On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2128 of the Rayburn
House Office Building, the Committee on Financial Services will meet to
markup
the following measures in an order to be determined by the Chairman.
H.J. Res.
127,
a resolution “providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8
of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the ‘Enhancement and
Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors’”
H.J. Res.
120,
a resolution “providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8
of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Financial
Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) relating to “Guidance on Non-Bank
Financial Company Determinations’”
H.J. Res.
125,
a resolution “providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8
of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System relating to ‘Principles for
Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial
Institutions’”
H.J. Res.
126,
a resolution “providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8
of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation relating to ‘Principles for
Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial
Institutions’”
H.J. Res.
124,
a resolution “providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8
of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of
the Comptroller of the Currency relating to ‘Principles for
Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial
Institutions’”
H.J. Res.
122,
a resolution “providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8
of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau relating to ‘Credit Card Penalty Fees
(Regulation Z)’”
Other legislation:
H.R.
5535,
the “Insurance Data Protection Act”; An amendment in the nature of a
substitute,
offered by Mr. Fitzgerald; H.R. 5535 would eliminate the Treasury
Department’s Federal Insurance Office (FIO) and Office of Financial
Research (OFR) ability to compel the production of data from an
insurer or any affiliate of an insurer via subpoena.
Subcommittee
hearing
on the Fiscal Year 2025 request for the Department of the Interior.
The Department’s 2025 budget totals $18.0 billion in current authority
($17.8 billion in net discretionary authority)—an increase of $575.9
million, or 3 percent, from the 2024 continuing resolution (CR) level.
An additional $360.0 million is accessible through a budget cap
adjustment for wildfire suppression to ensure funds are available in the
event the regular annual appropriation is inadequate to meet suppression
needs. The budget also includes an estimated $14.8 billion in permanent
funding available in 2025.
Witnesses:
Denise Flanagan, Director of Budget, Department of the Interior
Deb
Haaland,
Secretary, Department of the Interior
Joan M Mooney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of the
Interior
House Appropriations Committee
Senate Appropriations Committee
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Subcommittee
hearing.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget provides $7.2
billion
for the Civil Works program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The
fiscal year 2025 proposal for the Bureau of Reclamation is $1.6
billion.
Witnesses:
Michael Brain, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water &
Science, U.S. Department of the Interior
Camille Calimlim Touton, Commissioner, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Michael C. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon Chief of Engineers and Commanding
General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
In developing the Budget, consideration was given to advancing three key
objectives: 1) decreasing climate risk for communities and increasing
ecosystem resilience to climate change based on the best available
science; 2) promoting environmental justice in underserved and
marginalized communities and Tribal nations in line with the Justice40
Initiative and creating good paying jobs that provide the free and fair
chance to join a union and collectively bargain; and 3) strengthening
the supply chain. The FY 2025 Budget
investments will work to confront climate change by reducing flood risk,
restoring ecosystems, and promoting community resilience across the
nation. The Corps is working to integrate climate preparedness and
climate resilience planning in all of its activities, such as by helping
communities reduce their potential vulnerabilities to the effects of
climate change and variability.
The climate crisis is challenging Reclamation’s
ability
to both produce energy and sustain reliable water delivery. The Nation
faces undeniable realities that water supplies for agriculture,
fisheries, ecosystems, industry, cities, and energy are confronting
stability challenges due to climate change. Reclamation’s projects
address the Administration’s conservation and climate resilience
priorities through funding requests for the WaterSMART program, funding
to secure water supply to wildlife refuges, and proactive efforts
through providing sound climate science, research and development, and
clean energy. To address these challenges, Reclamation has implemented
its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, which affirms Reclamation will
use leading science and engineering to adapt climate-based situations
across the West.
Reclamation’s FY 2025 budget for Research and
Development (R&D) programs includes $22.6 million for the Science and
Technology Program, and $7.0 million for Desalination and Water
Purification Research—both of which focus on Reclamation’s mission of
water and power deliveries. Climate change adaptation is a focus of
Reclamation’s R&D programs, which invests in the production of climate
change science, information and tools that benefit adaptation, and by
yielding climate-resilient solutions to benefit management of water
infrastructure, hydropower, environmental compliance, and water
management.
