[House Report 117-662]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 481
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 117-662
_______________________________________________________________________
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES
of the
SELECT COMMITTEE ON CLIMATE CRISIS
during the
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
JANUARY 3, 2021-JANUARY 2, 2022
SECOND SESSION
JANUARY 3, 2022-JANUARY 2, 2023
together with
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
December 22, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
50-136 WASHINGTON : 2023
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Committee Membership
KATHY CASTOR, Florida, Chair
Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Garret Graves, Louisiana, Ranking
Julia Brownley, Calfornia Member
Jared Huffman, California Gary Palmer, Alabama
A. Donald McEachin, Virginia Buddy Carter, Georgia
Mike Levin, California Carol Miller, West Virginia
Sean Casten, Illinois Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota
Joe Neguse, Colorado Dan Crenshaw, Texas
Veronica Escobar, Texas Anthony Gonzalez, Ohio
COMMITTEE STAFF
Majority Committee Staff
Ana Unruh Cohen, Staff Director
Eric Fins, Deputy Staff Director
Dana Gansman, Clerk and Director of Operations
Melvin Felix, Communications Director
Fatima Maria Ahmad, Senior Counsel
Samantha Medlock, Senior Counsel
Rebecca Jablonski-Diehl, Senior Professional Staff
Grace Chan, Professional Staff
Ebadullah Ebadi, Policy Assistant
Sebastian Pons, Staff Assistant
Mackenzie Brown, Shared Employee
Sydney Devitt, Shared Employee
Mackenzie Landa, Counsel*
Jakob Lindaas, Professional Staff*
Jacob Hicks, Digital Director*
Rachel St. Louis, Operations and Press Assistant*
Zach Pritchard, Fellow*
Loyle Campbell, Fello*
Minority Committee Staff
Sarah T. Jorgenson, Staff Director
Sophia Varnasidis, Senior Policy Advisor
Lou Hrkman, Senior Policy Advisor
Kirby Struhar, Legislative Aide and Research Analyst
Margaret Ayrea, Shared Employee
Marty Hall, Staff Director*
George David Banks, Chief Strategist*
Sarah Matthews, Communications Director*
Marcie Smith, Professional Staff*
Adele Borne, Legislative Aide and Research Analyst*
Dustin Davidson, Shared Employee*
----------
*Staffer has departed Committee at time of transmittal of report.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis,
Washington, DC, December 22, 2022.
Hon. Cheryl L. Johnson,
Clerk, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Ms. Johnson: Pursuant to clause 1(d) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, I hereby submit a Report
on the activities of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
for the 117th Congress.
This report summarizes the specific activities of the
Select Committee and encompasses the period of January 3, 2021
through January 2, 2023. Also contained herein is a submission
from the Democratic Majority Members which states ``Additional
Views.''
Sincerely,
Kathy Castor,
Chair.
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Letter of Transmittal............................................ V
Committee Membership............................................. II
Committee Organization........................................... 1
Jurisdiction of the Select Committee............................. 1
Rules for the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis............. 2
Summary of Committee Activities.................................. 3
Appendices:
I. Printed Meetings and Hearings...................................21
II. Additional Views................................................23
Union Calendar No. 481
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 117-662
======================================================================
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS,
117TH CONGRESS
_______
December 22, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Castor, from the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
Committee Organization
On March 19, 2021, via the Committee's WebEx platform, the
Select Committee met for an organizational meeting of the 117th
Congress under the direction of Chair Kathy Castor. The
Committee membership was 16 Members with 9 Democrats and 7
Republicans. The Committee adopted the rules of the Committee
for the 117th Congress.
Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the Select Committee on the Climate
Crisis, as prescribed by Clause 104(f) of rule XI of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, is as follows:
(A) Legislative Jurisdiction--The Select Committee shall
not have legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority
to take legislative action on any bill or resolution.
(B) Investigative Jurisdiction--The sole authority of the
Select Committee shall be to investigate, study, make findings,
and develop recommendations on policies, strategies, and
innovations to achieve substantial and permanent reductions in
pollution and other activities that contribute to the climate
crisis which will honor our responsibility to be good stewards
of the planet for future generations and advance environmental
justice. The Select Committee may, at its discretion, hold
public hearings in connection with any aspect of its
investigative functions.
