The purpose of this hearing is to discuss federal research and
development and standards development needs to help address the plastic
waste crisis and barriers to the current recycling system. In addition,
the Subcommittee will explore challenges and opportunities for adopting
sustainable upstream plastic waste reduction solutions and efficacy of
existing lifecycle analysis models for assessing the impact of plastic
waste and metrics for sustainability. The Subcommittee will also
consider the role that the Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling
Research Act can play in addressing these important issues.
Opening Statements
Chairwoman Haley
Stevens
(D-MI) of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Keefe Harrison, Chief
Executive Officer, The Recycling Partnership
Dr. Marc Hillmyer,
Director and Principle Investigator, University of Minnesota National
Science Foundation Center for Sustainable Polymers
Dr. Gregory Keoleian,
Director, Center for Sustainable Systems, Peter M. Wege Professor of
Sustainable Systems, School for Environment and Sustainability,
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, co-Coordinator,
Engineering Sustainable Systems Program, University of Michigan
Joshua Baca, Vice
President, Plastics Division, American Chemistry Council
The purpose of this
hearing
is to examine the infrastructure needs of the U.S. energy sector,
western water and public lands, and to consider the legislative
proposal
attached,
the Energy Infrastructure Act.
Opening Remarks
Sen. Joe
Manchin,
Chairman, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Witnesses
Dr. Kathleen
Hogan,
Acting Undersecretary for Science and Energy, U.S. Department of
Energy
Tanya
Trujillo,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science, U.S.
Department of the Interior
Chris
French,
Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. Department of Agriculture
On Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. (EDT), the Committee on Natural
Resources will hold a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing on the
following bills:
H.R.
660
(Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-VI), To require the Secretary of Commerce to
establish a grant program to benefit coastal habitats, resiliency, and
the economy, and for other purposes. Shovel-Ready Restoration Grants
for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2021.
H.R.
1415
(Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of
1972 to authorize grants to Indian Tribes to further achievement of
Tribal coastal zone objectives, and for other purposes. Tribal Coastal
Resiliency Act.
H.R.
1689
(Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, R-PR), To amend the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act to apply to territories of the United States, to
establish offshore wind lease sale requirements, to provide dedicated
funding for coral reef conservation, and for other purposes. Offshore
Wind for Territories Act.
H.R.
2750
(Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-OR), To establish an Interagency Working
Group on Coastal Blue Carbon, and for other purposes. Blue Carbon for
Our Planet Act.
H.R.
3160
(Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-ME), To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act
of 1972 to establish a Working Waterfront Task Force and a working
waterfronts grant program, and for other purposes. Keep America’s
Waterfronts Working Act.
H.R.
3228
(Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-NY), To direct the Secretary of Commerce,
acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, to improve science, data, and services
that enable sound decision-making in response to coastal flood risk,
including impacts of sea-level rise, storm events, changing Great
Lakes water levels, and land subsidence. National Coastal Resilience
Data and Services Act.
H.R.
3692
(Rep. Julia Brownley, D-CA), To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act
of 1972 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a climate
impact management plan for the conservation of certain marine mammal
species, and for other purposes. Marine Mammal Climate Change
Protection Act.
H.R.
3748
(Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-OR), To improve data collection and
monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts,
and for other purposes. BLUE GLOBE ACT.
H.R.
3764
(Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-AZ), To direct the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide for
ocean-based climate solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global
warming; to make coastal communities more resilient; and to provide
for the conservation and restoration of the ocean and coastal
habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammal and fish populations; and
for other purposes. Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2021.
H.R.
3817
(Rep. Charlie Crist, D-FL), To allow coastal States to participate in
regional ocean partnerships with one or more other coastal States that
share a common ocean or coastal area with the coastal State to
conserve living resources, expand and protect valuable habitats,
enhance coastal resilience, and address such other issues related to
the shared ocean or coastal area as are determined to be a shared,
regional priority by those States. Regional Ocean Partnership Act.
H.R.
3864
(Rep. Anthony Brown, D-MD), To express the sense of Congress that the
Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall be the primary representative of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Chesapeake Bay, to
require the Secretary of the Commerce, acting through the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
to provide grants supporting research on the conservation,
restoration, or management of oysters in estuarine ecosystems, and for
other purposes. Chesapeake Bay Oyster Research Act.
H.R.
3892
(Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA), To improve the National Oceans and Coastal
Security Act, and for other purposes. National Oceans and Coastal
Security Improvements Act.
H.R.
3906
(Rep. Jared Huffman, D-CA), To establish a Blue Carbon program to
conserve and restore marine and coastal blue carbon ecosystems, and
other purposes. Blue Carbon Protection Act.
Witnesses
Panel I: Congressional Panel
Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (H.R. 1689)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (H.R. 3160)
Rep. Don Beyer (H.R. 3892)
Rep. Jared Huffman (H.R. 3906)
Panel II: Administration
Stephen
Guertin,
Deputy Director for Policy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Nicole
LeBoeuf.
Acting Administrator, National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
On Wednesday, June 16, at 10:00 AM ET, the
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on
the following nominations:
Jeffrey
Prieto,
General Counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency. He was a
member
of the Biden Agriculture transition team. He was a long-time
Department of Justice environmental lawyer who helped set up its
environmental justice division.
Jane
Nishida,
Assistant Administrator for International and Tribal Affairs of the
Environmental Protection Agency
Alejandra
Castillo,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development of the Department of
Commerce