Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | September 18 - September 22, 2023

Highlights:

The House passed the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 (H.R.2872). First introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), this bipartisan legislation streamlines the use of duck stamps by hunters, ensuring continued federal funding for bird and wetland conservation efforts. The legislation’s companion (S.788) passed the Senate in July.

The Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act (H.R.4877), introduced by Reps. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), and Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), was brought to the House floor for a vote. Building on initiatives within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the bipartisan bill would accelerate research to plug abandoned and hazardous oil and gas wells. A companion bill (S.429) was introduced in the Senate earlier this year. Check out EESI’s article on the climate and workforce benefits to remediating abandoned wells. 

The New Opportunities for Technological Innovation, Mitigation, and Education to Overcome Waste (NO TIME TO Waste) Act (H.R.5657/S.2889) was introduced in the House and Senate this week. The bipartisan, bicameral bill, brought by Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), would strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to reduce food waste. 

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing, “Chips on the Table: A One Year Review of the Chips and Science Act.” Rep. Ro Khanna, sponsor of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, recently met with EESI to discuss how his bipartisan bill furthers both climate policy and national security. Listen to the podcast episode here.

To catch up on all of the recent environmental and energy legislation in Congress, read the PDF here.