
To establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program.
Sponsor: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1] (Introduced 09/20/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
H.Res.574
Supporting the teaching of climate change in schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13] (Introduced 09/20/2019) Cosponsors: (18)
H.R.4483
To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to increase State and local involvement in management plans.
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] (Introduced 09/24/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
H.R.4479
To temporarily provide Commonwealth-only transitional worker permits for workers in construction occupations involved in disaster recovery, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large] (Introduced 09/24/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
H.R.4496
To extend indemnity for wildfires and hurricanes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8] (Introduced 09/25/2019) Cosponsors: (7)
H.Res.589
Expressing the need for immediate climate action in response to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate.
Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (Introduced 09/25/2019) Cosponsors: (37)
H.Res.594
Expressing profound concern about threats to human rights, the rule of law, democracy, and the environment in Brazil.
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3] (Introduced 09/25/2019) Cosponsors: (14)
Committee Hearings:
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change held a hearing entitled ``Building a 100 Percent Clean Economy: Pathways to Net Zero Industrial Emissions''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment; and Full Committee of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis held a joint hearing entitled ``Voices Leading the Next Generation on the Global Climate Crisis''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing entitled ``The Next Mile: Technology Pathways to Accelerate Sustainability within the Transportation Sector''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing entitled ``The Administration's Priorities and Policy Initiatives Under the Clean Water Act''. Testimony was heard from Dave Ross, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency; Maia Bellon, Director, Department of Ecology, Washington; Becky Keogh, Secretary, Department of Energy and Environment, Arkansas; and public witnesses.
Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management; and Subcommittee and Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, joint hearing entitled ``To Review the Implementation of Federal Farm and Disaster Programs'', 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth.
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hearing entitled ``Marine Debris: Impacts on Ecosystems and Species'', 10:30 a.m., 2008 Rayburn.
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