Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2024 Defense and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Bills
Full Committee markup of Fiscal Year 2024 Defense and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bills.
Consideration of the FY Defense Appropriations bill:
Consideration of the FY Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill:
Text of Legislation
- FY24 Defense - Full Committee Mark
- FY24 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies - Full Committee Mark
Documents
- FY24 Defense – Bill Report
- FY24 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies – Bill Report
- FY24 Defense – Bill Summary
- FY24 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies – Bill Summary
- FY24 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies – Amendments
- Notice of FY24 Full Committee Markup – Defense and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Bills
The Committee recommendation for fiscal year 2024 Department of Defense discretionary funding is $826,448,000,000, which exceeds the President’s budget request by $285,867,000.
From the committee report:
“While the Committee appreciates the budget request’s increase in funding for the Department, it is concerning that the Administration has poorly prioritized funds within the request to include proposals for climate change initiatives.”
“The Committee recommendation includes a reduction of $714,840,000 for unjustified requests that seek to mitigate climate risk but do not improve combat capability or capacity. The Committee is dismayed that the budget request mischaracterizes requirements such as routine infrastructure and utilities upgrades, long-standing statutory compliance activities, combatant commander theater-setting efforts, and multilateral cold weather exercises as mitigating climate risk. This is a disingenuous practice that serves the Administration’s prerogative at the expense of clarity in the Department’s request and the Committee’s ability to perform oversight.”
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024 totals $52,378,000,000, $1,622,000,000 below fiscal year 2023 and $7,542,590,000 below the budget request.
From the committee report:
“The recommendation rejects the requested increase to assess the potential impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems.”
Army Corps of Engineers Climate Officers: “The recommendation provides funding equal to the enacted level. Additionally, the recommendation rejects the request to fund a person in each division office with the responsibility of identifying ways to advance resilience to climate change across the nation. No funding is provided for this effort, and the Committee expects the Corps to utilize this funding to prioritize program delivery.”
“The Committee notes the importance of the deployment of advanced reactors to the nation’s ability to regain its leadership in nuclear energy and the contribution of nuclear energy to meeting climate goals.”
Department of Energy Office of Science: “The Department is encouraged to increase its support of activities for academia to perform independent evaluations of climate models using existing data sets and peer-reviewed publications of climate-scale processes in order to determine various models’ ability to reproduce the actual climate.”
“The recommendation provides not less than $39,000,000 to improve the understanding of key cloud, aerosol, precipitation, and radiation processes. The Department is encouraged to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, as relevant, to support analysis of near-term climate risks and impacts on infrastructure and communities. Within available funds, $3,000,000 is for a pilot program to provide instrumentation for observing marine aerosols, greenhouse gases, and other environmental factors, as relevant, deployed on commercial or other nondedicated ocean vessels and to evaluate a sustained observing network using such platforms. The Committee supports the Department’s efforts to develop a five-year plan for research to support a scientific assessment of near-term climate risk and solar and other climate interventions.”
Examining the Fiscal Year 2024 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Africa
Subcommittee hearing to examine the Fiscal Year 2024 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Africa.
Witnesses:- Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State
- Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development
The planned $55 billion investment in Africa announced by President Biden at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit builds on existing programs with a proven track record and provides funding for promising new initiatives.
Turning to Power Africa, which marks its 10-year anniversary this year, the initiative has closed 145 transactions and facilitated access to electricity for more than 172 million people in subSaharan Africa. The $100 million request will accelerate efforts to increase electricity generation capacity in sub-Saharan Africa in support of the Electrify Africa Act. Power Africa will expand work with partners to develop and finance cleaner and renewable energy projects, connect critical transmission lines, improve the efficiency and bankability of energy systems, and promote enabling environment reforms to attract and sustain long-term private sector investment across clean energy markets.
Oversight of the Department of Energy Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains
A subcommittee hearing to discuss the impact of federal programs and policies on the domestic energy sector supply chain titled “Microvast and More: Oversight of President Biden’s Energy Spending Spree.”
Witness:- David Howell, Principal Deputy Director, Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, Department of Energy
MESC will implement several provisions of the IIJA and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), managing the programs authorized and administering the related funding. MESC executes the following IIJA programs: the Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program; the Battery and Critical Mineral Recycling Programs (Retailers as Collection Points, and State and Local Programs); Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Grants; Battery Material Processing Grants; Energy Efficient Transformer Rebates; Extended Product System Rebates; Implementation Grants for Industrial Research and Assessment Centers; Industrial Assessment Centers; and State Manufacturing Leadership. MESC also manages the Domestic Manufacturing Conversation Grants and Defense Production Act activities funded by the IRA.