Rules
(Adopted March 19, 2021)
RULE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) The provisions of section 4(d) of H. Res. 8 (117th
Congress) governing the proceedings of the Select Committee on
the Climate Crisis (hereinafter referred to as the
``Committee'') are hereby incorporated by reference and nothing
herein shall be construed as superseding any provision of that
section. The Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply
to the Committee to the extent that they are not inconsistent
with that title.
(b) The rules of the Committee shall be made publicly
available in electronic form and published in the Congressional
Record not later than 30 days after the Committee adopts its
rules.
RULE 2. MEETINGS
(a) In General.--
(1) The regular meeting date of the Committee shall be the
first Tuesday of every month when the House is in session in
accordance with clause 2(b) of rule XI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives. If the House is not in session on the
first Tuesday of a month, the regular meeting date shall be the
third Tuesday of that month. A regular meeting of the Committee
may be dispensed with if, in the judgment of the Chair of the
Committee, there is no need for the meeting.
(2) Additional meetings may be called by the Chair of the
Committee as the Chair considers necessary, in accordance with
clause 2(g)(3) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
(b) Meetings of the Committee shall be called to order and
presided over by the Chair or, in the Chair's absence, by a
member designated by the Chair to carry out such duties.
(c) Notification.--
(1) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(3) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House, the Chair shall make a public announcement of the
date, place, and subject matter of a Committee meeting (other
than a hearing), which may not commence earlier than the third
calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays
except when the House is in session on such a day) on which
members have notice thereof.
(2) The agenda for each Committee meeting, setting out all
items of business to be considered, shall be established by the
Chair and provided to each member of the Committee at least 36
hours (exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays
except when the House is in session on such days) in advance of
the commencement of such meeting.
(d) The requirements of paragraph (c) may be waived by a
majority vote of those present, a quorum being present, or by
the Chair with the concurrence of the Ranking Member. If the
requirements of paragraph (c) are waived, the Chair shall
notify the members of the Committee at the earliest possible
time.
RULE 3. HEARINGS
(a) Announcement of Hearings.--
(1) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(3) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House, the Chair shall announce the date, time, place, and
subject matter of any hearing of the Committee, which may not
commence earlier than one week after such notice.
(2) A hearing may commence sooner than specified in (a)(1)
if the Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking Member,
determines there is good cause or the Committee so determines
by majority vote, a quorum being present. The Chair shall
announce the hearing at the earliest possible time.
(b) Written Witness Statement; Oral Testimony.--
(1) Filing of Statement.--To the greatest extent
practicable, each witness who is to appear before the Committee
shall file with the clerk of the Committee a written statement
of his or her proposed testimony at least two business days in
advance of his or her appearance. The clerk of the Committee
shall distribute this testimony to the Members of the Committee
as soon as is practicable and at least one business day before
the hearing. The requirements of this subparagraph may be
waived or modified by the Chair after consultation with the
Ranking Member.
(2) Each witness shall limit his or her oral presentation
of testimony to no more than five minutes.
(3) Truth in Testimony.--Each witness appearing in a
nongovernmental capacity shall include with the written
statement of his or her proposed testimony a curriculum vitae;
a disclosure of any Federal grants or contracts, or contracts,
or grants, or payments originating with a foreign government,
received during the past 36 months by the witness or by an
entity represented by the witness and related to the subject
matter of the hearing; and a disclosure of whether the witness
is a fiduciary (including, but not limited to, a director,
officer, advisor, or resident agent) of any organization or
entity that has an interest in the subject matter of a hearing.
The disclosure shall include (A) the amount and country of
origin of any payment or contract related to the subject matter
of the hearing originating with a foreign government; and (B)
the amount and country of origin of any payment or contract
related to the subject matter of the hearing originating with a
foreign government.
(4) Availability of Information.--Statements filed under
this paragraph shall be made publicly available in electronic
form not later than one day after the witness appears.
