Markup of NOAA Hurricane Hunter Aircraft, Disaster Communications, and Other Bills, and Vote on Nominations Including National Transportation Safety Board, Surface Transportation Board

Full committee executive session.

Bills:

  • S. 1759, Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, to allow for the operation of civil supersonic flight in the national airspace system under certain conditions
  • S. 3258, Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025, to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to publish the list of medications that the Administrator has compiled for purposes of the medical certification of airmen and air traffic control specialists
  • S. 3885, Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, to provide for updates to the Federal Aviation Administration type certification process to support development of new and novel technologies
  • S. 4429, Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, to prohibit the importation, manufacture, sale, resale, or introduction into interstate commerce in the United States of connected vehicles and related software and hardware associated with foreign adversaries
  • S. 4448, Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026, to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to create tools for tracking the progress of grant recipients under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, to require the Assistant Secretary to help executive agencies improve compliance with the statutory deadline for processing communications use applications
  • S. 4691, Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act, to support improved awareness and coordination of Federal communications resources during disasters and emergencies
  • S. 4802, Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Recapitalization Act, to provide for the acquisition by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of aircraft for air, atmosphere, and weather reconnaissance and research missions

Nominees:

  • Thomas B. Chapman, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board
  • Edward Eppler, of Connecticut, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Transportation
  • Karen Jean Hedlund, of New York, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board
  • Brien Lorenze, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission
  • Karen Sessions, of Texas, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
253 Russell

07/15/2026 at 10:00AM

Vote on Nomination of Kevin Lilly to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and S.4949, Water Resources Development Act of 2026

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a Business Meeting to consider the following items:

  • PN806-5, Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife
  • S.4949 – Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (ANS, Section by Section), reported favorably 18-0

Lilly’s nomination was not considered.

Transcript

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
406 Dirksen

07/15/2026 at 10:00AM

Nominations of Sean Kaufman to be Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response for the Department of Health and Human Services and Erica Schwartz to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Full committee hearing.

Nominees:

  • Sean Kaufman, M.P.H., Woodstock, GA to be Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response for the Department of Health and Human Services
  • Erica Schwartz, M.D., Naples, FL to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
430 Dirksen

07/15/2026 at 10:00AM

Markup of Diesel Engine Pollution and Mineral Recycling Legislation

Subcommittee markup.

Hearing memo

Items to be considered:

  • H.R. 2140, Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025 (Reps. Matsui (D-CA) and Langworthy (R-NY)), to extend the DERA program of voluntary retrofitting or replacement of older, high-polluting diesel engines to 2029
  • H.R. 3194, Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act (Rep. Moolenaar)
  • H.R. 9317, Buses Utilizing Safety and Environmental Standards (BUSES) Act (Reps. Langworthy and Gottheimer), to overturn local anti-idling municipal ordinances such as NYC’s citizen enforcement policy and to block civil suits against bus-idling pollution
  • H.R. 9615, Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act (Rep. Miller-Meeks)
  • H.R. 9616, Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative (EMRTAI) Act of 2026 (Reps. Pfluger and Landsman) to encourage mineral extraction from Superfund sites
  • H.R. 9617, Coordinating and Harnessing America’s Recovery of Minerals (CHARM) Act (Reps. Palmer and Tonko)
  • H.R. 9618, Diesel Engine Flexibility (DEF) Act (Reps. Fedorchak and Davis (NC))
House Energy and Commerce Committee
   Environment Subcommittee
2123 Rayburn

07/14/2026 at 02:00PM

Markup of Nuclear Energy Legislation

Subcommittee markup.

Hearing memo

Legislation:

  • H.R. 3978, Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act (Reps. Latta and Peters)
  • H.R. 9612, American Enrichment Deployment Act (Reps. Fry and Schrier)
  • H.R. 5549, Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act (Reps. Griffith and Schrier)
  • H.R. 9613, Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act (Rep. Harshbarger)
  • H.R. 9614, NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act (Rep. Menendez)
  • H.R. 9084, Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act (Rep. Castor)
House Energy and Commerce Committee
   Energy Subcommittee
2123 Rayburn

07/14/2026 at 10:15AM

Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, and other bills

The Committee on Rules will meet Monday, July 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET in H-313, The Capitol on the following measures:

  • H.R. 139 – Sunshine Protection Act of 2025
  • H.R. 8595 – National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 [Rule Markup Only]
  • H.R. 9237 – Take Care of America’s Veterans Act [Rule Markup Only]
  • H.R. 1181 – Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act [Rule Markup Only]

Motion by Ms. Scanlon to make in order amendment #1 to H.R. 139, offered by Representative Scanlon, which would strike the language of the Sunshine Protection Act and replace it with the full language of the Sunshine for Our Kids Act, which would make Standard Time permanent while allowing states to pass their own legislation enacting permanent Daylight Saving Time if they choose. Defeated: 4–6 on party lines.

