Environmental, Social, & Governance Standards and Proxy Advisors
On September 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in Room 2128 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Subcommittee) of the Committee on Financial Services will hold a hearing entitled “The Fall of ESG: Scrutinizing the Failed Use of Environmental, Social, & Governance Standards and the Influence of Proxy Advisors.”
This hearing will examine the trends of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives and the influence of proxy advisory firms on America’s capital markets. The Subcommittee will review “why companies and investment firms are turning away from ESG activism and the activist influence of proxy advisory firms.”
Witnesses:- Charles Crain, Vice President of Domestic Policy, National Association of Manufacturers
- Tim Doyle, Founder and Principal, Doyle Strategies
- Michael Frerichs, Treasurer, State of Illinois
Examining the Fish and Wildlife Service's Operation Long Tail Liberation
On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., in room 1334 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold the previously postponed July 31, 2024, oversight hearing titled “The Fish and Wildlife Service Gone Wild: Examining Operation Long Tail Liberation.”
Operation Long Tail Liberation was a multi-year investigation of the smuggling of long-tailed macaques from Asia into the United States on behalf of drug companies.
Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California
Subcommittee field hearing to examine California’s water supply, including the challenges faced through federal regulations, and connection to our nation’s food security.
This hearing will be held at the Hotel Mission De Oro in the Ponce de Leon Room, 13070 S Highway 33 Santa Nella, CA.
Assessing the Federal Government’s Response to the 2023 Maui Wildfires
Field hearing.
Location: Lahaina Civic Center, Social Hall, 1840 HI-30, Lahaina, HI 96761
Witnesses:- Bob Fenton, Regional Administrator (Region 9), Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Col. Eric Swenson, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Francisco Sánchez, Jr., Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience, Small Business Administration
- Cheree Peterson, Deputy Regional Administrator (Region 9), Environmental Protection Agency
- Richard Bissen, Mayor, Maui County
- Lauren Nahme, Hawaii Community Foundation, SVP of the Maui Recovery Office
- Sne Patel, LahainaTown Action Committee
- Ke’eaumoku Kapu, President & CEO, Na Aikane O Maui
- Major General Kenneth Hara, Adjutant General of Hawaii
The Fall of FERC planning meeting
Dozens of people will come to Washington D.C. on September 19, 2024 to protest and interrupt the monthly FERC commissioners’ meeting. We want to bring so much joyous rebellion to the FERC meeting they simply cannot continue to expand fossil fuel infrastructure!
We will replace their bureaucratic jargon with truth and song! We will force them to face up to what their actions do to communities, to our planet, to the lives of their own children!
We will UNFRACK FERC! Join us on Monday August 26 to learn more and get connected.
Field Hearing Examining Gulf Coast Restoration and Offshore Drilling
On Friday, August 2, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. (CDT), the Committee on Natural Resources will hold an oversight hearing titled “Rigs to Restoration: Examining Gulf Coast Restoration through Energy Production and Permitting.” The hearing will examine Louisiana’s experience in coastal restoration, including the barriers encountered through the permitting process and the shared relationship between energy production and environmental protection.
This hearing will be held at Nicholls State University, 906 E 1st St., Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Witnesses and Testimony- Meg Bankston, Executive Director, Parishes Advocating for Coastal Endurance
- Kyle Graham, Former Executive Director, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
- Michael Hecht, President & CEO, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Full Committee Markup of Energy and Water Development; Defense; Labor, Health, and Human Services; and Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Acts
Full committee hearing.
Agenda:- Markup of the “Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025.”
- Markup of the “Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025.”
- Markup of the “Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025.”
- Summary
- Markup of the “Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2025.”
- Summary
Understanding the Potential Environmental Impacts of the Chemical 6PPD
Subcommittee hearing.
Witnesses:- Katrina Lassiter, Program Manager, Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program, Washington State Department of Ecology
- Tracey Norberg, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association
- David B. Fischer, MPH, Counsel, Keller and Heckman LLP
Markup of Lithium-Ion Battery Consumer Standards, Algal Bloom, Heat Illness, Wildfire Readiness, AI, and other legislation, and NOAA Corps nomination
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, will convene a full committee executive session on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 10 a.m. EDT to consider the following legislation and nominations: The following actions were taken during the Executive Session.
Approved:- S. 4178, the Future of Artificial Intelligence Innovation Act of 2024, as amended by: PASSED BY VOICE VOTE
- S. 4394, the National Science Foundation Artificial Intelligence Education Act of 2024, as amended by: PASSED BY VOICE VOTE
- The Cantwell-Moran Substitute, as amended by:
- S. 2714, the CREATE AI Act of 2023, as amended by: PASSED BY ROLL CALL 19-7
- The Young Substitute, as amended by:
- S. 4769, the Validation and Evaluation for the Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Act, as amended by: PASSED BY VOICE VOTE
- S. 3312, the Artificial Intelligence Research, Innovation, and Accountability Act of 2023, as amended by: PASSED BY VOICE VOTE
- S. 2238, PLAN for Broadband Act, as amended by: PASSED BY VOICE VOTE
- The Wicker Substitute as modified, as amended by:
- Schmitt 1 as modified
- Cantwell-Welch 1 as modified Passed by Roll Call Vote 14-12
- The Wicker Substitute as modified, as amended by:
- S. 1008. Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act PASSED BY VOICE VOTE
- S. 3348 Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2023, as amended by: PASSED BY VOICE VOTE
- S. 275, Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2023, as amended by:
- S. 690, Network Equipment Transparency Act, as amended by:
- S. 1570, Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act
- S. 1956, Invent Here, Make Here Act of 2023, as amended by:
- S. 2086, Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2023, as amended by:
- S. 2233, Youth Poisoning Protection Act, as amended by:
- S. 2498, Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2023, as amended by:
- S. 2645, Preventing Heat Illnesses and Deaths Act of 2023, as amended by:
- The Markey Substitute as modified, as amended by:
- S. 3162, the TEST AI Act of 2023, as amended by:
- S. 3277, Marine Debris Program Reauthorization
- S. 3475, Strengthening the Commercial Driver’s License Information System Act
- S. 3606, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2024, as amended by:
- S. 3788, National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2024, as amended by:
- S. 3849, Promoting United State Leadership in Standards Act of 2024, as amended by:
- S. 3879, Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act, as amended by:
- S. 3943, Accelerating Networking Cybersecurity and Hardware for Oceanic Research (ANCHOR)
- S. 3959, Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act, as amended by:
- S. 4107, Think Differently Transportation Act, as amended by:
- S. 4212, American Music Tourism Act, as amended by:
- S. 4343, Fire Ready Nation Act, as amended by:
- S. 4487, Small Business AI Training Act, as amended by:
- S. 4569, Take It Down Act, as amended by:
- S. 4596, Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act
- S. 4579, the NW Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act, as amended by:
- Nomination of Chad M. Cary to be Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) (PN1580)
- Coast Guard Promotions (PN440-2, PN1803, PN1804, PN1116-2, PN1900, PN1901)
Long-Term Economic Benefits and Impacts from Federal Infrastructure and Public Transportation Investment
The full committee is meeting to conduct a hearing entitled, “Long-Term Economic Benefits and Impacts from Federal Infrastructure and Public Transportation Investment.”
Witnesses:- Christopher Coes, Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, United States Department of Transportation
- Michael Knisley, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council
- Dr. R. Richard Geddes, Founding Director, Cornell Program in Infrastructure Policy