Hill Heat

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Chair Sanford Bishop Jr. (D-Ga.)

The FY 2023 budget request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture is $195.9 billion, $31.1 billion for discretionary programs and $164.8 billion for mandatory programs.

Steps are being taken across USDA to improve adaptation and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change, including identifying agency vulnerabilities. Within the Office of the Secretary, $4.5 million is requested to coordinate such activities across the Department. In addition, the Office of the Chief Economist is requesting $6 million for research and analysis necessary to assist stakeholders in implementing climate smart agriculture and forestry practices and oversee the production of the Department’s resilience and climate change adaptation plan. The Budget includes an increase of $39 million above the 2021 enacted for the Forest Service to invest more in research related to climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, including expanding the scope and scale of research and program delivery related to reforestation, carbon sequestration, carbon accounting, and fire and fuels research. The Budget includes $6 million for Forest Service and $8 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for climate hubs.

Within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the agency has requested $6 million to work with cooperators to enhance detection and response to invasive species. These plants, pathogens, and animals can have strong detrimental effects on agriculture. Through this work, APHIS will contribute to the protection of the biodiversity our rural communities are reliant upon. The Budget also seeks to improve the health and resilience of our national forests, prioritizing forest restoration, forest health, and climate smart land management. This includes a $70 million investment to help support post-wildfire restoration work necessary for improving watershed and landscape conditions for areas impacted by catastrophic wildfire). This additional funding to rehabilitate burned areas would prevent having to choose between rehabilitation of burned areas and other natural resource management priorities. Focusing on collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes, the Budget requests a $26 million increase from 2021 enacted for work on Forest Health Management, Landscape Scale Restoration, and Forest Stewardship to support performance measures for the America the Beautiful initiative and other climate resilience outcomes.

The Budget requests $300 million in new funding for rural electric utilities to support the transition to carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035. Additional funding of $15 million is also requested to increase coordination between USDA, Department of Energy, and Department of Interior to support the creation of the Rural Clean Energy Initiative to achieve the President’s clean energy goals. A $261 million funding request for construction, preservation and rehabilitation under Rural Housing Service will target projects that promote clean energy or address climate resilience by improving energy or water efficiency, and energy saving features. The Budget includes more than $134.8 million for the USDA Agriculture Buildings and Facilities account, of which $25 million will provide for the hire and purchase of motor vehicles and the transformation of vehicle fleet to provide hybrid, alternative, and/or electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The USDA modernization of the South Building continues to be the top priority for the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities, Building Operations and Maintenance account in 2023. Additionally, the Budget requests $21 million to support key climate priorities within the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), including establishing a soil health monitoring network that will include a network of soil sampling sites, integrating soil carbon monitoring into the conservation planning process, and efforts to increase the internal capacity of NRCS staff regarding key soil carbon and climate smart activities.

The Budget includes $2.7 billion to mitigate wildfire risk, an increase of $751 million from 2021 enacted. This includes $321 million for hazardous fuels reduction, an increase of $141 million from the 2022 annualized CR level. This builds on the over $300 million in hazardous fuels funding the Forest Service will receive through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2023, a significant investment to prioritize and target landscape treatments across multiple jurisdictions. In 2023 the agency projects that it will be able to mitigate wildfire risk on 3.8 million acres in high priority and high-risk areas, important progress towards implementing its 10-year Fire Risk Reduction Strategy. The strategy entails working with partners to restore fire resilience across multiple jurisdictions. In addition, the Hazardous Fuels program will move from the National Forest System account to the Wildland Fire Management account in 2023 in keeping with the intent of Congressional direction to restructure the agency budget for increased transparency.

The Budget includes $2.4 billion for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to protect up to 27 million acres of environmentally sensitive cropland and grassland. In addition, $2 billion is included for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, $1 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program, $450 million for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, and $300 million for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The budget proposes $20 million for the Healthy Forests Reserve Program to enroll private lands and acreage owned by Indian Tribes for the purpose of restoring, enhancing, and protecting forestland to enhance carbon sequestration, improve plant and animal biodiversity, and promote recovery of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Of note, an increase of $41 million for NRCS will expand staffing capacity to keep pace with increased mandatory programs.

The budget proposes to enhance the Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements, begun in 2021, with an additional $50 million, bringing total funding for this initiative to $100 million. The Agreements are two-year projects that expand the delivery of conservation assistance for climatesmart agriculture and forestry to farmers and ranchers who are beginning, limited resource, historically underserved and/or veterans

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• S. 2194, the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2021
• S. ___, the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act of 2022
• S. 3069, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act
• S. 3767, the Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act

Witnesses:

• Stephen Guertin, Deputy Director for Program Management and Policy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
• Dr. Elizabeth Gray, Chief Executive Officer and Ex Officio Board Director, The National Audubon Society
• Emily Cope, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

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Witnesses:

• Dr. Thelma Velez, Research and Education Program Manager, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Sunrise, FL
• Dr. Sylvie Brouder, Professor and Wickersham Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Research, Agronomy Department, Purdue University, on behalf of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, West Lafayette, IN
• Dr. Ali Fares, Endowed Professor of Water Security and Water Energy Food Nexus, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX
• Dr. Benjamin Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch Dean and Professor of Ecology and Global Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Michael Vance, Managing Partner, Southern Reds, LLC, on behalf of the Noble Research Institute, Gainesville, TX

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) invites you to attend one of the virtual public comment meetings it will conduct by telephone on the Line 200 and Line 300 Project draft environmental impact statement.

