Hill Heat

On Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2128 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing entitled “Oversight of the SEC’s Proposed Climate Disclosure Rule: A Future of Legal Hurdles.”

Committee memo

Witnesses:

• Charles Crain, Vice President, Domestic Policy, National Association of Manufacturers
• Lawrence Cunningham, Special Counsel, Mayer Brown
• Bill Schultz, Vice President, Schultz Fruitridge Farms, Inc.
• George Georgiev, Associate Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law

On Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

• H.R. 897 (Rep. Carl), “Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act”;
• H.R. 3925 (Rep. Salazar), “Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act of 2023”;
• H.R. 5441 (Rep. LaLota), “Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023”; and
• H.R. 6235 (Rep. Bonamici), “Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2023”.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Members of Congress

Panel II

• Paul M. Scholz, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [H.R. 897, H.R. 3925, and H.R. 6235]
• Mike Lum, Fundraising and Event Coordinator, Captain Rollo’s Kids at Sea [H.R. 3925]
• Chris Pickerell, Marine Program Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County [H.R. 5441]
• Ben Raines, Environmental Fellow, Writer and Filmmaker in Residence, University of South Alabama [H.R. 897]
• Dr. Donald Anderson, Senior Scientist and Director, U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute [H.R. 6235]

Bill descriptions:

• H.R. 897 would establish a sanctuary under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-532) at the underwater forest off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama, while balancing the other industries that operate in the Gulf of Mexico.
• H.R. 3925 would establish a grant program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that would provide applicants with financial resources to connect America’s youth with fishing activities.
• H.R. 5441 reauthorizes the Long Island Sound Office and additional funding programs, providing both financial resources and critical expertise to preserve and restore the watershed
• H.R. 6235 reauthorizes and revamps the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act, a program that encourages federal agencies, along with state and local governments, to develop best practices to respond to hypoxia events and harmful algal blooms (HABs).

Open Meeting

Zack Bright, E&E News:

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved key fracked-gas pipeline projects during its first open meeting of 2024 — including a high-profile permit for the nation’s largest public power provider, which is seeking to transition away from coal.

FERC voted to approve a permit for a 32-mile natural gas pipeline that would help fuel proposed gas-fired generation at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Cumberland Fossil Plant. The commission also approved a Texas-to-Louisiana project by Williams Cos., which aims to expand an existing pipeline and boost gas flow to the Gulf Coast.

Both decisions saw FERC’s two Democrats diverge. Acting Chair Willie Phillips voted in favor of all pipeline certificates, while Commissioner Allison Clements dissented in part on the pipeline for TVA and in full on the Williams project. Commissioner Mark Christie, FERC’s lone Republican, voted the same as Phillips on the two projects and other commission business.

Subcommittee hearing entitled: “International Financing of Nuclear Energy”

Witnesses:

• Nicholas McMurray, Managing Director for Nuclear and International Policy, ClearPath
• Dr. Ben Reinke, Vice President, Global Business Development, X-energy
• Maria Korsnick, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute
• Timothy L. Judson, Executive Director, Nuclear Information and Resource Service

Legislation

• H.R. 806, the “International Nuclear Energy Financing Act of 2023”

On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 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.

The following bills will be debated (move by regular order):

• H.R. 5482 (Rep. Hageman), “Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act of 2023” (Amendments to H.R. 5482 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute), to require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study to identify laws, regulations, and state standards that impact at-risk communities and categorize barriers to at-risk communities from accessing “reliable and affordable energy,” defined to be fossil fuels
  • Grijalva #1: Amendment to H.R. 5482
  • Huffman #2: Amendment to H.R. 5482
  • Levin (Calif.): Amendment to H.R. 5482
• H.R. 6474 (Rep. Steel), To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expedite geothermal exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas

The following bills are expected to move by unanimous consent:

• H.R. 1246 (Rep. Hageman), To authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for federally recognized Indian tribes;
• H.R. 2950 (Rep. Huffman), “Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2023” (Amendments to H.R. 2950 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute);

• H.R. 5770 (Rep. Neguse), “Water Data Improvement Act” (Amendments to H.R. 5770 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute);
• H.R. 5874 (Rep. Ciscomani), To amend the United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act to reauthorize the United States-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment program;
  • Bentz #1: Amendment to H.R. 5874
• H.R. 6443 (Rep. Issa), “Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act”;
• H.R. 6492 (Rep. Westerman), “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act” or the “EXPLORE Act”.

This is a hearing of the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Witnesses:

• Stephen A. Edwards, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority
• Roger Millar, Secretary of Transportation, Washington State Department of Transportation
• Jeffrey G. Tucker, Chief Executive Officer, Tucker Company Worldwide, on behalf of Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA)
• Lauren Benford, Controller, Reiman Corporation, on behalf of Associated General Contractors of America

The purpose of this hearing is to examine federal electric vehicle incentives including the federal government’s role in fostering reliable and resilient electric vehicle supply chains.

Witnesses:

• David M. Turk, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy
• Adewale O. Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Treasury

The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will hold a hearing entitled, “Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act of 2024: Members’ Day Hearing” at 10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, January 11, 2024, in room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

On Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold an oversight hearing titled “Examining the Biden Administration’s Limits on Access to the OCS: Impacts on Consumers, States, and Operators.”

Hearing memo Witnesses:

• Chris Blankenship, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• David Holt, President, Consumer Energy Alliance, Houston, TX
• Mark Heavens, Chief Clerk, Texas General Land Office, Austin, TX
• Erandi Treviño, Organizer, Public Citizen, Houston, TX
• Dr. Walter Cruickshank, Deputy Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Department of the Interior

Join 350.org for a critical conversation moderated by Dharna Noor featuring Dr. Neta Crawford (Costs of War Project), Ramón Mejia (About Face & Grassroots Global Justice Alliance), Ashley LaMont (Honor the Earth), and Zaki Mamdoo (350.org).

Sprawling militaries — like the United States’ massive network of bases around the globe — are enormous sources of fossil fuel emissions. In fact, the U.S. military alone emits more than Portugal and Denmark.

Plus, while war rages, it reduces the international community’s cooperation to tackle the climate crisis and takes resources away from investments needed to address the impacts of climate change as countries double down on military spending.

As we start the year with multiple wars happening around the world and an already escalating climate crisis, these intertwined issues are more urgent than ever.

That’s why 350 is hosting a conversation about militarism and the climate crisis on Wednesday, January 10 at 9 am PT/12 pm ET. We invite you to join us to learn why we, as climate activists, must fight for a world without war.

RSVP

Moderator:

• Dharna Noor, The Guardian

Panelists:

• Dr. Neta Crawford (Costs of War Project)
• Ramón Mejia (About Face & Grassroots Global Justice Alliance)
• Ashley LaMont (Honor the Earth)
• Zaki Mamdoo (350.org).