We hear the phrase “climate change” so often now that it’s easy to treat it as background noise. On any given day, it may be on your mind — and you likely see its impacts, whether you realize it or not — but it’s hard to know what you’re supposed to do about it.
We’re all shadowed by the awareness that climate change is happening, that burning more fossil fuels is making it worse, and that the impacts will be serious even if we build a more sustainable economy. Living this way is difficult. It feels like there’s a weight on your shoulders that won’t go away.
Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position. But the Trump administration denies climate change is even an issue, and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt shrugged off climate change at a May hearing. Bernhardt and his deputies have gone out of their way to increase our production of fossil fuels without making the same kinds of investments in clean energy.
The picture around the globe is a little better, but as The Guardian reported on Dec. 3, countries everywhere need to do more to get climate trends pointing the right way:
Carbon dioxide emissions rose weakly this year as the use of coal declined but natural gas took up the slack, a comprehensive study of the global “carbon budget” has found.
The rise in emissions was much smaller than in the last two years, but the continued increase means the world is still far from being on track to meet the goals of the Paris agreement on climate change, which would require emissions to peak then fall rapidly to reach net-zero by mid-century.
Emissions for this year will be 4% higher than those in 2015, when the Paris agreement was signed.
All of this is why the House Natural Resources Committee made climate change our top priority this year. We’re urging our colleagues to do the same. If you want to learn more about the hearings, roundtables, events, media appearances and other outreach we conducted in 2019, keep reading. It’s important to us, and we hope to you, to keep Congress accountable. We’re being transparent about our record and sharing some ideas we hope others can use.
All the details are here. But first, a quick word about the big picture on climate change policy.
The concept of a carbon budget, which the Guardian article mentions, is key to controlling climate change and reducing the harm it does to all of us. It’s very simple and means exactly what it sounds like. We can only add so much carbon (and methane) to the atmosphere — without capturing it or reducing emissions elsewhere — before we’re damaging our climate. Simply put, we need to stay within our emissions budget from now on.
Refusing to do so isn’t a free ride for our economy, as climate deniers would have you believe. It’s not even putting the damage on a credit card to be paid later. It’s just being destructive, here and now. We’re already paying the price for decades of aggressive fossil fuel burning. Now we know better, and we can’t go back to living in ignorance. Once you understand that there’s a limit to the emissions we can release into the atmosphere, just like there’s a limit to how much money we can spend before we’re broke, it becomes much easier to tell the difference between good climate policy and just saying, as President Trump did, “Honestly, climate change is very important to me.”
Climate change is not very important to President Trump. It is very important to Chair Grijalva and the Democrats of the House Natural Resources Committee. That’s why we’re focused on passing meaningful bills on a broad range of climate issues, and on holding hearings that look at the issue from every angle in our jurisdiction.
That process hasn’t always been easy. The president’s Interior Department stonewalls our requests for information, hands over public lands to Big Oil as fast as it can, and puts climate deniers in charge of our environmental policies. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), the top Republican on our Committee, gave a lengthy speech at the beginning of this Congress about his mistaken belief that climate change isn’t in our jurisdiction and holding climate hearings is an unfair waste of his time. We’re not holding our breath waiting for him or his Republican colleagues to change their tune.
The bottom line is that we can’t count on this administration, or its Republican cheerleaders in Washington, to get serious before it’s too late. It’s up to us.
Fortunately, not only does the Natural Resources Committee have some of the most important jurisdiction over climate change — and the fossil fuel industries that feed it — but each of our subcommittees oversees a big part of the climate policy picture.
We got started as soon as we took the majority.
Remember the longest government shutdown in history — the one that started on Dec. 22, 2018, and didn’t end until 35 days later? We held a roundtable in January 2019 to look at why the administration kept issuing leases to oil and gas corporations throughout the shutdown, even as it denied the public essential services and furloughed hundreds of thousands of public employees, including many at the Interior Department, without pay.
Highlighting (and stopping) this kind of special treatment for Big Oil is central to our efforts to curb climate change. The White House thinks keeping Exxon happy is more important than protecting the environment. We don’t. You’ll see this theme pop up a lot over the course of the year.