Reclamation owns 77 hydroelectric power plants. Reclamation operates 53
of those plants to generate approximately 14 percent of the
hydroelectric power produced in the United States. Each year on average,
Reclamation generates approximately 40 million megawatt hours of
electricity and collects over $1.0 billion in gross power revenues for
the Federal Government. Reclamation’s FY 2025
budget request includes $4.5 million to increase Reclamation hydropower
capabilities and value, contributing to Administration clean energy and
climate change initiatives and enhancing water conservation and climate
resilience within the power program. Reclamation’s Power Resources
Office oversees power operations and maintenance, electric reliability
compliance, and strategic energy initiatives.
House Appropriations Committee
Senate Appropriations Committee
Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
An ancient fishing community in the Gulf of Kutch, India, join forces
with human rights lawyers in Washington, D.C. to file the first-ever
lawsuit against the World Bank Group for funding a coal-fired power
plant along its coast.
Reception at 6:30 pm
Screening at 7:30 pm
A panel discussion to follow featuring film director Sheena Sumaria,
community leader Dr. Pharat Patel, and legal and policy experts.
The witnesses will provide an update on the military construction
program and infrastructure, including barracks, housing, and range
infrastructure. The witnesses will also discuss environment and energy
programs, as well as facility sustainment, restoration and modernization
accounts.
Witnesses:
Brendan
Owens,
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and
Environment, Office of the Secretary of Defense
Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy,
Installations
Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy,
Installations, and Environment, Department of the Navy
Ravi Chaudhary, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy,
Installations and Environment, Department of the Air Force
The number of incidents where hurricanes, flooding and wildfire have
left billion-plus dollar recovery actions in their wake is increasing at
an unsustainable rate (e.g., $1 billion at Offutt Air Force Base, $3
billion at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and over $4 billion at
Tyndall Air Force Base).
As of December 31, 2023, the Department has completed the initial
assessment at 707 (of 715) installations for
PFAS contamination. 133 currently require no
further action, while 574 are proceeding to the next step in the
CERCLA process. For the past several years,
DoD’s approach has been that if DoD identifies perfluorooctane sulfonate
(PFOS) and/or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from DoD activities in
off-base drinking water above 70 parts per trillion (ppt), we quickly
took action (i.e., a CERCLA removal action) to
provide treatment or an alternative water source. DoD has taken this
type of action for drinking water wells surrounding 55 installations.
Last week, EPA announced a National Primary
Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS
under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Department appreciates the
clarity the NPDWR provides now that it has
been finalized and is evaluating its impact on our efforts to address
PFAS in drinking water. The Department has
reviewed existing PFAS sampling results, plans
to expand existing cleanup investigations, and provide drinking water
treatment for impacted off-base wells, on a prioritized basis.
The reality of a changing climate poses a range of risks to Department
readiness and threatens installation resilience through dangerous heat,
flooding, drought, wildland fire, and extreme weather. These conditions
adversely impact training, soldier welfare, equipment performance,
infrastructure performance and reliability, and place added strain on
the Department’s resources.
DoD lands contain significant resources supporting our nation’s natural
and cultural heritage, including resources important to American Indian,
Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and other Indigenous
Peoples. DoD lands provide habitats for over 550 plant and animal
species that are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act,
contain over 130,000 recorded archaeological sites, and 41 National
Historic Landmarks. We are requesting $703.7 million in conservation
funding, which will allow us to manage these resources in compliance
with applicable Federal statutes to create healthy and resilient natural
landscapes that reduce climate risks such as flooding and wildfire.
The Committee on Natural Resources will hold a
markup
on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 10:15 a.m. in room 1324 Longworth House
Office Building. The bills to be considered include H.R. 5015 (Rep.
Leger Fernandez); H.R. 6482 (Rep. Fulcher); H.R. 7003 (Rep. DelBene);
H.R. 7370 (Rep. Curtis); H.R. 7375 (Rep. Hageman); H.R. 7377 (Rep.
Hunt); H.R. 7408 (Rep. Westerman); H.R. 7409 (Rep. Kim of CA); and H.R.
7422 (Rep. Ocasio-Cortez).
H.R. 7408 (Rep. Westerman), “America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation
Act”, which limits federal habitat and species protection efforts in
favor of private landowners (legislative
hearing)
H.R.
6482
(Rep. Fulcher), “Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act”
H.R. 7375 (Rep. Hageman), To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to improve
the assessment of expression of interest fees, and for other purposes
and H.R.
7409
(Rep. Kim of CA), “Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources Act” or the
“HEATS Act” (legislative
hearing
on the above)
Please note that H.R.
