From 2005 to 2008, Bhatt served as deputy executive director of the
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. From 2009 to 2011, he served as
associate administrator for policy and government affairs for the
Federal Highway Administration. From 2011 to 2014, he was the secretary
of the Delaware Department of Transportation. From 2014 to 2017, he
served as executive director of the Colorado Department of
Transportation. From 2017 to 2021, he was the president and
CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Systems
America, a transportation lobbying organization. He joined
AECOM, an engineering firm, as senior vice
president for global transportation innovation and alternative delivery
in 2021.
On Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET, Rep. Jamie Raskin,
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, will
hold a hybrid
hearing
to examine how the fossil fuel industry is weaponizing the
law
to stifle First Amendment protected speech and stymie efforts to combat
climate change by abusing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public
Participations (SLAPPs) and anti-protest laws.
Since the 1980s, SLAPPs have been used by powerful entities and
individuals to silence critics through costly, lengthy, and often
meritless litigation. These lawsuits have recently been employed by the
fossil fuel industry to target environmental activists and non-profits
by claiming defamation, trespass, and even racketeering to deter them
from speaking out against proposed fossil fuel pipelines and other
projects that contribute to climate change.
In response to increased protest activity surrounding fossil fuel
pipelines, 17 states have enacted anti-protest laws as of June 2022,
labeling them “critical infrastructure protection laws.” These laws are
selectively enacted and enforced to target environmental activists and
protect corporate interests.
The fossil fuel industry’s use of SLAPPs and support for anti-protest
laws not only stifles free speech, but also serves as another form of
disinformation about climate change. After years of spreading denial and
disinformation, fossil fuel companies now acknowledge the existence of
climate change but are attempting to ensure their greenwashing narrative
dominates by silencing opposing views.
WITNESSES
Prof. Anita Ramasastry, Henry M. Jackson Professor of Law, University
of Washington School of Law
Elly Page, Senior Legal Advisor, International Center for
Not-for-Profit Law
Deepa Padmanabha, Deputy General Counsel, Greenpeace
USA
Anne White Hat, Sicangu Lakota, L’eau Est La Vie Camp
The Full Committee will hold a
hearing
entitled, “When Banks Leave: The Impacts of DeRisking on the Caribbean
and Strategies for Ensuring Financial Access.” on Wednesday, September
14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2128 of the Rayburn House Office
Building/ Cisco Webex.
H.R. 8535, the “Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act”
(Rep. Lee)
H.R. 8797, the “Caribbean Stakeholders Engagement Act” (Rep.
Waters)
H.R. 8798, the “The INCSR Improvement
Act” (Rep. Waters)
H.R. ___, the “AML Examiners Academy Act”
Witnesses
Panel I
Mia Amor Mottley, K.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Barbados; Minister of
Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment; Minister of National
Security and the Public Service (with responsibility for Culture and
CARICOM Matters)
Panel II
Wendy Delmar, CEO, Caribbean Association of
Banks
Wazim Mohamed Mowla, Assistant Director and Lead of the Caribbean
Initiative, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council
I. Wayne Shah, Senior Vice President, Financial Institutions – Head of
Caribbean Region, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and Executive Director,
Financial & International Business Association (FIBA)
Amit Sharma, CEO, Founder, and Director,
FinClusive
Liat Shetret, Director of Global Policy and Regulation, Elliptic
The power sector is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas
emissions in the United States—accounting for a quarter of total
emissions. Experts have noted that decarbonizing this sector and
electrifying other sectors is crucial for achieving economy-wide
emissions reductions. A new
report
from Resources for the Future (RFF) and the Clean Energy Buyers
Institute examines five pathways toward decarbonization of the power
sector. The report finds that three of them would reduce costs and
inflation: a national transmission macrogrid, further competition among
electricity generators, and expansion of retail supply choice among
buyers. The other two are candidates for going beyond the recently
passed Inflation Reduction Act: a national clean electricity standard
and utility-led decarbonization.
Join
us
on Tuesday, September 13, for an RFF Live
webinar
exploring the report’s key findings and examining the likely impacts of
the five pathways. A panel of experts—including lead author Daniel
Shawhan and other major contributors to the report—will discuss the
emissions reductions and health benefits from each pathway, the monetary
benefits and costs for the power sector and energy consumers, and the
effects on company purchases of green power.
Speakers
James Elsworth, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Caroline Golin, Google
Michael O’Boyle, Energy Innovation
Daniel Shawhan, Resources for the Future
Bryn Baker, Clean Energy Buyers Association (Moderator)
You are invited to attend a virtual public comment
meeting
hosted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) as part of the
National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed
Program and Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.
Please note that registration to provide an oral comment is strongly
recommended as those who register will receive preference. Oral public
comments will be limited to two-minutes.