The Committee kicked off the year with a historic month of climate change hearings to hear from impacted communities, launched an online platform to hear from the American people about how climate change has impacted them and held 22 hearings in 2019 focused on climate change to hear from experts, community members, Indian Country, scientists, and advocates.
On Feb. 6, we held our first climate change hearing of the 116th Congress, which also happened to be the first climate change hearing anywhere in Congress in nearly a decade thanks to Republicans’ lack of interest. Titled “Climate Change: Impacts and the Need to Act,” it featured Gov. Roy Cooper (D-N.C.) and Gov. Charlie Baker (R-Mass.) and a panel of science, environmental justice, and youth advocates all urging the Committee to take action and to listen to the many communities with important perspectives on how our laws need to change.
From that point, it’s been all hands on deck. Because much of the action so far has happened at the subcommittee level, let’s look at each subcommittee’s actions and then consider all the public events we held this year.
This subcommittee has several major functions, and they touch on climate change in different ways. “Water,” in this case, refers to water supply, which is especially important to drought-stricken regions in the West. “Oceans and Wildlife” means what it sounds like — overseeing the health of our oceans and our coastal communities, monitoring the implementation of the Endangered Species Act and other wildlife and habitat conservation laws, and protecting plant and animal life across the country.
On April 8, the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act became law thanks largely to Chair Grijalva’s tireless efforts. He wrote the bill in the House, made it a top priority for the Committee, and pushed it through the Senate and across President Trump’s desk.
Shortly after the bill became law, we published an in-depth look at how it works, what it does for regions facing drought, and what we need to do next. It says much more than we can say here about the future of water supply, dams, agriculture and the economy across the West. For a slightly briefer explanation, you can watch Rep. Grijalva’s direct-to-camera video explanation of the bill’s importance.
As he says in the video, “We have to look at our priorities.” What we said above about a climate emissions budget applies just as much to our water budget. Our policies need to start reflecting the real amount of water we can expect to be available in the future, especially given the pace of climate change. While the drought contingency law can’t make more water appear, it gives states across the region the time and flexibility they need to reach a more long-lasting agreement on water allocations and water conservation.
The final product reflects the needs of all stakeholders, which is a testament to the hard work that came before final passage. That’s the only way to make real climate policy: Listen to the people impacted, not just the demands of the fossil fuel industry.
Passing the bill into law was big, but it’s not all we did on water and climate change. On April 2, the Subcommittee held a hearing on “The State of Western Water Infrastructure and Innovation,” which featured a few key themes:
- Our nation’s water supply challenges in the coming years, including the projected impact that climate change will have on the water supply due to shrinking snowpack, reduced precipitation, and warming temperatures.
- The risk that climate-induced drought, especially if left unaddressed, will ruin many of our nation’s ecosystems and dramatically reduce our nation’s drinking, industrial, and agricultural water supply. Rural and tribal communities will be disproportionately impacted.
- Policy options to address our future water supply, such as desalination technologies, water reuse projects, groundwater recharge projects, well-designed surface water storage projects, stormwater capture, water-use efficiency projects, improved reservoir management, and water conservation.
Now that the drought bill is law, western states are focusing on long-term planning for water scarcity. What we learned at this hearing continues to inform our work, and hopefully theirs, on water availability and climate change.
We touched on climate change in these areas so often that rather than telling you about each individual hearing, bill and event, we’ll let you choose your own adventure.
Hearings
February 7 — Healthy Oceans and Healthy Economies: The State of Our Oceans in the 21st Century
March 12 — “State of Wildlife”
May 22 — Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Report on Biodiversity and Accelerating Extinction
October 29 — A Sea of Problems: Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Oceans and Wildlife
Bills Passed by the House
H.R. 925 (Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA) A bill to extend the authorization of appropriations for allocation to carry out approved wetlands conservation projects under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act through fiscal year 2024. “North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act” or “NAWCA”
H.R. 729, (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. 1023 (Rep. Mike Quigley, D-IL) To authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to conduct monitoring, assessment, science, and research, in support of the binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin, and for other purposes, “Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2019.”
