AIR POLLUTION related term(s) Clean Air Act; Ecology and Environment; Pollution

Bills and resolutions

Aviation: establish program to track potential sources of airborne foreign object debris to prevent collision of aircraft with such debris (see H.R. 8854), H6141 [3DE]

Climate: ban greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants, stop hydraulic fracking, ban crude oil and natural gas exports, and restrict new liquified natural gas terminal siting or construction (see H.R. 8312), H4542 [17SE]

——— impose sanctions relative to significant actions that exacerbate climate change and reinforce comprehensive efforts to limit global average temperature rise (see H.R. 5625), H324 [16JA]

——— prepare U.S. for impacts of climate change (see S. 4736), S5865 [24SE]

Conservation of natural resources: establish a national goal on conserving U.S. lands and oceans (see H. Res. 835), H935 [6FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: conduct surveys to collect data on prevention, reduction, and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration, and forest wood and tree carbon sequestration (see S. 4845), S6403 [22OC]

——— create permanent payments within Environmental Quality Incentives Program for soil health practices and carbon sequestration monitoring (see S. 4850), S6414 [23OC]

——— develop program to reduce barriers to entry for farmers, ranchers, and private forests landowners in certain private carbon credit markets (see S. 3894), S2734 [4JN] (see H.R. 7393), H2593 [26JN]

Dept. of Defense: include information on exposure to open burn pits in postdeployment health reassessments of members of the Armed Forces (see H.R. 7598), H3083 [13JY]

——— phase-in zero-emission non-tactical vehicles and reduce petroleum consumption (see H.R. 6932), H2269 [19MY]

——— provide budget information for incinerators and waste-to-energy waste disposal alternatives to burn pits (see H.R. 7599), H3083 [13JY]

——— provide medical providers mandatory training on potential health effects of burn pits (see H.R. 7596), H3083 [13JY]

——— report to Congress on research and studies being conducted or funded to assess health effects of burn pits (see H.R. 7597), H3083 [13JY]

Dept. of Education: award grants to improve indoor air quality in elementary and secondary schools in response to coronavirus public health emergency using proven technologies (see S. 4782), S6027 [1OC]

——— improve air quality in schools by providing grants to purchase, install, and maintain commercial air filters (see S. 3364), S1219 [27FE] (see H.R. 6025), H1422 [28FE]

Dept. of Energy: advance development and commercialization of clean power technology through innovation and clean energy standards (see H.R. 9054), H9166 [28DE]

——— establish a grant program for States to provide incentives to natural gas distribution companies for improvement of natural gas distribution systems (see H.R. 5542), H11 [7JA]

——— establish and support research, development, and demonstration of advanced carbon capture and utilization technologies at natural gas powerplants (see H.R. 5864), H1124 [12FE]

——— establish grant program for tree planting to reduce residential energy consumption (see S. 4038), S3156 [23JN] (see H.R. 8291), H4541 [17SE]

——— establish Office of Advanced Clean Energy Technologies and manage network of Regional Energy Innovation and Development Institutes to advance regional decarbonization strategies (see H.R. 7237), H2403 [18JN]

——— establish programs and authorities to facilitate U.S. commercial application of clean energy and related technologies (see S. 4725), S5865 [24SE] (see H.R. 8273), H4490 [16SE]

——— establish programs for carbon dioxide capture, transport, utilization, and storage (see H.R. 8995), H7228 [16DE]

——— promote domestic manufacture and use of advanced, fuel efficient and zero emission vehicles, encourage electrification of transportation sector, create jobs, and improve air quality (see H.R. 5545), H12 [7JA]

——— promote domestic manufacture of low- and zero-emission vehicles and development of electric vehicle charging networks, job creation, improved air quality, and climate protection (see H.R. 5558), H63 [8JA]

——— provide financial assistance to power companies to advance innovation in and deployment of zero-emission electricity technology (see H.R. 7516), H3073 [9JY]

Dept. of the Interior: require entities extracting fossil fuels on Federal lands record and disclose publicly the sources and amounts of greenhouse gases emitted (see H.R. 5636), H325 [16JA]

Dept. of Transportation: authorize appropriations for Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance Program (see S. 4025), S3126 [22JN]

——— carry out competitive grant and cost-sharing agreement program for eligible entities to carry out projects to produce, transport, blend, or store sustainable aviation fuel (see H.R. 8769), H5931 [18NO]

——— enter into an agreement with National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study climate change mitigation efforts relative to civil aviation and aerospace industries (see H.R. 5977), H1224 [26FE]

——— modify apportionment formula for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (see H.R. 6842), H1992 [12MY]