7375
and H.R.
7408
each will have an amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS). Members
should ensure that amendments are drafted to the
ANS.
Bills expected to move by unanimous consent:
H.R.
5015
(Rep. Leger Fernandez), “Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration
Act of 2023” (legislative
hearing)
Subcommittee
hearing
on FEMA’s $33.1 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025
President’s Budget request.
Witness:
Deanne
Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Whether it is a wildfire, flood, derecho storm, or other disaster, it is
vital that FEMA tap into an adequately funded
Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). For FY 2025,
FEMA’s total request includes $22.7 billion for the
DRF to respond to new and ongoing disasters.
This is a $2.0 billion increase over FY 2024
funding levels to support continued recovery efforts, such as those in
Maui, after the most devastating wildfires in the island’s history. The
Maui fires destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina and forced its
tightknit community to scatter across Maui and beyond. In response,
FEMA and the U.S. Small Business
Administration approved more than $339.0 million in federal assistance
to survivors. FEMA continues to partner with
interagency, federal, State, and local governmental leaders to ensure
survivors and businesses on Maui have access to critical resources as
they rebuild. Without essential funding in the
DRF, we could not support response and
recovery in Maui, and other current and future disaster sites. At the
DRF’s present funding levels,
FEMA is in a similar position as last year and
we may need to resort to Immediate Needs Funding (INF) before the end of
the Fiscal Year, preserving limited DRF
balances for life and safety response operations and other critical
survivor needs. To mitigate INF risks, I urge
the Committee to act on the disaster supplemental request for
FY 2024, which requested an additional $9.0
billion for the DRF.
FEMA requires not only a fully funded
DRF but also a well-trained workforce ready to
deploy at a moment’s notice. FEMA’s workforce
is our most valuable asset. The FY 2025 Budget
provides $2.4 billion in personnel pay, compensation, and benefits
because workforce wellbeing, recruitment, and retention are always
critical priorities for FEMA.
FEMA’s FY 2025
Budget includes $6.8 million to support disaster workforce readiness.
This funding provides training and education enhancements for the
Incident Management Assistance Team and Federal Coordinating Officer
cadres. These personnel are crucial, as they provide hands-on support to
survivors after a disaster and coordinate federal assistance with agency
partners.
The FY 2025 Budget request also provides $15.2
million for three additional Logistics Staging Management Teams.
Strategically placed across the United States, these teams ensure rapid
delivery of resources to our State, local, tribal, and territorial
(SLTT) partners. This funding also provides increased staffing for
existing five staging management teams. These additional teams will
support FEMA’s efforts to significantly reduce
lag time in responding to and prepositioning lifesaving and life
sustaining commodities. One of my priorities for this year is continuing
to boost SLTT capacity for responding to
extreme weather events. FEMA no longer has a
disaster “season” — natural disasters occur throughout the entire year,
often concurrently and in places that are not familiar with the type and
level of these disasters. As FEMA
Administrator, I talk to State directors regularly and, in nearly every
conversation, they ask for help improving their capacity to address this
yearround disaster response tempo. In this challenging environment, the
safety and security of the FEMA workforce are
essential. Structural and technical improvements at several facilities
throughout the United States will allow the workforce to better prepare
for, and respond to, domestic events. FEMA’s
Budget request includes a total of $101.7 million for facility
requirements. Information technology (IT) is also essential to
FEMA operations and as the field of emergency
management evolves, IT systems must match that need. For years,
FEMA struggled with deficiencies in data
analytics and financial system reporting, consequently
FEMA requests $122.1 million in IT
modernization initiatives. Just one example is the ongoing Financial
Systems Modernization effort, which is replacing an outdated 44-year-old
legacy system with a modern and secure integrated system.