H.R. 1314, (Rep. Don Young, R-AK) To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, and for other purposes, “Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act Amendments of 2019.”
H.R. 2405, (Rep. Jared Huffman, D-CA) To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes, “National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2019.”
H.R. 3541, (Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-CA) To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a coastal climate change adaptation preparedness and response program, and for other purposes. “Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act.
H.R. 3596, (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. 1747, (Rep. Rob Wittman, R-VA) A bill to encourage partnerships among public agencies and other interested persons to promote fish conservation. “National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act”
H.R. 2185, (Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC) A bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to allow the District of Columbia to receive Federal funding under such Act, and for other purposes. “District of Columbia Flood Prevention Act of 2019”
H.R. 2189, (Rep. C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-MD) To require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to establish a constituent-driven program to provide a digital information platform capable of efficiently integrating coastal data with decision-support tools, training, and best practices and to support collection of priority coastal geospatial data to inform and improve local, State, regional, and Federal capacities to manage the coastal region, and for other purposes, “Digital Coast Act.”
H.R. 3115, (Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ) To direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make grants to State and local governments and non-governmental organizations for purposes of carrying out climate-resilient living shoreline projects that protect coastal communities by supporting ecosystem functions and habitats with the use of natural materials and systems, and for other purposes. “Living Shorelines Act of 2019”
Bills Passed by the Committee
H.R. 1014, (Rep. González-Colón, R-PR) A bill 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. 1568, (Rep. Seth Moulton, D-MA), To assist in the conservation of the North Atlantic right whale by supporting and providing financial resources for North Atlantic right whale conservation programs and projects of persons with expertise required for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales, and for other purposes. “SAVE Right Whales Act.”
When it comes to the fossil fuels that make climate change worse, this subcommittee is the center of the action. Among other issues, it oversees oil and gas drilling and coal mining that occurs on public lands and in public waters. Whether it’s protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, our Atlantic and Pacific coastlines, the Eastern Gulf of Mexico or anywhere else, a hearing will probably happen here first, and a bill will probably get referred here first for consideration.
As you can imagine, this subcommittee has been busy on climate change all year.
#PeopleOverPolluters Hearings
February 12 — Climate Change: Preparing for the Energy Transition
March 26 — The Need to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain
April 2 — Protecting Coastal Communities from Offshore Drilling
April 15 — Oil and Gas Development: Impacts on Air Pollution and Sacred Sights
April 30 — Public Lands and our Clean Energy Future
June 11 — Building a 21st Century Offshore Wind Workforce
July 11 — The Future of the Federal Coal Program
July 16 — Impacts of Oil & Gas Development on Climate and Public Health
July 25 — Increasing Renewable Energy on Public Lands
October 17 — The Case for Climate Optimism: Realistic Pathways to Achieving Net Zero
Bills Passed by the House
H.R. 205, (Rep. Francis Rooney, R-FL) A bill to permanently extend the moratorium on oil and gas leasing, preleasing, and related activities in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico, and for other purposes. “Protecting and Securing Florida’s Coastline Act of 2019”
H.R. 1146, (Rep. Jared Huffman, D-CA) A bill to repeal the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil and gas program, and for other purposes. “Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act of 2019.”
H.R. 1941, (Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-SC) A bill prohibiting the Department of the Interior from leasing or preleasing any tract for oil and gas in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf planning area (North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and the Straits of Florida) or the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf planning area (Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California), and for other purposes. “Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act”
Bills Passed by the Committee
H.R. 1014, (Rep. Gonzalez-Colon) A bill 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. 3794 (Rep. Gosar / Levin) A bill to promote the development of renewable energy on public lands, and for other purposes. “Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act”
Videos, Press Conferences and Public Outreach
July 11 Video: The Human Impacts of Coal Mining
Sept 11 Press conference on protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Letters Sent
May 23: To DOI Secretary David Bernhardt with Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) requesting that he reject the Environmental Assessment released by the Bureau of Land Management for the restart of the federal coal program and to require BLM to do a full Environmental Impact Statement (a more detailed analysis). The federal coal leasing program is responsible for more than 13 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
July 29: To DOI Secretary David Bernhardt with Reps Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Diana DeGette(D-CO) requesting information on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and planned lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
October 29: To BLM Alaska State Office with Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Jared Huffman (D-Ca) submitting comments to the Willow Master Development Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Willow Plan will have serious ecological and cultural impacts on Alaska’s Western Arctic slope and far-reaching climate impacts, which BLM did not adequately consider in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
This subcommittee considers bills and holds hearings on how our public lands are managed. Climate change isn’t sparing our national parks and monuments, where critical wildlife habitats are being degraded, migration patterns are changing, glaciers are melting and the patterns of nature are being disrupted.