We look forward to hearing your comments on the Proposed Program and
Draft Programmatic EIS.
Additional meeting and public comment information can be found
here.
To sign up for the mailing list and receive future news and updates, go
to the BOEM
website.
Frontline communities in Appalachia – and across the country – are being
used as bargaining chips in a Manchin/Schumer side deal aimed at ramping
up fossil fuel projects. This is unacceptable. But let it be known, the
resistance is organized and ready to bring the fight to DC!
Join frontline leaders in a rally on Sept
8th
outside the Capitol to demand that U.S. Senators and Representatives
stop Manchin’s dirty deal. If you are an Appalachian impacted by the
climate crisis or a member of a frontline community impacted by fossil
fuels please indicate your interest to attend meetings with Congress in
the RSVP
form.
If passed, this would gut bedrock environmental protections, threaten
tribal authority, endanger public health, fast-track fossil fuel
projects, cut public input and push approval for Manchin’s pet project,
the Mountain Valley Pipeline. We can’t allow communities to be
sacrificed to more oil and gas drilling, pipelines, petrochemical
buildout and climate disasters! Join us on Sept
8th
by making our voices clear: ‘We are not your sacrifice zones! #StopMVP
and Manchin’s dirty deal!’
note: ASL and Spanish translation will be
made available, the location will be ADA
accessible
buses are available from Durham, NC, Christiansburg, VA, Morgantown,
WV, and New York City. More info
here.
On Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. PT, at the Morro Bay
Community Center, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will
hold a field
hearing
in Morro Bay, Calif., titled, “Power in the Pacific: Unlocking Offshore
Wind Energy for the American West.”
Presiding: The Honorable Alan Lowenthal, Chair
Following dedicated efforts of the Biden administration and the Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to promote offshore wind leasing off
the Atlantic coast, the administration is now taking significant steps
to launch the next generation of wind energy in the Pacific. With
BOEM expected to announce the first offshore
wind lease sale in the Pacific soon, the hearing will give stakeholders
an opportunity to provide input on the lease sale and discuss emerging
opportunities and challenges for the growing industry. This first lease
sale will set the tone for future offshore wind development in the
Pacific, making stakeholder input particularly salient.
Witnesses:
Panel I
Doug Boren, Pacific Regional Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
Ronald Tickle, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Real
Property, U.S. Department of Defense
Panel II
Kourtney Vaccaro, Lead Commissioner for Offshore Wind, California
Energy Commission
Dawn Ortiz-Legg, Supervisor, San Luis Obispo County
Violet Sage, Chairwoman, Northern Chumash Tribal Council
Debbie Arnold, Supervisor, San Luis Obispo County
Panel III
Matthew Arms, Director of Environmental Planning, Port of Long Beach
Josh Boswell, Vice President, Policy and Economic Development,
REACH Central Coast
Jeremiah O’Brien, Vice President, Morro Bay Commercial Fisherman’s
Organization
Minority Witness TBD
Panel IV
Adam Stern, Executive Director, Offshore Wind California
Mark Simonin, Business Manager, IBEW Local
639
Eddie Ahn, Executive Director, Brightline Defense
Minority Witness TBD
Following the hearing, Chair Lowenthal will be joined by Rep. Salud
Carbajal (D-Calif.) and others for a tour of the Vistra Energy Corp
battery project site, colloquially known as the “Stacks.” During the
tour, the members will learn about shore-side energy infrastructure
related to the future offshore wind development. The tour is not open to
press.
Morro Bay Community Center
1001 Kennedy Way
Morro Bay, CA 93442
The Democratic National Committee will be holding its Summer Meeting on
September 8-10 in Maryland. At the Summer Meeting, we will be
discussing, among other things: the 2024 Call to Convention, the 2024
Delegate Selection Rules and amendments to the Charter & Bylaws, as well
as proposed nominations for DNC members to
fill current vacancies. You can find the draft Call to Convention
(marked from 2020) and the 2024 Delegate Selection rules (marked from
2020) as well as proposed amendments to the Charter and Bylaws.
Resolution 15, introduced by DNC Chair Jaime
Harrison, praises the Inflation Reduction Act.
Resolution 16, introduced by Nebraska chair Jane Kleeb, Nevada chair
Judith Whitmer, California delegates RL Miller, David Atkins, Michael
Kapp, and Sean Dugar, Maryland’s Larry Cohen, and Nadia Ahmad and Thomas
Kennedy of Florida, praises the Inflation Reduction Act and opposes the
pipeline permitting and fast-tracking bill supported by Sen. Joe Manchin
and drafted by the American Petroleum Institute.
Formal ceremony at the White House celebrating the
passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.