(c) Notification of Subject Matter.--As soon as practicable
but no later than 36 hours before the commencement of a
hearing, the Chair shall make available to the public and all
Members of the Committee a concise summary of the subject
matter under consideration at the hearing, any relevant reports
from departments or agencies on such matters, and a list of
witnesses, including minority witnesses.
(d) Minority Witnesses.--When any hearing is conducted by
the Committee on any measure or matter, the minority party
members on the Committee shall be entitled, upon request to the
Chair by a majority of those members, to call at least one
witness, as selected by the minority members, to testify with
respect to that measure or matter along with witnesses selected
by the Chair.
(e) Opening Statements.--
(1) Chair and Ranking Member.--At any hearing of the
Committee, the Chair and Ranking Member shall each control five
minutes for opening statements. The Chair and Ranking Member
may recognize other members within their respective five
minutes.
(2) Other Members.--The Chair may allow other members of
the Committee to deliver oral opening statements, as
appropriate, with the concurrence of the Ranking Member. Such
statements shall not exceed five minutes in length and are to
be equally distributed between majority and minority members to
the extent practicable given the party makeup of the members
present. Members not recognized by the Chair for oral opening
statements may submit written opening statements for the
record.
(f) Questioning of Witnesses.--The Chair shall initiate the
right to question witnesses before the Committee, followed by
the Ranking Member and all other members thereafter.
(1) Order of Member Recognition.--The right to question the
witnesses before the Committee shall alternate between majority
and minority members. A member of the Committee may question a
witness only when recognized by the Chair for that purpose. The
Chair shall recognize in order of appearance members who were
not present when the meeting was called to order after all
members who were present when the meeting was called to order
have been recognized in the order of seniority on the
Committee.
(2) Procedures for Questioning of Witnesses by Members.--
Each member shall be limited to 5 minutes in the questioning of
witnesses and shall limit his or her remarks to the subject
matter of the hearing. After consultation with the Ranking
Member, the Chair may recognize members who have already had an
opportunity to question the witness for a second period of 5
minutes once each member of the Committee present has been
recognized once for that purpose.
(3) Extended Questioning of Witnesses by Members.--
Following the questioning of witnesses described in (f)(2)
above, the Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking Member or
the Committee by motion, may permit a specified number of
members to question one or more witnesses for a specified
period of time not to exceed 60 minutes in the aggregate,
equally divided between and controlled by the Chair and the
Ranking Member.
(4) Questions for the Record.--Each member may submit to
the Chair additional questions for the record to be answered by
the witnesses who have appeared. Each member shall provide a
copy of the questions in an electronic format to the Committee
no later than 10 business days following a hearing. The Chair
shall transmit all questions received from members of the
Committee to the appropriate witnesses and include the
transmittal letter and the responses from the witnesses in the
hearing record. After consultation with the Ranking Member, the
Chair is authorized to close the hearing record no earlier than
15 business days from the date the questions were transmitted
to the appropriate witnesses.
(g) Hearings of the Committee shall be called to order and
presided over by the Chair or, in the Chair's absence, by a
member designated by the Chair to carry out such duties.
(h) Oaths.--The Chair of the Committee, or a member
designated by the Chair, may administer oaths to any witness
before the Committee. The Chair or his or her designee may
administer the following oath to all witnesses prior to
receiving testimony: ``Do you solemnly swear or affirm, under
penalty of law, that the testimony you are about to give is the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?''
(i) Claims of Privilege.--Claims of common-law privilege
made by witnesses in hearings, or by interviewees in
investigations or inquiries, are applicable only at the
discretion of the Chair, subject to appeal to the Committee.
RULE 4. OPEN PROCEEDINGS
(a) Meetings for the transaction of business and hearings
of the Committee shall be open to the public, including radio,
television, and still photography coverage, unless closed in
accordance with clause 2(g) of rule XI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives.
(b) The audio and video coverage of Committee proceeding
permitted under clause 4 of rule XI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives shall apply to the Committee.