——— provide loans for acquisition of electric buses and related infrastructure (see H.R. 8447), H5104 [30SE]

——— provide vouchers to air carriers to purchase more fuel-efficient and quieter aircraft (see H.R. 8589), H5682 [13OC]

——— publish national strategic action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector (see H.R. 6171), H1587 [10MR]

——— require transportation planners to consider projects and strategies to improve safe and convenient access to employment by all modes of travel for all users (see H.R. 6464), H1878 [7AP]

——— require transportation planners to consider projects and strategies to improve safe and convenient access to services by all modes of travel for all users (see H.R. 6463), H1878 [7AP]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: expand scope of open burn pit registry (see H.R. 7600), H3083 [13JY]

——— notify Congress regularly of reported cases of burn pit exposure (see S. 3885), S2697 [3JN] (see H.R. 7072), H2362 [1JN]

——— provide for presumption of service connection for certain diseases associated with exposure to burn pits and other toxins (see S. 4572), S5609 [15SE] (see H.R. 8261), H4427 [15SE]

——— provide for presumption of service connection for illnesses associated with firefighting (see H.R. 5637), H325 [16JA]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: evaluate Armed Forces members and veterans with coronavirus for potential exposure to open burn pits or other airborne contaminants and study impact of virus on such individuals (see S. 3868), S2649 [2JN] (see H.R. 7684), H3586 [20JY]

Ecology and environment: establish forestry policies to reduce atmospheric carbon, support One Trillion Trees Initiative, and encourage sustainable management, restoration, and conservation of global habitats (see S. 4985), S7327 [9DE]

EPA: approve certain advanced biofuel registrations, require consideration of certain advanced biofuel pathways, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (see H.R. 8759), H5867 [17NO]

——— authorize to enter into cooperative agreements with States to carry out grant programs to assist in remediation and relocation efforts relative to hazardous air pollution (see H.R. 8948), H7147 [10DE]

——— award grants to certain communities to participate in decision making process for release of hazardous air pollutants and siting of petrochemical and solid waste disposal facilities (see H.R. 5842), H1045 [11FE]

——— award grants to eligible entities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at ports (see H.R. 7304), H2418 [24JN]

——— conduct feasibility study on use of shadow price of carbon in Federal spending decisions to take into account resulting carbon dioxide emissions (see H.R. 7399), H2672 [29JN]

——— conduct study on mercury vapor released from synthetic flooring made using phenylmercuric acetate (see S. 4934), S7139 [1DE]

——— continue to carry out certain programs relative to environmental justice (see S. 3680), S2342 [11MY] (see H.R. 6692), H1971 [1MY]

——— create a national zero-emission vehicle standard (see S. 4823), S6329 [20OC] (see H.R. 8635), H5698 [20OC]

——— establish program to award grants to eligible entities to purchase, and as applicable install, zero emissions port equipment and technology (see S. 4046), S3156 [23JN] (see H.R. 7024), H2320 [27MY]

——— implement fenceline monitoring for air pollutants at facilities contributing to high local cancer rates and other health threats and expand and strengthen national ambient air quality monitoring network (see S. 4369), S4592 [29JY] (see H.R. 7822), H3979 [29JY]

——— incorporate climate change into oversight plans for Superfund sites (see H.R. 8915), H7110 [9DE]

——— promulgate regulations establishing standards for emissions of greenhouse gases from aircraft (see H.R. 6606), H1956 [23AP]

——— promulgate regulations on disposal of materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or aqueous film forming foam (see H.R. 5550), H12 [7JA]

——— regulate large-scale emissions of methane and natural gas (see S. 4523), S5399 [12AU]

——— require to continue to update and make publicly available EJScreen or an equivalent tool for environmental justice mapping and screening (see S. 3633), S2290 [6MY] (see H.R. 6826), H1992 [12MY]

——— set and meet a national goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by not later than 2050 (see S. 3269), S989 [11FE]

Federal agencies and departments: establish cost of climate pollution from greenhouse gases for carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide to be used by Federal agencies (see H.R. 8174), H4325 [4SE]

——— prohibit from purchasing or leasing new vehicles that are not zero-emission vehicles (see H.R. 5653), H330 [17JA]

——— submit plans for responding to, mitigating, and adapting to climate change (see H.R. 8429), H5051 [29SE]

FEMA: authorize transitional sheltering assistance for individuals who live in areas with unhealthy air quality caused by wildfires (see H.R. 8421), H5051 [29SE]

Financial Stability Oversight Council: establish Advisory Committee on Climate Risk (see S. 5041), S7589 [17DE]