Our national forests are some of our country’s best carbon sinks, especially in places like Tongass National Forest — the largest remaining temperate rainforest on Earth — where old-growth trees lock in carbon that would be released if we allowed new logging. This subcommittee plays a central role in preparing our public lands and waters for impacts we already know are coming, and in limiting the damage we do from here.
Hearings
February 2 — Climate Change and Public Lands: Examining Impacts and Considering Adaptation Opportunities
May 5 — Wildfire Resilient Communities
May 15 — Examining the Impacts of Climate Change on Public Lands Recreation
November 13 — Roads to Ruin: Examining the Impacts of Removing National Forest Roadless
Bills passed by the House
H.R. 823, (Rep. Joe Neguse, D-CO) A bill to provide for the designation of certain wilderness areas, recreation management areas, and conservation areas in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes. “Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act”
H.R. 1373, (Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, D-AZ) A bill to protect, for current and future generations, the watershed, ecosystem, and cultural heritage of the Grand Canyon region in the State of Arizona, and for other purposes. “Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act”
H.R. 2250, (Rep. Jared Huffman, D-CA) A bill to provide for restoration, economic development, recreation, and conservation on Federal lands in Northern California, and for other purposes. “Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act”
H.R. 2546, (Rep. Diana DeGette, D-CO) A bill to designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes. “Colorado Wilderness Act”
H.R. 1487, (Rep. Ted Lieu, D-CA) A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of portions of the Los Angeles coastal area in the State of California to evaluate alternatives for protecting the resources of the coastal area, and for other purposes. “Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Study Act”
H.R. 2199, (Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-CA) A bill To designate certain Federal land in the State of California as wilderness, and for other purposes. “Central Coast Heritage Protection Act”
H.R. 2215, (Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA) A bill to establish as a unit of the National Park System the San Gabriel National Recreation Area in the State of California, and for other purposes. San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act”
H.R. 2642, (Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA) A bill to designate and expand wilderness areas in Olympic National Forest in the State of Washington, and to designate certain rivers in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park as wild and scenic rivers, and for other purposes. “Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act”
H.R. 3195, (Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-NJ*) A bill to provide permanent, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and for other purposes. “Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act”
- Rep. Van Drew was a Democrat when the bill was introduced and voted on, but subsequently switched parties.
Throughout Indian Country, the effects of climate change are already developing. An increase in flooding, wildfire, drought and rising sea levels are all threatening Indigenous people’s way of life, affecting their traditional subsistence hunting and fishing rights as well as their commercial activities and tourism enterprises. This is especially true for tribes along coastal areas, where they are already seeing the change in their coastal lands with extreme flooding. These climate-related disasters are causing Indigenous communities to consider or actively pursue relocation as an adaptation strategy. In other areas, drastic changes in temperature initiated and expanded some natural disasters in environments not prepared to handle the consequences. Climate impacts are also a threat to sacred sites and areas used in religious and traditional ceremonies
There are unique challenges in tribal communities in addressing climate impacts, and the knowledge that Indigenous peoples have accumulated over generations of a historical and cultural connection with the surrounding environment is key to successful climate change adaptation strategies. Indigenous peoples have been proactively identifying and addressing climate impacts, but they face institutional barriers, such as limited access to programs and funding streams, that hinder their effectiveness.
