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May 11, 2021
From April 27 to May 7, Congress introduced a total of 77 bills, resolutions, and amendments related to environmental and energy topics. One bill, S.914, and one joint resolution, S.J.Res.14, passed the Senate. The Senate and House held 18 hearings and markups related to environmental and energy topics.
Highlights
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on the National Climate Bank Act, S.283, and the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the Restoring Resilient Reef Act, H.R. 160.
Energy has been a major topic in Congress. Three bills, H.R.3048, H.R.3053, and H.R.2836, seek to prohibit oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. H.R.2885 and S.1432 would establish an electric grid resilience grant program and an electric grid resilience research and development program. Other bills, such as H.R.2854 and H.R.2780, also address resilience. Finally, H.R.2948 aims to promote domestic manufacturing of fuel efficient and zero emissions vehicles, and H.R.2852 aims to establish a rebate program to promote the purchase and installation of electric vehicle equipment.
House
Bills referred to committee
H.R.2961 - To provide for advanced biological and environmental research and development capabilities and infrastructure at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]
Committees: House - Science, Space, and Technology
H.R.2975 - To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to modify the definition of water heater under energy conservation standards, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce
H.R.2979 - To amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 with respect to the final maturity date of certain loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Commerce
H.R.2986 - To discourage speculative oil and gas leasing and to promote enhanced multiple use management of public land and National Forest System land, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
Committees: House - Natural Resources
H.R.2991 - To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out an active transportation investment program to make grants to eligible applicants to build safe and connected options for bicycles and walkers within and between communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.3014 - To preserve access to Federal lands, control fires, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-3]
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Agriculture
H.R.3016 - To amend title 23, United States Code, to direct the Director of the National Park Service to provide funding for high-commuter corridors, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4]
H.R.3022 - To modify the project for flood control, Redbank and Fancher Creeks, California, to allow a non-Federal interest to establish conservation pools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16]
H.R.3023 - To amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 with respect to budgetary treatment of certain amounts of financial assistance, and for other purposes.
H.R.3039 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate certain fuel excise taxes and impose a tax on greenhouse gas emissions to provide revenue for maintaining and building American infrastructure, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Committees: House - Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Education and Labor; Transportation and Infrastructure; Science, Space, and Technology; Agriculture
H.R.3048 - To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf.
Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
H.R.3053 - To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas leasing in the Southern California planning area.
Sponsor: Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
H.R.3061- To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to waive matching requirements for certain grants to the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
H.R.2995 - To require a report regarding the potential impacts of any changes to the risk-rating methodology for the National Flood Insurance Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency before implementation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4]
Committees: House - Financial Services
H.R. 2919 - To establish a Federal agenda to transform, heal, and renew the United States by investing in a vibrant economy, to provide funds to certain Federal investment programs that meet related labor, equity, and environmental standards, and for other purposes.
Committees: House - Education and Labor; Financial Services; Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Transportation and Infrastructure; Agriculture
H.R.2924 - To establish a program to award grants to entities that provide transportation connectors from critically underserved urban communities and rural communities to green spaces.
Sponsor: Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]
H.R.2928 - To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a voluntary Cyber Sense program to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
H.R.2931 - To provide for certain programs and developments in the Department of Energy concerning the cybersecurity and vulnerabilities of, and physical threats to, the electric grid, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
H.R.2937 - To permit Amtrak to bring civil actions in Federal district court to enforce the right set forth in section 24308(c) of title 49, United States Code, which gives intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing.
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure; Judiciary
H.R.2948 - To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a rebate program to promote the purchase and installation of electric vehicle supply equipment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
H.R.2952 - To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require a certain percentage of funds appropriated for revolving fund capitalization grants be used for green projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
H.R.2889 - To amend the Natural Gas Act with respect to actions for eminent domain by holders of certificates of public convenience and necessity, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Malinowski, Tom [D-NJ-7]
H.R.2888 - To help prevent emerging events exacerbated by climate change, which threaten national and international security, by enhancing United States Government capacities to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such events, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Committees: House - Foreign Affairs; Intelligence (Permanent Select)
H.R.2887 - To provide for certain Department of State actions relating to global climate change, and for other purposes.
Committees: House - Foreign Affairs
H.R.2885 - To require the Secretary of Energy to establish an electric grid resilience grant program and an electric grid resilience research and development program.
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Science, Space, and Technology
H.R.2875 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for taxpayers who remove lead-based hazards.
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Committees: House - Ways and Means
H.R.2872 - To establish an integrated national approach to respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal Governments and other entities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8]
H.R.2866 - To prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained national investment in agriculture research.
Sponsor: Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
Committees: House - Appropriations; Budget
H.R.1542 - Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Agriculture
H.R.1506 - Transparency in Energy Production Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]
H.R.1503 - Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021
H.R.1393 - Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
Committees: House - Agriculture; Education and Labor; Financial Services; Judiciary; Budget
H.R.1300 - Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Jacobs, Chris [R-NY-27]
Committees: House - Judiciary
H.R.2859 - To establish the Restoring Neighborhoods and Strengthening Communities Program, and for other purposes.