Forests: establish forest management, reforestation, and utilization practices which lead to sequestration of greenhouse gases (see H.R. 5859), H1123 [12FE]

GAO: coordinate with National Academy of Sciences to study alternatives for nonpartisan congressional office or agency to project net greenhouse gas emissions likely to be caused by Federal legislation (see H.R. 8613), H5693 [16OC]

——— prepare report on Dept. of Defense progress toward reaching net zero goals (see H.R. 7169), H2388 [11JN]

Government: establish National Biodiversity Strategy (see H. Res. 1247), H6046 [2DE]

Government regulations: establish tradeable performance standard covering emissions from electricity generation and industrial sectors (see H.R. 8582), H5682 [13OC]

Hazardous substances: establish national mercury monitoring program to protect human health, safeguard fisheries, and track environmental effects of emissions reductions (see H.R. 7621), H3088 [16JY]

Minnesota: withdraw from mineral exploration Federal lands and waters in the Rainy River Watershed, including in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageurs National Park, and Superior National Forest (see H.R. 5598), H238 [14JA]

Motor vehicles: clarify low or no emission vehicle project eligibility for bus and bus facility competitive grants (see S. 3373), S1256 [2MR]

——— ensure that vehicles in Federal fleets comply with certain low greenhouse gas emission standards (see H.R. 5554), H63 [8JA]

——— promote low-carbon, high-octane fuels to protect public health and to improve vehicle efficiency and performance (see H.R. 8371), H4957 [24SE]

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: study and report on Federal research agenda to advance understanding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (see H.R. 7348), H2514 [25JN]

National Clean Energy Week: designate (see S. Res. 705), S5706 [17SE] (see H. Res. 1130), H4641 [21SE]

National objectives: ensure climate and environmental justice accountability (see S. 4513), S5271 [6AU] (see H.R. 8019), H4230 [11AU]

National Science and Technology Council: establish Committee on Large-Scale Carbon Management to implement Federal Carbon Removal Initiative (see S. 4341), S4544 [28JY]

——— establish Committee on Large-Scale Carbon Management To Implement Federal Carbon Removal Initiative (see H.R. 8671), H5705 [23OC]

Natural gas: reduce methane emissions from flaring and venting natural gas during oil and natural gas production activities (see H.R. 7435), H2982 [30JN]

NOAA: create map and inventory of coastal blue carbon ecosystems and their sequestration potential, study effects of environmental stressors on carbon sequestration, and protect and restore certain ecosystems (see S. 3939), S2932 [11JN] (see H.R. 5589), H207 [13JA]

——— provide for ocean-based solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global warming, make coastal zones more resilient, and provide for conservation and restoration of habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammals and fish (see S. 5056), S7590 [17DE] (see H.R. 8632), H5698 [20OC]

Pollution: provide supplemental appropriations for legacy pollution cleanup, replace lead drinking water service lines, and prohibit issuance of new major source air pollution permits in overburdened communities (see S. 4617), S5705 [17SE] (see H.R. 8271), H4490 [16SE]

Postal Service: authorize funding for purchase of electric or zero-emission vehicles (see H.R. 7969), H4224 [7AU]

Taxation: allow carbon capture credit to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of carbon oxide sequestration tax credit (see H.R. 7896), H4212 [31JY]

——— establish a carbon fee to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (see S. 4484), S5270 [6AU]

——— extend and allow elective payment of tax credit for carbon oxide sequestration (see H.R. 8858), H6141 [3DE]

——— extend carbon oxide sequestration credit (see S. 4966), S7240 [7DE]

——— increase credit for carbon dioxide sequestration for direct air capture facilities (see H.R. 5883), H1124 [12FE]

——— provide for issuance of exempt facility bonds for zero-emission vehicle infrastructure (see H.R. 7318), H2419 [24JN]

——— provide incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency (see H.R. 7330), H2513 [25JN]

——— provide payroll tax credit to businesses and nonprofit organizations that purchase or upgrade ventilation and air filtration systems to help prevent spread of coronavirus and other airborne communicable diseases (see S. 5067), S7713 [18DE]

Technology: advance technologies for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (see H.R. 5865), H1124 [12FE]

U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change: anniversary of Paris Agreement adoption (see H. Res. 1260), H7147 [10DE]

U.S.-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership: establish (see S. 4759), S5948 [30SE]

Essays

State of the Union: Caleb Matosky, S4131 [1JY]

——— Samuel Dooley, S4130 [1JY]

Remarks in House

Agriculture: impact of farming on carbon sequestration, H1594 [11MR]

