Climate Change Solutions - April 4, 2023

Environmental justice at work: 

Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act (S.919/H.R.1705). The bill, which was first introduced in the 116th Congress, is considered the most comprehensive environmental justice legislation in history. The bill is now named for the late Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) who was an original co-sponsor of the legislation and a long-time champion for environmental justice. 

Another environmental justice bill, H.R.1673, was introduced in the House. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to work with state and local officials to help clean up 100 of the country’s most heavily polluted communities. EESI’s resources cover the basics of the original Environmental Justice for All Act (H.R.5986/S.4401), the community discussions surrounding that bill, and pathways to address cumulative impacts of polluting industries. 

Energy: The Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R.1) passed the House on a mostly-party-line vote. The bill is designed to expedite energy importation, exportation, and development. It would waive or limit certain environmental review requirements, eliminate certain import and export restrictions on oil and gas, and repeal the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and rebates for homeowners who install high-efficiency electric equipment and appliances.

Fossil fuel subsidies: In the House, H.R.1743 was introduced. The bill would repeal fossil fuel subsidies, as well as establish gas price rebates for 2022. EESI’s fact sheet takes a look at proposals to reduce these subsidies.

Climate-smart agriculture: The Agriculture Resilience Act was reintroduced in the Senate (S.1016) and in the House (H.R.1840). The act would outline farm solutions to help the U.S. agricultural industry reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. On the other side of the Capitol, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced S.900 with bipartisan support. The bill would create a competitive grant program for land-grant colleges and universities to help farmers adopt conservation and climate practices like those described in EESI’s climate and agriculture article series.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for March 20-24 and March 27-31.