Hearings
February 12 — The Impacts of Climate Change on Tribal Communities
July 11 — Tribal Infrastructure: Roads, Bridges, and Buildings
November 19 — Reviewing the Broken Promises Report: Examining the Chronic Federal Funding Shortfalls in Indian Country
Bills Passed by the House
H.R. 91, (Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR) A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to assess sanitation and safety conditions at Bureau of Indian Affairs facilities that were constructed to provide affected Columbia River Treaty tribes access to traditional fishing grounds and expend funds on construction of facilities and structures to improve those conditions, and for other purposes. “Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act”
Hearings
February 2 — The Denial Playbook: How Industries Manipulate Science and Policy from Climate Change to Public Health
The hearing focused on the many ways the oil and gas industry distorts science and manufactures doubt about the realities of climate change. Witnesses explained how this “denial playbook” has been used before — in the pharmaceutical industry, the NFL, and many others — and how it has helped these industries evade accountability for the harm they’ve caused. The release of internal company documents from Exxon and other companies has given the American people a firsthand view of just how long this deception and manipulation around climate change has been going on.
July 25 — When Science Gets Trumped: Scientific Integrity at the DOI
The hearing looked at all the ways the Trump administration has suppressed, ignored, and silenced science (especially climate science) at the Department of the Interior. One witness was a senior DOI whistleblower who resigned from the federal government after he was removed from a position helping Alaska Native villages prepare for climate change. Another was a National Parks Service climate change scientist who described a coordinated effort to bully and intimidate her into removing references to human climate impacts from a scientific report. Attacks like these have created a culture of fear at Interior, particularly for those trying to conduct science or inform the American public about the realities of climate change.
In the Democratic majority, we handle Puerto Rican issues and issues facing the insular territories — Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands — at the full Committee level. Chair Grijalva understands the need to end the fiscal austerity pushed on the Puerto Rican people, build a more sustainable economy, prepare for and prevent the dangers of climate change, and offer fair levels of governmental support to these historically underserved communities.
Hearings and Events
March 15–18 — Congressional Delegation Trip to Puerto Rico
In 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico with 155 mile-per-hour winds. The Trump administration has done almost nothing in response, and economic revitalization (without meaningful federal assistance) has been very slow. The island’s energy grid needs to be rebuilt, preferably with a focus on solar power and other renewable energy sources rather than the previous grid’s reliance on oil for fuel.
This congressional delegation to Puerto Rico included a congressional listening session with the public to discuss delays in disaster recovery efforts and other issues of concern. Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) led the trip along with Reps. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-P.R.).
April 9 — Full Committee Hearing: The Status of the Rebuilding and Privatization of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)
The hearing focused on the importance of PREPA transitioning to renewable energy sources as part of Puerto Rico’s rebuilding process.
July 29 — August 10 — Staff Delegation Trip to the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam
The Northern Mariana Islands suffered major damage in 2018 from Super Typhoon Yutu. Staffers from the committees on Natural Resources, Homeland Security, and Education & Labor visited impacted sites, observed the damage and discussed the typhoon’s effects with local experts and policymakers.
September 12–16 — Congressional Delegation Trip to Puerto Rico
Chair Grijalva visited Puerto Rico a second time to review the progress of reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Maria. The trip included a visit to Casa Pueblo in the Adjuntas community to learn more about innovative solar energy initiatives and a visit to the town of Loiza to learn about the local impacts of coastal erosion.
September 26 — Full Committee Hearing: Sustaining U.S. Pacific Insular Relationships
The hearing featured discussion of the importance of assisting the Freely Associated States of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia build resilience to address climate change and disaster response. Our partners in the Pacific Islands are prone to earthquakes and volcanoes, which according to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs could be exacerbated by climate change.
Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and leaders from the Natural Resources Committee introduced their flagship legislation to fight the climate crisis at a press conference on Capitol Hill on December 17, 2019. Original cosponsors and supporters from the advocacy community hailed the introduction of H.R. 5435, the American Public Lands and Waters Climate Solution Act, which directs the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from public lands and waters by 2040.