Climate: effects of climate change, H1215–H1219 [26FE], H2934, H2935, H2937 [30JN], H3819 [23JY]

——— impact of climate change on frequency of wildfires, H4475 [16SE]

——— recognize that climate change most severely impacts vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and that it is a U.S. responsibility to work with global partners to promote environmental and climate justice (H. Res. 367), H1215–H1219 [26FE]

Climate Action Rebate Fund: create to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide rebates to consumers, encourage innovation of clean energy technologies, and create new economic opportunities (H.R. 4051), H4475 [16SE]

Committee on the Climate Crisis (House, Select): release of ‘‘Solving the Climate Crisis—The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America’’ report, H2675, H2676, H2677, H2679, H2680 [30JN]

Council on Environmental Quality: prohibit funding to implement, administer, or enforce final rule revising National Environmental Policy Act regulations, H3815 [23JY]

Dept. of Agriculture: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Agriculture and Food Research Initiative funding, H3804 [23JY]

Dept. of Defense: Airborne Hazard and Burn Pit Center of Excellence funding, H3802 [23JY]

——— include information on exposure to open burn pits in postdeployment health reassessments of members of the Armed Forces, H3104 [20JY]

——— prohibit funding for use of open burn pits, H3099 [20JY]

——— provide medical providers mandatory training on potential health effects of burn pits, H3104 [20JY]

——— report to Congress on research and studies being conducted or funded to assess the health effects of burn pits, H3104 [20JY]

Dept. of Energy: carry out Clean Cities Coalition Program (H.R. 5518), H1666 [12MR]

——— conduct program to research, develop, and design efficient and sustainable materials and technology to be used in sustainable passenger and commercial vehicles, H4909 [24SE]

——— prioritize funding, research, and development relative to clean, renewable, or zero emission energy sources, H4909 [24SE]

Dept. of Transportation: require transportation planners to consider projects and strategies to improve safe and convenient access to employment by all modes of travel for all users (H.R. 6464), E356 [7AP]

——— require transportation planners to consider projects and strategies to improve safe and convenient access to services by all modes of travel for all users (H.R. 6463), E352 [7AP]

——— study financing options for national network of electric vehicle chargers, H2946 [30JN]

——— study impact of autonomous vehicles on transportation, air quality, and climate and energy consumption, H2950 [30JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: expand scope of open burn pit registry, H3104 [20JY], H3802 [23JY]

——— provide for a presumption of service connection for certain diseases in veterans who were exposed to burn pits (H.R. 4574), H641 [29JA]

——— provide for eligibility of certain individuals exposed to burn pits for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care (H.R. 4137), H641 [29JA]

——— provide for presumption of service connection for illnesses associated with firefighting (H.R. 5637), H740 [30JA]

EPA: conduct research on wildfire smoke, H4867 [23SE]

——— conduct research on wildfire smoke (H.R. 4924), H4494 [17SE]

——— funding to identify communities suffering from serious environmental law violations, implement clean up of such communities, and study health impact of multiple sources of pollution, H4932 [24SE]

——— improve wildfire smoke emissions modeling, develop smoke forecasts, and collect data and coordinate research on impacts of acute air pollution exposure from wildfires, H4941 [24SE]

——— prohibit funding to enforce Clean Air Act provisions relative to international air pollution, H3820 [23JY]

——— prohibit funding to finalize, implement, or enforce Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter rule, H3825, H3826 [23JY]

——— require determinations of newly classified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances be made publicly available on agency website within 60 days of final determination, H135, H136 [9JA]

——— require immediate listing of most dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act and assess other substances within 5 years, H140 [9JA]

FAA: provide funding for airport emission reduction projects, noise mitigation and other projects to reduce adverse effects on the environment and surrounding communities, H2962 [30JN]

Federal agencies and departments: address environmental justice through agency actions and permitting decisions and strengthen legal protections against environmental injustice for low-income and minority communities, H4869 [23SE]

Forests: establish forest management, reforestation, and utilization practices which lead to sequestration of greenhouse gases (H.R. 5859), H4435 [16SE]

GAO: prepare report on Dept. of Defense progress toward reaching net zero goals (H.R. 7169), E532 [11JN]

Green New Deal: address climate change, invest in infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gases and agricultural and hazardous waste, convert to clean energy, create jobs, and protect vulnerable communities (H. Res. 109), H1215–H1219 [26FE]

Minnesota: prohibit funding for review or approval of mine plan within Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest, E647 [20JY]

National Academy of Sciences: study efficacy of carbon capture technology and identify industries where energy efficiency improves from such technology, H4911 [24SE]