H.R.2854 - To amend the Federal Power Act to require the Electric Reliability Organization to propose a reliability standard that addresses the resilience of the bulk-power system, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]
H.R.2852 - To promote the domestic manufacture and use of advanced, fuel efficient vehicles and zero emission vehicles, encourage electrification of the transportation sector, create jobs, and improve air quality, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Oversight and Reform; Science, Space, and Technology
H.R.2850 - To provide for nuclear weapons abolition and economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1992, while ensuring environmental restoration and clean-energy conversion.
Committees: House - Foreign Affairs; Armed Services
H.R.2848 - To A bill to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reauthorize and modify the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
H.R.2845 - To extend the authorization of each of the National Coal Heritage Area and the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the State of West Virginia, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1]
H.R.2836 - To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
H.R.2835 - To provide for the establishment of clean technology consortia to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of clean technologies, and for other purposes.
H.R.2833 - To establish a program to improve community connectivity by identifying and removing or mitigating infrastructural barriers that create obstacles to mobility or economic development or expose the community to pollution and other health and safety risks, and for other purposes.
H.R.2809 - To authorize the President to provide disaster assistance to States and Indian Tribes under a major disaster recovery program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
H.R.2780 - To provide for climate change planning, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in the United States Territories and Freely Associated States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3]
Committees: House - Natural Resources; Energy and Commerce; Transportation and Infrastructure; Science, Space, and Technology
H.R.2769 - To establish the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund to ensure a safe, sustainable, convenient transportation option for the people of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure; Ways and Means
H.R.2761 - To establish a national mercury monitoring program, and for other purposes.
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Transportation and Infrastructure
Resolutions referred to committee
H.Res.361 - Calling upon the United States Senate to give its advice and consent to the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Sponsor: Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Committee hearings
MEMBER DAY HEARING
The Committee on Natural Resources held a Member Day Hearing on specific Committee-referred legislation or other priorities as they related to the Committee’s jurisdiction.
COMMITTEE MARKUP
The Committee on Natural Resources held a markup on H.R. 443, the ``Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act''; H.R. 1029, the ``Free Veterans from Fees Act''; H.R. 1505, the ``Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021''; H.R. 1506, the ``Transparency in Energy Production Act of 2021''; H.R. 1517, the ``Ending Taxpayer Welfare for Oil and Gas Companies Act of 2021''; and H.R. 2348, the ``Advancing Conservation and Education Act'', and continue markup on H.R. 1503, the ``Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021''.
PIPELINES OVER PEOPLE (PART II): MIDSHIP PIPELINE’S DISREGARD FOR LANDOWNERS IN ITS PATHWAY
The Committee on Oversight and Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties held a hearing to examine Midship Pipeline’s treatment of landowners throughout the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process, and focused on the year-long delay in repairing the damage to their land caused by the pipeline’s construction. This was the Subcommittee’s second hearing on FERC’s failure to protect landowner rights.
THE CLEAN FUTURE ACT: DRIVING DECARBONIZATION IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
The Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing entitled ``The CLEAN Future Act: Driving Decarbonization of the Transportation Sector''.
BUILT TO LAST: EXAMINING HOUSING RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
The Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance held a hearing entitled ``Built to Last: Examining Housing Resilience in the Face of Climate Change''. Testimony was heard from Rodney Ellis, Commissioner, Harris County, Texas; and public witnesses.
CLIMATE AND ENERGY SCIENCE RESEARCH AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing entitled ``Climate and Energy Science Research at the Department of Energy''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
The Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife held a hearing on H.R. 160, the ``Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021''. Testimony was heard from Jennifer Koss, Director, Coral Reef Conservation Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and public witnesses.
The Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Member Day Hearing''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Mrvan, Schrier, Jackson Lee, Griffith, Stanton, González-Colón, Foster, Moolenaar, Wilson of South Carolina, and Van Drew.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: ADVANCING RESEARCH FOR THE FUTURE OF U.S. INNOVATION
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing entitled ``National Science Foundation: Advancing Research for the Future of U.S. Innovation''. Testimony was heard from Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director, National Science Foundation; and Ellen Ochoa, Chair, National Science Board.
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN AFRICA
The Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights held a hearing entitled ``The Effects of Climate Change in Africa''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS
The Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Accessibility for People with Disabilities on National Parks and Public Lands''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AND THE GROWING ONLINE MARKETPLACE
The Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife held a hearing entitled ``Wildlife Trafficking and the Growing Online Marketplace''. Testimony was heard from Stephen Guertin, Deputy Director for Policy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
WILDFIRE IN A WARMING WORLD: OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND WORKFORCE CAPACITY
The Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held an oversight hearing titled, “Wildfire in a Warming World: Opportunities to Improve Community Collaboration, Climate Resilience, and Workforce Capacity.” Testimony was heard from Dr. Courtney Schultz, Dr. Beverly Law, Riva Duncan, and Dr. Dave Daley.
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