This legislation is the result of a year of fact-finding and listening, and it’s the strongest plan we have to fight the climate crisis with every tool at this Committee’s disposal. This major bill will make our energy supply, and our economy, more sustainable and more climate-friendly — not just today, but far into the future.
The American Public Lands and Waters Climate Solution Act tackles this head-on, putting the United States on a path to reaching “net-zero” climate-harming emissions from public lands and waters by 2040. Net-zero means that for every ton of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, a ton of carbon dioxide must be removed from the atmosphere, either through terrestrial carbon sequestration or permanent geologic storage, or avoided through the production of renewable energy.
Original cosponsors of the legislation include Vice-Chair Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), Rep. Gregorio Sablan (D-CNMI), Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.). The bill is endorsed by The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, Oceana and Earthworks.
Read more about #OurClimateSolution in the Medium Post that provides a deep dive into the legislation.
At the Natural Resources Committee, we don’t just hold hearings and vote on bills — we engage with stakeholders, youth leaders, advocates and members of the public as often as possible. Our legislation and oversight are informed by what the American people want, not just what lobbyists want. We hold roundtables, public forums, site visits, and other outreach events on a regular basis to learn more about the issues in our jurisdiction, and no issue is more important to us than climate change.
Feb. 26 — Environmental Grantmakers Association Conference
Natural Resources staff participated in EGA’s panel discussions. EGA members listened and learned from committee leaders and new voices from the 116th Congress on the environmental challenges and opportunities ahead.
Feb. 28 — Climate Briefing w/ NRDC & World Resources Institute
The Natural Resources Defense Council and the World Resources Institute briefed staff on the latest key climate reports, including the Fourth National Climate Assessment and the IPCC Special Report. The briefing helped staff understand key findings and informed legislative and oversight priorities.
March 15 — Congressional Delegation Visit to Puerto Rico
Chair Grijalva held a number of public events as part of the congressional delegation visit to Puerto Rico. Events focused on community resiliency, climate adaptation, and the impact of climate change on environmental justice communities
March 28 — MobilizeGreen Reception
Natural Resources staff delivered a presentation at MobilizeGreen on congressional and federal agency careers focused on climate change that young students can pursue.
April 2 — Hunter and Angler Roundtable
Natural Resources staff held a roundtable conversation with hunting and angling advocates on resilient ecosystems and wildlife management in a changing climate.
May 22 — Asian American and Pacific Islander Forum
Natural Resources Committee Democrats held a forum during Asian American Heritage Month to recognize that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been on the front lines of combating climate change and to explore the countless contributions that Asian American and Pacific Island leaders have made to the environmental and conservation movements.
June 26 — Congressional Convening on Environmental Justice
Chair Grijalva and Rep. A. Donald McEachin hosted a first of its kind Congressional Convening on Environmental Justice. The event brought together hundreds of community advocates and champions of environmental justice from across the country, along with countless congressional staff and other important stakeholders for a first-of-its-kind conversation on how best we can continue to elevate environmental justice concerns to the forefront of the policy agenda. We heard from experts in the field of environmental justice, community leaders, policymakers, and other important voices that helped keep focus on developing real solutions in partnership with those communities that are most impacted by taking a community-led, community-driven approach.
June 17 — Union of Concerned Scientists Briefing on Equitable Outcomes of Energy Infrastructure Projects
Natural Resources staff participated in a Union of Concerned Scientists briefing on equitable policy design for energy storage. The briefing included stakeholders from the environmental justice community to discuss how energy infrastructure can make communities more resilient and better adapted to a changing climate in an equitable manner.
October 23 — CHC Hispanic Heritage Month Briefing: Recognizing Our Presence in the Climate Movement
Natural Resources staff coordinated a briefing in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus focused on the role of Latino communities in developing action on hurricanes, wildfires, and drought as a result of climate change.
October 24 — Equitable & Justice Climate Platform Briefings
Natural Resources staff worked with the Equitable & Just Climate Platform group to hold a series of briefings with the committees on Natural Resources, Energy & Commerce, and Select Committee on the Climate Crisis to discuss how the group’s principles aligned with current committee activities to address the climate crisis.