National Clean Energy Week: designate (H. Res. 565), H4725 [23SE]

National Climate Bank: establish, H2974 [30JN]

National Environmental Policy Act: proposed rule exempting certain infrastructure projects from environmental review regulations, H243 [15JA]

——— reform, H1042 [11FE]

Power resources: codify EPA emission standards rule requiring capture of methane gas produced from oil and gas wells and reinstate and enhance BLM rule limiting release of methane gas by energy producers on public lands, H4932 [24SE]

Research: conduct study on science of background ozone and its impact on poor air quality and provide recommendations to address pollution, H4720 [23SE]

Science: potential impact of carbon capture technology on the environment, H1154 [13FE], H1497–H1499 [4MR]

Trump, President: evaluation of administration relative to environmental policy, H1229 [27FE]

U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change: authorizing appropriations for Green Climate Fund (H.R. 4986), H1215 [26FE]

——— prohibit funding to advance withdrawal from Paris Agreement and require the President to develop a plan for the U.S. to meet its pollution reduction goals under such agreement (H.R. 9), H17 [8JA], H1215 [26FE], H3652 [22JY]

Remarks in Senate

Climate: effects of climate change, S51–S53 [7JA], S186–S189 [14JA], S982–S984 [11FE], S1290–S1292 [3MR], S1457 [4MR], S1694–S1696 [11MR], S4717 [4AU], S5541 [10SE], S5579, S5599–S5601 [15SE], S5810–S5812 [23SE], S5928 [30SE], S6315–S6318 [20OC], S6633 [10NO], S7165–S7167 [2DE]

——— efforts of corporations and special interest groups to deny and discredit science behind climate change, S7319 [9DE]

——— efforts of fossil fuel industry to deny and discredit science behind climate change, S51–S53 [7JA], S982–S984 [11FE], S1290–S1292 [3MR], S4717 [4AU], S5541 [10SE], S7166 [2DE]

——— express that climate change is real, it is impacted by human activity, and Congress should take immediate action to address the problem (S.J. Res. 9), S5676 [16SE]

——— impact of climate change on frequency of wildfires, S5579, S5599 [15SE], S5821 [23SE]

Dept. of Transportation: authorize funds for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs, expedite environmental reviews for projects, improve resiliency, and reduce carbon emissions (S. 2302), S1009 [12FE], S1459 [4MR], S2582 [21MY]

Disasters: authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency (S. 1814), S5677 [16SE]

EPA: disapprove rule repealing Clean Power Plan regulations relative to greenhouse gas emissions from powerplants (S.J. Res. 53), S1592 [5MR]

——— reaffirm final determination relative to greenhouse gas emissions standards for light-duty vehicles (S. 1022), S6385 [22OC]

——— reauthorize diesel emissions reduction program, S7913, S7915, S7916 [21DE]

——— set and meet a national goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by not later than 2050 (S. 3269), S1067 [13FE]

——— support carbon utilization and direct air capture research and facilitate permitting and development of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration projects and carbon dioxide pipelines, S4174 [2JY], S7913, S7915, S7916 [21DE]

Financial Stability Oversight Council: establish Advisory Committee on Climate Risk (S. 5041), S7592 [17DE]

National Clean Energy Week: designate (S. Res. 705), S5715 [17SE]

Power resources: transition away from fossil fuel sources of energy to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2050 (H.R. 5221), S1019 [12FE]

Senate: legislative priorities, S1650 [10MR]

Trump, President: evaluation of administration relative to environmental policy, S5593 [15SE]

——— evaluation of climate change policies, S5541 [10SE], S5579 [15SE]

Wildfires: provide wildfire smoke mitigation assistance to States and units of local government (S. 1813), S5677 [16SE]

Reports filed

America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act: Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate) (S. 2302) (S. Rept. 116–200), S93 [8JA]

Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 5598) (H. Rept. 116–672), H7277 [18DE]

Clean Industrial Technology (CIT) Act: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (House) (H.R. 4230) (H. Rept. 116–477), H4236 [14AU]

Climate Risk Disclosure Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 3623) (H. Rept. 116–563), H5710 [27OC]

Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate) (S. 2950), S5608 [15SE]

Texts of

H. Res. 109, address climate change, invest in infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gases and agricultural and hazardous waste, convert to clean energy, create jobs, and protect vulnerable communities in Green New Deal, H1217 [26FE]

S. 4484, America’s Clean Future Fund Act, S5277–S5284 [6AU]

S. Res. 705, National Clean Energy Week, S5712 [17SE]