RULE 5. REPORTS
(a) Approval of Official Committee Reports.--Any report
completed pursuant to section 4(d) of H. Res. 8(117th Congress)
that purports to express the views, findings, conclusions, or
recommendations of the Committee must be approved by a majority
vote of the Committee at a meeting at which a quorum is
present, in accordance with Committee Rule 7(a)(3). The total
number of votes cast for and against, and the names of those
voting for and against, shall be included in the Committee
report on the matter.
(b) Notice of Committee Reports.--Any report described in
(a) shall not be considered in the Committee unless the
proposed report has been available to the members of the
Committee for at least three business days before consideration
of such report in the Committee.
(c) Additional Views.--If, at the time of approval of a
report, a member of the Committee gives notice of intent to
file supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views
for inclusion in the report, all members of the Committee shall
be entitled to no less than two business days after such notice
to file such views following clause 2(l) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House.
(d) Availability of Publications.--Pursuant to clause
2(e)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the House, the Committee
shall make its publications available in electronic form to the
maximum extent feasible. Pursuant to section 4(d) of H. Res.
8(117th Congress), the Committee shall make its publications
available to the general public in widely accessible formats
not later than 30 calendar days following the respective dates
for completion.
RULE 6. COMMITTEE RECORDS
(a) Availability.--Documents reflecting the proceedings of
the Committee shall be made publicly available in electronic
form on the Committee's website and in the Committee office for
inspection by the public, as provided in clause 2(e) of rule XI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, within 48 hours
of such recorded vote after each meeting has adjourned,
including a record showing those present at each meeting; and a
record of the vote on any question on which a recorded vote is
demanded, including a description of the motion, order, or
other proposition, the name of each member voting for and each
member voting against such motion, order, or proposition, and
the names of those members of the Committee present but not
voting.
(b) Archived Records.--The records of the Committee
deposited at the National Archives shall be made available for
public use in accordance with rule VII of the Rules of the
House. The Chair shall notify the Ranking Member of any
decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of such
rule, to withhold a record otherwise available. Upon written
request of any member of the Committee, the Chair shall present
the matter to the Committee for a determination, which shall be
subject to the same requirements for conduct of Committee
business under Committee Rule 2.
RULE 7. QUORUMS AND RECORDED VOTES; POSTPONEMENT OF VOTES
(a) Establishment of a Quorum.--
(1) For the purpose of taking testimony and receiving
evidence, no fewer than two members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum.
(2) A majority of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum for those actions for which the Rules of
the House of Representatives require a majority quorum.
(3) A majority of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum for issuing an official Committee report
pursuant to Rule 5 of the Committee rules and section 4(d) of
H. Res. 8(117th Congress).
(4) For the purposes of taking any other action, one-third
of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
(b) Recorded Votes.--A recorded vote may be demanded by
one-fifth of the members present.
(c) Postponement of Votes.--Pursuant to clause 2(h)(4) of
the Rules of the House, the Chair, after consultation with the
Ranking Member, may postpone further proceedings when a
recorded vote is ordered on the question of approving any
measure or matter or adopting an amendment and may resume
proceedings on a postponed vote at any time after reasonable
notice to Members by the Clerk or other designee of the Chair.
When proceedings resume on a postponed question,
notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous
question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to
further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the
question was postponed.
RULE 8. COMMITTEE STAFF
(a) Professional and other staff of the Committee are
subject to the provisions of clause 9 of rule X of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
(b) Majority Staff.--The Chair shall appoint and determine
the remuneration of, and may remove, the employees of the
Committee not assigned to the minority. The staff of the
Committee not assigned to the minority shall be under the
general supervision and direction of the Chair, who shall
establish and assign the duties and responsibilities of such
staff members and delegate such authority as he or she
determines appropriate.
(c) Minority Staff.--The Ranking Member shall appoint and
determine the remuneration of, and may remove, the staff
assigned to the minority within the budget approved for such
purposes. The staff assigned to the minority shall be under the
general supervision and direction of the Ranking Member, who
may delegate any authority he or she determines appropriate.
(d) The Chair and Ranking Member have the right to secure
one or more detailees to assist with the work of the Committee.
