Hill Heat

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee executive session on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider the following nominations and legislation:

Agenda:

• Nomination of Harry Kumar, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
• Nomination of Joyce Meyer, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs
• Nomination of Seval Oz, of California, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology
• S. 1070, National STEM Week Act (Ernst)
• S. 2126, Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Wicker)
• S. 2245, Digital Coast Act (Baldwin)
• S. 2357, Young Fishermen’s Development Extension Act (Sullivan)
• S. 2563, Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2025 (Young)
• S. 2666, Foreign Robocall Elimination Act (Budd)
• S. XXXX, PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 (Cruz, Cantwell)

Kumar’s nomination hearing took place on July 9th. He is a former Trump Department of Commerce official, oil industry lobbyist, and chief lobbyist for battery-recycling startup Li-Cycle, which recently filed for bankruptcy. He is currently Senior Advisor in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Oz’s nomination hearing took place on July 23rd. Oz was Head of Global Strategic Partnerships for Google [X]’s Self-Driving Car Program from 2011 to 2014, where she supported business and marketing efforts for the initiative that later became Waymo. Oz recently served on the board of directors of MicroVision Inc., an advanced driver-assistance systems software company. She is Mehmet Oz’s sister.

Meyer’s nomination hearing took place on September 17th. She served as the White House’s deputy director of legislative affairs during Trump’s first term, and was a long-time staffer of the former Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.). She would oversee the U.S. Census Bureau.

10/08/2025 at 10:00AM

Full committee hearing.

Nominees:

• Ho Nieh, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Douglas Troutman, of Maryland, to be Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances of the Environmental Protection Agency

Ho Nieh, an officer of Southern Nuclear, is on loan to the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, where he is fully dedicated to supporting the Continuous Monitoring organization. He joined Southern Nuclear in September 2021 as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Nieh has more than 20 years of experience with the NRC, most recently serving as Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, where he was responsible for NRC reactor safety licensing and oversight programs for operating and new reactors. In addition to serving as Resident Inspector and in various roles impacting policy, operations, licensing and incident response, Nieh served as Director of Division Reactor Projects in Region 1, Director of Division Inspection and Regional Support at NRC Headquarters and as Chief of Staff for Commissioner William Ostendorff. Beyond the NRC, Nieh served the Nuclear Energy Agency as Director of the Division of Nuclear Safety Technology and Regulation, where he enhanced international cooperation for nuclear safety regulatory authorities and research institutes. He served as Communications Advisor to the International Atomic Energy Agency and worked in many capacities at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, including as a Civilian Instructor for the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program.

Doug Troutman is a chemical industry lobbyist, currently the Co-Interim CEO, General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for the American Cleaning Institute. Troutman joined ACI (then the Soap and Detergent Association) in 2007. He previously held senior positions at Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). He was on the legislative staff to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) from 1992 to 1996.

10/08/2025 at 10:00AM

Business meeting to consider the nominations of

• Jonathan Greenstein, of New York, to be Deputy Under Secretary for International Finance
• Donald Korb, of Ohio, to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General Counsel
• Derek Theurer, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary for Legislative Affairs, all of the Department of Treasury

Jonathan Greenstein served as Senator Bill Hagerty’s (R-Tenn.) Senior Policy Advisor. Greenstein is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Yale Law School.

Derek Theurer is a Counselor to the Secretary and advises the Secretary on domestic and international tax policy. Mr. Theurer joins the Treasury Department after four years in the House of Representatives, serving as Chief Tax Counsel at the Committee on Ways and Means and most recently as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Speaker. Mr. Theurer previously served as Senior Tax Counsel in the Senate, contributing to the design and passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. His private sector tax experience includes senior roles at Exxon Mobil Corporation and the Business Roundtable. Mr. Theurer hold a BS from Utah State University, a JD from UCLA, and an LLM in Tax from New York University.

10/08/2025 at 10:00AM

Southwest Neighborhood Assembly in collaboration with DC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster invite you to “All Hands on Deck: Building a Disaster-Resilient and Prepared City,” an open house on Monday, September 29, 7 pm - 9 pm.

Speakers from:

• United Way National Capital Area
• Department of Energy and the Environment
• DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency
• Up to 40 nonprofit disaster and environmental groups and local government agencies showcasing their work in environmental protection, disaster preparedness, and disaster response

Location:
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
1101 Sixth St SW, Washington, DC 20024

For more information and/or to help volunteer, contact Ben Curran (202) 294-7043 [email protected]

09/29/2025 at 07:00PM

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), in partnership with Georgetown University’s Global Cities Initiative, is proud to host its second annual Healthy Building Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., on September 29. This landmark, full-day event is dedicated to exploring the critical role of policy at all levels of government in transforming workplaces, buildings and cities to improve health, build resilience and foster thriving communities.