Driftwood proposes to construct and operate dual 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipelines originating near the town of Ragley in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana southward to a proposed receiver facility near the town of Carlyss in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

The FERC staff concludes that construction and operation of the Project would result in some adverse environmental impacts. Most of these impacts would be temporary and occur during construction (e.g., impacts on land use, traffic, and noise). With the exception of climate change impacts, that are not characterized in this EIS as significant or insignificant, we conclude that Project effects would not be significant based on implementation of Driftwood’s impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures, as well as their adherence to our recommendations. Other than the non-significant impacts on environmental justice communities associated with the construction and operation of Meter Station 7 and Meter Station 9, we conclude that the Project would not result in disproportionately high or adverse impacts on environmental justice communities.

Docket Nos. CP21-465-000, CP21-465-001, CP21-465-002

Date, Time, and Call-in Information

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 5:30 pm (CST)

• Call in number: 800-779-8625
• Participant passcode: 3472916

Note that the comment meetings will start at 5:30 pm (CST) and will terminate once all participants wishing to comment have had the opportunity to do so, or at 7:30 pm (CST), whichever comes first. The primary goal of these comment meetings is to have you identify the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in the final environmental impact statement. Individual oral comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter present on the line. This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of oral comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted, and is in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As a reminder, the Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-3676 or [email protected]. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.

You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to FERC Online. This is an easy method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project; You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling feature on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to FERC Online. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on “eRegister.” If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select “Comment on a Filing” as the filing type; and You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP21-465-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis will hold a hybrid hearing titled “State Perspectives on Cutting Methane Pollution” on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET. The hearing will take place in Room 1334 of the Longworth House Office Building and via Zoom video conferencing.

This hearing will feature the current governors of New Mexico and Wyoming, who will share perspectives on their states’ efforts to cut harmful methane pollution from oil and gas production. The hearing will also focus on how states have implemented funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invested billions of dollars to plug abandoned oil and gas wells across America.

Witnesses:

• Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor, New Mexico. Elected as governor in 2018, Lujan Grisham previously served as the U.S. representative for New Mexico’s First Congressional District, beginning in 2013.
• Mark Gordon, Governor, Wyoming. Elected as governor in 2018, Gordon previously served as Wyoming State Treasurer, beginning in 2012.

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The budget request includes $431 million for the Peace Corps, a $20 million (5%) increase compared to the FY22 enacted level.

The Administration proposes a modest $18 million (2%) increase for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compared to the FY22 enacted level. Resources would support two new compacts with Indonesia and Mozambique expected to be signed in FY23 and threshold programs in five countries.

The request includes $220 million for administrative expenses for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a $22 million (11%) increase from the FY22 enacted level, and $780 million for programs, a $280 million (56%) increase compared to the FY22 enacted level. These new resources will bolster the DFC to deliver on its mission by hiring additional staff and substantially expanding its portfolio in areas such as climate change, health, and information technology through a range of tools including credit subsidy, equity, technical assistance, and grants. In addition, the request anticipates an additional $50 million in transfers to the DFC from the State Department and USAID to support greater interagency program coordination.

The purpose of this hearing is for members to learn about the current state of freight rail safety, in addition to hearing testimony on how to keep rail workers and our rail system safe.

Transcript

Witnesses:

• Amit Bose, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
• Thomas Chapman, Member, National Transportation Safety Board
• Roy Morrison, Director of Safety, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
• Don Grissom, Assistant General President, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division, TCU/IAM
• Grady Cothen, Retired, Transportation Policy Consultant
• Nathan Bachman, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, Loram Technologies, Inc.
• Cindy Sanborn, Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Chair, Safety and Operations Management Committee, Association of American Railroads
• Jeremy Ferguson, President, Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation – Transportation Division

The purpose of this hearing is to examine short and long term solutions to extreme drought in the western United States.

This hearing will commence immediately following the nominations business meeting.

Opening statements:

• Sen. Joe Manchin

Witnesses:

• Camille C. Touton, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior
• John J. Entsminger, General Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority
• Dr. Maurice Hall, Vice President, Climate Resilient Water Systems, Environmental Defense Fund
• Patrick O’Toole, President, Family Farm Alliance
• Charlie Stern, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy, Congressional Research Service

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Chair Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.)

Witnesses:

• Dr. Bradley Colman, President-Elect of the American Meteorological Society; Director of Weather-Strategy, Bayer & The Climate Corporation
• Dr. Kevin R. Petty, VP, Weather and Earth Intelligence, Spire Global, Inc.
• Dr. Fred Carr, Professor Emeritus, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma
• Dr. Scott Glenn, Board of Governors Professor Center for Ocean Observing Leadership of the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University

On Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. ET, in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building and via Cisco WebEx the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands will hold a hybrid legislative hearing on the following bills:

• H.R. 1548(Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-PA) To establish a pilot program for native plant species, and for other purposes. Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act of 2021.
• H.R. 4658 (Rep. Ted Lieu, D-CA) To designate the Encinal Trailhead on the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area as the “Anthony ‘Tony’ Beilenson Trailhead.” Beilenson Trailhead Designation Act.
• H.R. 6364(Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-PA) To amend the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act to extend the exception to the closure of certain roads within the Recreation Area for local businesses, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 6442(Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-ID) To amend section 101703 of title 54, United States Code, to include Tribal Governments and quasi-governmental entities, and for other purposes. PACTS Act.
• H.R. 7496(Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-VI) To direct the Secretary of the Interior to install a plaque at the peak of Ram Head in the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, United States Virgin Islands, to commemorate the slave rebellion that began on St. John in 1733.
• H.R. 7615(Rep. Blake Moore, R-UT) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into partnerships to develop housing, and for other purposes. LODGE Act.
• H.R. 7693(Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-AR) To amend title 54, United States Code, to reauthorize the National Park Foundation. National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022.
• H.R. 7952(Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-PA) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a natural gas distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National Historical Park, and for other purposes. Valley Forge Park Realignment Permit and Promise Act.