RULE 9. BUDGET
(a) The Chair, in consultation with the Ranking Member,
shall prepare a budget providing amounts for staff, committee
travel, field hearings, investigation, and other expenses of
the Committee. Funds authorized for the Committee as provided
in clause 6 of Rule X are for expenses incurred in the
activities of the Committee.
(b) Consistent with clause 9 of rule X, the Chair shall
designate an amount equal to 1/3 of the amount provided to the
Committee in the primary expense resolution adopted by the
House of Representatives to be under the direction of the
Ranking Member for the compensation of the minority staff,
travel expenses of minority members and staff, and minority
office expenses. All expenses of minority members and staff
shall be paid for out of the amount so set aside.
RULE 10. TRAVEL
(a) The Chair may authorize travel for any member and any
staff member of the Committee in connection with activities or
subject matters under the general jurisdiction of the
Committee. Travel to be reimbursed from funds set aside for the
Committee for any member of staff member shall be paid only
upon the prior authorization of the Chair. Before such
authorization is granted, there shall be submitted to the Chair
in writing the following:
(1) The purpose of the travel.
(2) The dates during which the travel is to occur.
(3) The names of the states or countries to be visited and
the length of time to be spent in each.
(4) An agenda of anticipated activities.
(5) The names of members and staff of the Committee for
whom the authorization is sought.
(b) Members and staff of the Committee shall make a written
report to the Chair on any travel they have conducted under
this subsection, including a description of their itinerary,
expenses, and activities, and of pertinent information gained
as a result of such travel.
(c) Members and staff of the Committee performing
authorized travel on official business shall be governed by
applicable laws, resolutions, and regulations of the House and
of the Committee on House Administration.
RULE 11. WEBSITE
The Chair shall maintain an official Committee website for
the purpose of carrying out the official responsibilities of
the Committee, including communicating information about the
Committee's activities. The Ranking Member may maintain a
minority website. To the maximum extent feasible, the Committee
shall make its publications available in electronic form on the
official Committee website maintained by the Chair.
Summary of Committee Activities
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
Making the Case for Climate Action: The Growing Risks and Costs of
Inaction
On Thursday, April 15, 2021 the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a virtual hearing titled ``Making the Case
for Climate Action: The Growing Risks and Costs of Inaction.''
The hearing focused on the economic risks and impacts the
climate crisis poses to workers, human health, and the U.S.
economy. It also examined the disparate impacts of the climate
crisis on low-income communities and communities of color. The
Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
Dr. Waleed Abdalati, Director of the Cooperative
Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of
Colorado Boulder
The Honorable Heather McTeer Toney, Senior
Advisor, Moms Clean Air Force; and Climate Justice Liaison,
Environmental Defense Fund
Dr. Shawn Gillen, City Manager, City of Tybee
Island, Georgia
Dr. Michael Greenstone, Milton Friedman
Distinguished Service Professor in Economics, University of
Chicago
Making the Case for Climate Action: Creating New Jobs and Catalyzing
Economic Growth
On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a remote hearing titled ``Making the Case
for Climate Action: Creating New Jobs and Catalyzing Economic
Growth.'' The hearing explored the ways that addressing the
climate crisis can create new jobs and drive economic growth.
The Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Philip N. Bredesen, Executive
Chairman of the Board, Clearloop Corporation; and Former
Governor, State of Tennessee
Leticia Colon de Mejias, Founder, Energy
Efficiencies Solutions; Policy Co-Chair, Building Performance
Association; and President, Green Eco Warriors
Paul Lau, CEO and General Manager, Sacramento
Municipal Utility District
Heather Reams, Executive Director, Citizens for
Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES)
Powering Up Clean Energy: Investments To Modernize and Expand the
Electric Grid
On Thursday, May 20, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a remote hearing entitled ``Powering Up
Clean Energy: Investments to Modernize and Expand the Electric
Grid.'' The hearing explored the ways that upgrading and
expanding the electric grid could create jobs, integrate higher
levels of renewable energy, boost grid reliability, and protect
public health. The Committee received testimony from the
following witnesses:
Linda Apsey, President and CEO, ITC Holdings Corp.