Veterans Affairs Flood Preparedness and Other VA Legislation
- “H.R. 3520, Veterans Care Improvement Act of 2023;
- H.R. 1182, Veterans Serving Veterans Act of 2023;
- H.R. 1774, VA Emergency Transportation Act;
- H.R. 2683, VA Flood Preparedness Act (Rep. Nancy Mace) ;
- H.R. 2768, PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act;
- H.R. 2818, Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act;
- H.R. 3581, Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement (COPE) Act;
- H.R. 1278, DRIVE Act;
- H.R. 1639, VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2023; and
- H.R. 1815, Expanding Veterans’ Options for Long Term Care Act.”
- Susie Lee, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.
- Dr. Colleen Richardson, Executive Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 6-21-2023 Witness Biography – Dr. Richardson [PDF 339KB]
- Jenniffer González-Colón, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.
- Jennifer Kiggans, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.
- Julia Brownley, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.
- Dr. Scotte Hartronft, Executive Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Dr. Erica Scavella, Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Dr. Mark Hausman, Executive Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Cole Lyle, Executive Director, America’s Warrior Partnership
- Tiffany Ellett, Director, The American Legion National Headquarters
- Jon Retzer Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans
Markup of Bills on Rapid Ohia Death, Promoting Lead Poisoning, Rock Climbing, and Blocking BLM Conservation Rule
On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 10:15 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources will hold a mark-up on the following bills:
- H.R. 615 (Rep. Wittman), “Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023” (Amendments to H.R. 615 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, attached to this notice);
- H.R. 1380 (Rep. Curtis), “Protecting America’s Rock Climbing Act”;
- H.R. 1726 (Rep. Tokuda), “Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023”;
- H.R. 2872 (Rep. Graves of Louisiana), To amend the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 to allow States to issue electronic stamps under such Act, and for other purposes;
- H.R. 3324 (Rep. Huffman), To extend the authority to collect Shasta-Trinity Marina fees through fiscal year 2029; and
- H.R. 3397 (Rep. Curtis), To require the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw a rule of the Bureau of Land Management relating to conservation and landscape health. (Amendments to H.R. 3397 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, attached to this notice)
REPORT
The Committee on Natural Resources met in open session on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, to consider the following measures. Per Committee Rule 9(f) and House Rule XI, clause 2(e), amendments adopted will be posted within 24 hours, and roll call votes and all other amendments offered will be posted no later than 48 hours after the vote is taken. These documents can be found at docs.house.gov, found here.
H.R. 615 (Rep. Wittman), To prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes. “Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023.”- The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 615.
- Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment to Wittman ANS_061, which was designated Grijalva #1 revised. The amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 16 to 20.
- Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) offered an amendment to Wittman ANS_061, which was designated Dingell #2. The amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 16 to 20.
- Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 615 designated Wittman ANS_061. The amendment was adopted by a voice vote.
- H.R. 615, as amended, was ordered reported favorably by a roll call vote of 21 to 15.
- The Subcommittee on Federal Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1380.
- Representative John Curtis (R-UT) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1380 designated Curtis ANS_046. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
- H.R. 1380, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
- The Subcommittee on Federal Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1726.
- Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1726 which was designated Neguse ANS. The amendment was adopted by unanimous consent.
- H.R. 1726, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
- The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2872.
- Representative Garret Graves (R-LA) offered an amendment to H.R. 2872 which was designated Graves of Louisiana_031. The amendment was agreed to by unanimous consent.
- H.R. 2872, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
- H.R. 3324 was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
H.R. 3397 (Rep. Curtis), To require the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw a rule of the Bureau of Land Management relating to conservation and landscape health.
- Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment to Curtis ANS_045 which was designated Grijalva #1. The amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 13 to 18.
- Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) offered an amendment to Curtis ANS_045 which was designated Kamlager-Dove #2. The amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 16 to 19.
- Representative Susie Lee (D-NV) offered an amendment to Curtis ANS_045 which was designated Lee_027. The amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 16 to 20.
- Representative John Curtis (R-UT) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute designated Curtis ANS_045. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
- H.R. 3397, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by roll call vote of 20 to 16.
Nominations for Amtrak and NTSB
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, will convene a full committee nominations hearing on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider nominations for the Amtrak Board of Directors and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Nominees:- Joel Matthew Szabat to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors (PN13)
- Anthony Rosario Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors (PN14)
- Christopher Koos to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors (PN15)
- Alvin Brown to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (PN114)
Dollars and Degrees: Investigating Fossil Fuel Dark Money’s Systemic Threats to Climate and the Federal Budget
There will be a hearing of the Committee on the Budget on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 10:00 AM in Room SD-608 to consider: “Dollars and Degrees: Investigating Fossil Fuel Dark Money’s Systemic Threats to Climate and the Federal Budget.”