House Rules Committee
H-313 Capitol

07/13/2026 at 04:00PM

20 years of DeSmog: A celebration of high-impact climate journalism

The world is in the midst of a climate backlash. But DeSmog isn’t backing down.

​We are celebrating 20 years of high-impact journalism investigating the companies, politicians and science deniers blocking progress on fixing the climate emergency.

Join DeSmog – along with special guests Naomi Klein, Michael E. Mann and Jim Hoggan – as we look back on two decades of climate accountability wins and reflect on what we need to do to ensure that the next 20 years usher in the end of climate denial and obstruction.

​This online celebration is free and open to all!

​Program:

​Let DeSmog’s Global Investigations Editor, Matthew Green, be your guide to the behind-the-scenes history of how DeSmog and friends put climate deniers “on the map”, inspired Congressional inquiries, changed the historical record on when oil companies knew about climate dangers, strengthened legal protections for journalists, and so much more.

​Together we’ll gather energy and inspiration from this legacy to keep pushing back against anti-climate forces, new and old alike!

​Featuring:

​Best-selling author, activist and University of British Columbia Professor of Climate Justice Naomi Klein in conversation with DeSmog Canada Editor Mary Stuart on what the rise of the AI-fossil fuel axis and the resurgence of fascism means for climate accountability.

​World-leading climate scientist Michael E. Mann and DeSmog U.S. editor Ashley Braun discuss the evolving climate denier playbook and the tactics that have helped the climate movement to successfully fight back.

​Public relations guru Jim Hoggan speaks with DeSmog’s Executive Director Brendan DeMelle on his inspiration for founding DeSmog and its critical role in exposing the advertising and public relations industry’s role in fuelling the climate crisis.

​Brendan DeMelle, DeSmog UK Editor-in-Chief Hazel Healy and DeSmog Global Managing Editor Geoff Dembicki reflect on what’s next for DeSmog as we move into the next 20 years louder and more impactful than ever.

RSVP

DeSmog
07/08/2026 at 03:00PM

Data Center Locations Training with FracTracker

​Data center development keeps accelerating, and leaders need clear, current information about where these facilities are going and how they affect their communities. Drop by to learn more and join the conversation around FracTracker’s Open U.S. Data Centers Tracker.

​In this hourlong Zoom session, Mia Glover (FracTracker Alliance) walks through the map live, shows what is new since the last session and takes your questions. Bring a project you are watching and learn how to find it on the map.

​You will learn how to:

  • Navigate the Open U.S. Data Centers Tracker.
  • ​Read key fields like project status, energy demand and operator.
  • ​Use the map for local organizing, research and policy work.
  • ​Submit a missing data center through the crowdsourcing form.

​This event is open to all leaders and supporters. Come with your questions.

RSVP

FracTracker Alliance
Halt the Harm Network
07/02/2026 at 01:00PM

Testimony on National Park System Bills, Including Fast-Tracking for Recreation-Related Projects

On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

  • H.R. 1693 (Rep. Hageman), To redesignate the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the “Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center”.
  • H.R. 7254 (Rep. Huffman), To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bay Area Ridge National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 8121 (Rep. Plaskett), To designate the Christiansted Bandstand at the Christiansted National Historic Site, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as the “Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand”.
  • H.R. 8454 (Rep. McClintock), To provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, to exchange administrative jurisdiction over parcels between Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest to facilitate cattle grazing
  • H.R. 8913 (Rep. Valadao), “Tulare Youth Recreation and Women’s History Enhancement Act”
  • H.R. 9248 (Rep. Hurd), “Recreation Permitting Improvement Act”, adds “recreation” to the list of sectors subject to FAST Act Federal Permitting Improvement
  • H.R. 9416 (Rep. Scott of GA), “Ocmulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act”
House Natural Resources Committee
   Federal Lands Subcommittee
1324 Longworth

07/01/2026 at 10:00AM