The Summit will focus on critical topics and timely issues impacting the built environment including indoor air quality, the evidence-based return on investment (ROI) of healthy buildings, as well as the influence of legislation on market transformation. Other key topics include access to healthy environments, the leadership role of cities and states, and the contribution of professional organizations and technical standards in advancing healthy building initiatives.

Join us at our annual policy summit, exploring opportunities to advance healthy buildings.

Location:
McCourt School of Public Policy
125 E Street NW Washington, DC 20001

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Registration + Coffee

9:45 AM - 9:55 AM

Opening Remarks

• Jason Hartke, IWBI
• Dr. Christopher King, Dean, School of Health, Georgetown

9:55 AM - 10:10 AM

Opening Plenary

• Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th U.S. Surgeon General

10:10 AM - 10:55 AM

Panel: Unlocking Policy Solutions to Accelerate Healthy Indoor Air

• Nora Wang Esram, CEO, New Building Institute
• Sean McCrady, Vice President of Software & Advisory, UL
• Dr. Georgia Lagoudas, Brown University School of Public
• Jonathan Gritz, SVP of Energy Solutions, WellStat

Poor indoor air quality represents a pervasive public health crisis–one that demands urgent, coordinated global action. With Americans spending 90% of their time indoors–often breathing air more polluted than outside–the need for bold, coordinated policy has never been more urgent.

10:55 AM - 11:10 AM

Movement Break

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM

Panel: Investing in Health Pays Back: Lessons from the Field

• Whitney Austin Gray, SVP of Research,IWBI
• Denise Hauck, President, Department of Defense, Corvias
• Susan Chung, Associate Director,HKS
• Serene Almomen, Co-Founder and CEO, Attune

While the benefits of people-centric practices have long been established in public health and building science research, recent studies outline a clear connection between these investments and enhanced business performance, increased asset value and higher financial returns. Discover how research-backed strategies strengthen the business case for health investments.

12:05 PM - 12:15 PM

Georgetown’s Commitment to Health and Sustainability: A Campus Perspective

• Rachel Kohli, Director of Campus Planning, Georgetown

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

Networking Lunch

1:15 PM - 2:05 PM

Fireside Chat: Built for Health: The Path to Scale

• Erin Billups, National Health Reporter, Spectrum News
• Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI
• U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D, NY)

From cutting-edge technology to legislative momentum, this conversation explores how buildings have become a defining opportunity to transform how we live, work and thrive.

2:05 PM - 2:50 PM

Panel: How the Private Sector is Raising the Bar on Healthy Buildings

• Chris Pyke, GRESB
• Tanya Eagle, Director of Sustainable Buildings, JLL
• Wendy Feldman Block, Savills

Across industries, pioneering companies are turning buildings into engines of health, productivity and business performance. By showcasing what’s possible–and profitable–the private sector is setting a new standard. This panel dives into how policy can accelerate adoption and bring these benefits to communities everywhere.

2:50 PM - 3:10 PM

A Special Conversation with ASHRAE President William McQuade

• Erika Heet, Editor-In-Chief, BuildingGreen
• William McQuade, President, ASHRAE

3:10 PM - 3:40 PM

Movement Break

3:40 PM - 4:30 PM

Panel: Unleashing innovation to propel the healthy buildings movement

• Cameron Oskvig, NAS
• Trisha Miller, VP and Market Dev., Aeroseal

Cities and states are proving that big change starts at home. From bold building codes to public-private partnerships, local leaders are advancing health-first policies that are reshaping neighborhoods and inspiring national action. This panel highlights the power of place-based leadership to drive scalable impact.

4:30 PM - 5:20 PM

Panel: The role of states and cities in pioneering healthy building policy

• Uwe Brandes, Georgetown
• Kazukiyo Kumagai, California Department of Public Health
• Elizabeth Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel, USGBC
• Seydina Fall, Senior Lecturer, Johns Hopkins University

Technology is reshaping the way we think about our spaces: enabling healthier, more responsive buildings at a pace once thought impossible. From real-time air quality monitoring to AI-driven design, innovation is fueling a healthier built environment.

5:20 PM - 5:30 PM

Closing Remarks

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Networking Reception + Tour

Hosted at the Daikin Sustainability & Innovation Center

09/29/2025 at 09:00AM

Calling all Water Warriors! Join us at The Office of the People’s Counsel’s Water Summit on Monday, September 29, 2025, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library located at 901 G Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001.

Be a part of the change for a sustainable future!

Hear from local and national environmental leaders, witness groundbreaking demonstrations, and connect with passionate advocates from around the region.

This engaging and interactive summit will bring community partners together with industry experts, dynamic panelists, utility officials, and social service providers. Our luncheon keynote speaker will close out the day with a call to action to empower consumers with the tools to be “water smart”.

Water is our right — help us protect it. Register now and let your voice be heard!

Why Attend? How will the OPC Community Water Summit Benefit You?