Member Statements- Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D – RI)
- Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R – IA)
- Dr. Naomi Oreskes, Henry Charles Lea Professor Of The History Of Science, Harvard University
- Christine Arena, Founder And Producer, Generous Films
- Richard Painter, S. Walter Richey Professor Of Corporate Law, University of Minnesota Law School
- Roger Pielke, Jr., Professor Of Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Boulder, Republican witness
- Scott Walter, President, Capital Research Center, Republican witness
Examining the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed Emissions Standards
Subcommittee hearing titled “Clearing the Air: Examining the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed Emissions Standards”
Witness:- Joseph Goffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), Environmental Protection Agency
In April, EPA announced proposed pollution standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, for model year 2027 and beyond. The proposed standards align with commitments already made by automakers and commercial vehicle manufacturers as they plan to accelerate clean vehicle technologies in the on-road vehicle fleet over the next 5 to 10 years. Consistent with EPA’s traditional approach to establishing pollution standards under the Clean Air Act, these proposals would deliver dramatic improvements in public health, notable savings for consumers and commercial fleets, and increased energy security for Americans. They would help American workers lead in the jobs and industries of tomorrow. If finalized, these proposals would mark a significant step towards improving air quality, protecting people’s health, and addressing the climate crisis.
Review of the National Academy of Sciences Report ‘The Coast Guard’s Next Decade: An Assessment of Emerging Challenges and Statutory Needs’
Subcommittee hearing to review of the National Academy of Sciences report ‘The Coast Guard’s Next Decade: An Assessment of Emerging Challenges and Statutory Needs.’
In the face of climate change, technological innovation, and global strategic competition, the U.S. Coast Guard will need to respond to many developments in the maritime domain over the next decade. The Coast Guard likely has sufficient statutory authority to respond to most of these developments, but some developments may call for new or clarified statutory authority as well as coordination with international bodies.
Witnesses:- Admiral Steve Poulin, Vice Commandant, United States Coast Guard
- Dr. Cary Coglianese, Ph.D., Chair, Committee for a Study on New Coast Guard Authorities, National Academy of Sciences
- Heather MacLeod, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, United States Government Accountability Office
Opening remarks, as prepared, of Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster (R-FL) from today’s hearing, entitled “Review of the National Academy of Sciences Report ‘The Coast Guard’s Next Decade: An Assessment of Emerging Challenges and Statutory Needs’”:
Today, our Subcommittee will receive testimony on the National Academy of Sciences Report entitled “The Coast Guard’s Next Decade: An Assessment of Emerging Challenges and Statutory Needs’.”
I’d like to welcome our distinguished witnesses – Admiral Steve Poulin, Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard; Dr. Cary Coglianese, Chair of the National Academy of Sciences panel that authored the study; and Heather MacLeod, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office (GAO).
The Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 directed the Coast Guard to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to assess the emerging issues that will require Coast Guard action over the next decade and provide recommendations on what adjustments will be needed to support the Coast Guard’s efforts to confront these issues.
The National Academy of Sciences consulted with current and former members of the Coast Guard, industry stakeholders, and others to develop the conclusions outlined in the report, which was delivered to the Committee last month. Dr. Coglianese, I want to thank you and the other authors of the study for your diligent work.
Over the next decade, several external factors, including the advent of new technologies such as autonomous marine systems and global strategic competition—driven largely by China’s aggressive posture in the Pacific—will challenge the Coast Guard’s capabilities and require the Service to adapt to a changing mission set.
While the study found that the Coast Guard’s current authorities are sufficient to confront most of these challenges, Congress will need to continuously monitor the statutory authorities necessary for the Service to carry out its missions — particularly with regard to autonomous systems and the regulation of maritime safety zones for space flights and other emerging uses of the maritime domain.
As the Coast Guard confronts these new challenges, it must recognize that as mission demand grows, it must be realistic about the necessary assets, infrastructure, and workforce needed to carry out its mission.
It goes without saying that with growing manpower shortages, an increasing shoreside infrastructure backlog, and a completely defective procurement process, the Coast Guard has a lot of work to do in order to meet the increasing mission demands the Service will see over the next decade.
To all our witnesses—thank you for participating today. I look forward to a candid discussion on how the Coast Guard will confront this changing landscape.
Enhancing America’s Grid Security and Resilience
Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) is holding a field hearing in Moore County, North Carolina, titled “Enhancing America’s Grid Security and Resilience.”
395 Magnolia Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374