FEMA’s FY 2025
Budget request also ensures timely and accurate communications to each
and every community across our nation regarding potential threats to
public safety. FEMA’s Budget request includes
$46.9 million in funding for the Integrated Public Alert and Warning
System to continue this vital mission, which is an increase of $8.0
million. This funding will allow FEMA to
address gaps standards, outreach, training, technical assistance, and
sustainment activities, to help ensure communities are prepared to
respond quickly and effectively to natural threats, local hazards,
natural or human-induced emergencies, and catastrophic incidents. Our
Budget request also includes $10.6 million to support continued
modernization of our National Public Warning System. As
FEMA continues to adapt to this rapidly
intensifying disaster cadence, one thing is clear:
FEMA is more than just a response and recovery
agency. FEMA helps communities become more
resilient and better prepared before a disaster strikes. One way
FEMA achieves this goal is through grant
programs. Grants aid SLTT governments and the
private sector to help build operational capabilities needed to
implement preparedness strategies and reduce or eliminate long-term
risks to people and property. FEMA’s
FY 2025 Budget request includes $3.2 billion
for grants to help safeguard our communities, citizens, and support our
nation’s first responders. For example, the Nonprofit Security Grant
Program (NSGP) provides funding for physical security enhancements and
other security-related activities for non-profit organizations at a high
risk of terrorist attack. FEMA’s
FY 2025 Budget requests $385 million, an
increase of $80.0 million for the NSGP, to
expand the program to more non-profit organizations in both high-risk
urban and rural areas. Additionally, FEMA’s
Budget request includes an increase of $25.0 million, each for the
Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire
and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs. An increase to the
AFG Program will enable
FEMA to provide additional financial
assistance directly to eligible fire departments, non-affiliated
emergency medical service organizations, and State Fire Training
Academies for wellness activities for firefighters for cancer screening,
cancer awareness, and to protect communities from polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS). Yet oversubscription to these programs is stark. For
example, in 2023, the SAFER Program received
1,582 applications from fire departments and volunteer firefighter
interest organizations across the nation, seeking over $2.8 billion in
funding, yet the program was only able to fund 177 applications, leaving
a significant unmet need. FEMA’s
FY 2025 Budget request also includes $1.0
billion for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
grant program. These grants support SLTTs as they undertake hazard
mitigation projects, reducing risks they face from disasters and natural
hazards. Similarly, strong, disaster-resistant building codes are a
cornerstone of effective hazard mitigation and resilient communities.
Building codes save lives and property. Adopting the latest building
codes can save $11 per each $1 invested, according to a nationwide study
FEMA conducted in 2020. In support of this
effort, FEMA’s FY
2025 Budget request includes $2.1 million to implement the
agency’s Building Codes Strategy and support the White House’s National
Initiative to Advance Building Codes. We also recognize that on average,
disaster-related floods lead to more deaths every year than any other
natural events leading FEMA to request $364
million for Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis, a $51.0 million
increase, to increase FEMA’s map inventory and
assist communities to better prepare for future conditions. These funds
will also help modernize coastal mapping and better prepare our
communities for future flooding conditions. Finally,
FEMA requested $175.0 million for flood
mitigation assistance grants, which are funded out of the National Flood
Insurance Fund. These funds will not only support communities with their
mitigation projects, but will also assist
FEMA’s goal to advance environmental justice
by making critical investments in disadvantaged communities through the
Justice40 initiative. Communities in your districts and across our
nation continue to rely more on FEMA than ever
before, and our FY 2025 Budget request
provides necessary resources to meet the mission and serve your
constituents as they recover from a disaster.
The purpose of this
hearing
is to examine the President’s budget request for the U.S. Department of
Energy for Fiscal Year 2025. The request is for $51.42
billion,
including $25 billion for maintenance of the nuclear arsenal, $8.23
billion for cleanup of DOE environmental
pollution, and $8.58 billion for the Office of Science.
Witness:
Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy
The Budget includes $8.5 billion across DOE to
support researchers and entrepreneurs transforming innovations into
commercial clean energy products, including in areas such as: offshore
wind; industrial heat; sustainable aviation fuel; and grid
infrastructure.
The Budget invests $1.6 billion to support clean energy workforce and
infrastructure projects across the Nation, including: $385 million to
weatherize and retrofit homes of low-income Americans; $95 million to
electrify Tribal homes, provide technical assistance to advance Tribal
energy projects, and transition Tribal colleges and universities to
renewable energy; $113 million for the Office of Manufacturing and
Energy Supply Chains to strengthen domestic clean energy supply chains,
and $102 million to support utilities and State and local governments in
building a grid that is more secure, reliable, resilient, and able to
integrate electricity from clean energy sources.
The Office of State and Community Energy Programs includes $385 million
for the Weatherization Assistance Program to weatherize low-income
homes.
The Budget supports $76 million to advance technologies that can enable
earlier detection of methane leaks and integrate across a network of
methane monitoring sensors for more reliable measurement and mitigation
and $150 million to make small quantities of high-assay, low-enriched
uranium (HALEU) available for ongoing advanced nuclear reactor
demonstrations.