• To empower communities, policymakers, and industry leaders with actionable knowledge.
• Learn about water discount programs to help lower your water bill.
• Learn how to read your water bill.
• Learn how to save money on your water bill with water conservation tips.
• Learn how water services are aligned to electricity and gas.
• Participate in utility discount clinic and get help with completing applications for utility discount and affordability programs.
• Hear from dynamic keynote speakers.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with passionate professionals, organizations, and decision-makers in the utility sector and water industry.
• Youth & Community Engagement: Special sessions designed to amplify the voices of young leaders with a call to action as Ambassadors.

What You’ll Get!!!

• Raffle giveaway
• Free lunch
• Bag of Swag items for attending
• Meet with Water influencers
• Consumer education. Walk away empowered from Community Water Summit
• Network with tabletop vendors
• Engage in break out and panel sessions
• Participate in live interactive demonstrations
• Use your voice at the interactive roundtable discussions
• Receive one-on-one technical assistance for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other utility discount programs at the technical clinic. (Please Note: Applications will not be processed on-site)

09/29/2025 at 09:00AM

How can we deliver affordability for residents today while building equitable decarbonization and electrification programs that are scalable for the future? Leaders are increasingly questioning whether residential building decarbonization and affordability can coexist—or if they are fundamentally at odds. Equitable residential decarbonization and electrification is especially challenging, and we are at a moment when scalable models are essential. This includes reliable funding sources, which are under pressure as states and municipalities face uncertain financial futures.

This lively, in-person panel discussion will explore four distinct program models for equitable residential building decarbonization and electrification, examining their structures, strengths, and key takeaways. We’ll also discuss the importance of strong coalitions, co-governance, and effective media strategies in driving success.

Our Models:

• Mobile Home Park organizing and heat pump conversions using union labor in Maine to save residents on monthly utility costs and keep rents affordable.
• Aggregated residential electrification and solar in DC to keep long-term residents in their homes and zero their utility bills.
• Affordable Housing electrification and efficiency in NYC for multifamily buildings.
• Neighborhood-scale decarbonization in Richmond, CA for low-income residents in partnership with labor.

Opening remarks

• Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato

Speakers:

• Maine State Representative Kilton M. Webb
• Bomee Jung with Cadence OneFive Inc
• Sidra Siddiqui with Washington Interfaith Network
• City of Richmond CA’s Environmental Manager Samantha Carr.

RSVP

136 East 24th Street #2nd floor New York, NY 10010

09/25/2025 at 04:30PM

Join us at Climate Week for Zohran!

It’s time for a Climate Mayor in NYC! Will you join us this Climate Week to party & fundraise to elect Zohran Mamdani?!

Zohran Mamdani made history this spring when he won the Democratic primary for mayor as a 33-year old Muslim democratic socialist with bold plans to make the city affordable. He beat back one of the most corrupt politicians in the state - Andrew Cuomo - once already, and we’re going to make sure he does so again this fall.

Global climate leaders and organizers will converge in NYC for Climate Week in September, just 6 weeks before the city elects its next mayor. The climate movement must get behind Mamdani, a visionary leader that NYC needs.

Join us at Sounds of Brazil (Legendary S.O.B.’s, 204 Varick Street) on Wed 9/24 at 7:30-11 PM to party, fundraise, and hear from local speakers and electeds on why the climate movement needs to elect Zohran this November!

RSVP today!

Tickets benefit New Yorkers for Lower Costs, a PAC backing Mamdani.

The party will have a DJ and partners include: Lead Locally PAC, Oil Change USA, Make Polluters Pay Action, and more.

Mamdani is running on the populist climate justice plan we need to win and thrive. It centers affordability - ensuring clean energy is accessible to all, public transit is expanded and free, and works to incentivize the climate transition while making people’s lives more affordable.

His platform is a model for climate candidates across the country. That’s why we’re bringing together Climate Week attendees and local organizers to fundraise for his campaign, and have a blast while we’re at it because in these dark times, partying is political.

09/24/2025 at 07:30PM

With the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement and COP 30 approaching, join us for a discussion at Climate Week NYC with former Vice President Al Gore on opportunities for ambitious global leadership to accelerate climate action in Belém and beyond.

RSVP. This event has reached capacity.

09/24/2025 at 08:00AM

The federal landscape of climate progress has changed dramatically since the beginning of this year, with seemingly every day a new rollback, funding loss, or regulatory block. In spite of this federal retreat, states continue to lead the way on climate action with innovative new funding mechanisms, proposals to streamline clean energy projects, and policies to lower energy bills.

​Please join Climate Cabinet Education, Data for Progress, Evergreen Collaborative, and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators for our third annual NYC Climate Week happy hour celebrating state climate action. Hear from state leaders about how their states are approaching climate action in this moment and connect with your fellow partners on collaborative efforts to support state work.

​Announced Speakers:

• Senator Brian Kavanagh, New York
• Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, Maryland
• ​Assemblymember Howard Watts, Nevada

Amity Hall Downtown

09/23/2025 at 06:00PM