Emily Sanford Fisher, General Counsel, Corporate
Secretary, and Senior Vice President, Clean Energy, Edison
Electric Institute (EEI)
Donnie Colston, Director, Utility Department,
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Michael Skelly, Founder and President, Grid United
Building Climate Resilient Communities
On Friday, June 11, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a remote hearing entitled ``Building
Climate Resilient Communities.'' The hearing explored ways that
the federal government can help reduce climate disaster risks
in neighborhoods across the United States, while fostering
equity and community leadership. The Committee received
testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor of the City of
Los Angeles
The Honorable Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor of the
City of Atlanta
The Honorable Satya Rhodes-Conway, Mayor of the
City of Madison; and Co-Chair of Climate Mayors
Ms. Kirsten Wallace, Executive Director, Upper
Mississippi River Basin Association
Transportation Investments for Solving the Climate Crisis
On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Transportation
Investments for Solving the Climate Crisis.'' The hearing
explored how investments in transportation infrastructure could
curb harmful pollution, increase climate resilience, redress
historical inequities, and increase community quality of life.
The Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Margaret Anderson Kelliher,
Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Transportation
Bill Van Amburg, Executive Vice President,
CALSTART
Robert Bryce, Visiting Fellow, The Foundation for
Research on Equal Opportunity
Beth Osborne, Director, Transportation for America
Advancing Environmental Justice Through Climate Action
On Thursday, July 15, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a remote hearing entitled ``Advancing
Environmental Justice Through Climate Action.'' The cross-
cutting hearing explored how to advance environmental justice
through climate action, including targeting infrastructure
investments to environmental justice communities, understanding
the impact of extreme heat on low-income workers and students,
and supporting Tribal investments in clean energy and climate
resilience. The Committee received testimony from the following
witnesses:
Catherine Coleman Flowers, Founder, Center for
Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice
Nikki Cooley, Co-Manager, Tribes & Climate Change
Program; and Interim Assistant Director, Institute for Tribal
Environmental Professionals (ITEP), Northern Arizona University
Dr. R. Jisung Park, Assistant Professor of Public
Policy, Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of
California Los Angeles
Derrick Hollie, Founder and President, Reaching
America
Financing Climate Solutions and Job Creation
On Thursday, July 29, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Financing
Climate Solutions and Job Creation.'' The hearing reviewed
financial incentives and investments to create jobs and
accelerate deployment of clean energy and clean vehicles,
including clean energy and clean vehicle tax credits, tax
credits for domestic manufacturing, and a clean energy and
sustainability accelerator. These types of financial policies
can help ensure every American can access clean energy and
drive zero-emission vehicles. The Committee received testimony
from the following witnesses:
Duanne Andrade, Chief Financial and Strategic
Officer, Solar and Energy Loan Fund
Rich Powell, Executive Director, ClearPath
John Larsen, Director, Rhodium Group
Zoe Lipman, Director, Manufacturing and Advanced
Transportation, BlueGreen Alliance
Good for Business: Private Sector Perspectives on Climate Action
On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Good for
Business: Private Sector Perspectives on Climate Action.'' The
hearing reviewed business and private sector perspectives on
the importance of investments in climate action. The Committee
received testimony from the following witnesses:
Corley Kenna, Head of Communications and Policy,
Patagonia
The Honorable Mark W. Menezes, Former Deputy
Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy; and Former
Chief Counsel for Energy and Environment, U.S. House Committee
on Energy and Commerce
Gilbert Campbell, Founder and CEO, Volt Energy
David Edsey, Climate Director, Technical
Underwriting, Zurich North America
International Climate Challenges and Opportunities
On Thursday, October 28, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``International
Climate Challenges and Opportunities.'' The hearing explored
the challenges and opportunities for international climate
action as world leaders prepared to gather in Glasgow,
Scotland, for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference
(COP26). The Committee received testimony from the following
witnesses:
Taryn Fransen, Senior Fellow, World Resources
Institute
Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer,
Mercy Corps
Charles Hernick, Vice President of Policy and
Advocacy, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES)
Forum
Alden Meyer, Senior Associate, E3G
Tribal Voices, Tribal Wisdom: Strategies for the Climate Crisis
On Thursday, November 18, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Tribal Voices,
Tribal Wisdom: Strategies for the Climate Crisis.'' In honor of
Native American Heritage Month, the hearing focused on Tribal
perspectives on climate change, the transition to a clean
energy economy, and adaptation to climate impacts. The
Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Fawn Sharp, President, National
Congress of American Indians; and Vice President, Quinault
Indian Nation
The Honorable Melvin J. Baker, Chairman, Southern
Ute Indian Tribe
Dr. Casey Thornbrugh, Climate Change Program
Manager, United South and Eastern Tribes; Tribal Climate
Science Liaison, DOI Northeast and Southeast Climate Adaptation
Science Centers; and Citizen, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
Pilar Thomas, Partner, Energy, Environment &
Natural Resources Practice Group, Quarles & Brady LLP; and
Member, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Cleaner, Cheaper Energy: Climate Investments to Help Families and
Businesses
On Thursday, December 9, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Cleaner,
Cheaper Energy: Climate Investments to Help Families and
Businesses.'' The hearing examined how the investments in the
Build Back Better Act would reduce electricity bills, address
volatile energy prices, and help transition to a clean energy
economy. The Committee received testimony from the following
witnesses:
The Honorable Miranda Ballentine, Chief Executive
Officer, Clean Energy Buyers Association
Uday Varadarajan, Principal, RMI; and Precourt
Energy Scholar, Sustainable Finance Initiative, Stanford
University
Alex Herrgott, President and CEO, The Permitting
Institute
Amy Myers Jaffe, Research Professor and Managing
Director, Climate Policy Lab, The Fletcher School, Tufts
University
Manufacturing a Clean Energy Future: Climate Solutions Made in America
On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Manufacturing a
Clean Energy Future: Climate Solutions Made in America.'' The
hearing examined how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the
Build Back Better Act would attract new investment to the
United States to clean up hard-to-decarbonize sectors, expand
domestic supply chains and manufacturing of climate solutions,
and create good-paying jobs. The Committee received testimony
from the following witnesses:
Paul Browning, President and CEO, North America,
Fortescue Future Industries
Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO, Solar
Energy Industries Association
The Honorable Charles McConnell, Executive
Director, Carbon Management and Energy Sustainability,
University of Houston
Jessica Eckdish, Vice President, Legislation and
Federal Affairs, BlueGreen Alliance
Keeping the Lights On: Strategies for Grid Resilience and Reliability
On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a remote hearing entitled ``Keeping the
Lights On: Strategies for Grid Resilience and Reliability.''
The hearing reviewed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law policies and
investments that would improve grid resilience and considered
which additional climate investments are needed. The Committee
received testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Nancy Sutley, Senior Assistant
General Manager of External and Regulatory Affairs, and Chief
Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power
Dr. Karen Wayland, Chief Executive Officer,
GridWise Alliance
Mark Mills, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute;
Faculty Fellow, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied
Science, and Co-Director, Initiative for Manufacturing Science
and Innovation, Northwestern University
Katherine Hamilton, Chair, 38 North Solutions and
Chair, Council on Clean Electrification, World Economic Forum
Confronting Climate Impacts: Federal Strategies for Equitable
Adaptation and Resilience
On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Confronting
Climate Impacts: Federal Strategies for Equitable Adaptation
and Resilience.'' The hearing examined the findings of the
latest reports on climate impacts and the urgency to develop a
national climate adaptation and resilience strategy that
activates across all sectors and levels of government to
deliver actionable climate risk science, information, and
tools, and helps direct resources to vulnerable communities.
The Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
Dr. William Solecki, Professor, Department of
Geography and Environmental Science, Hunter College-City
University of New York
Dr. Lara Hansen, Executive Director and Chief
Scientist, EcoAdapt
The Honorable Matthew Jewel, President, St.
Charles Parish, Louisiana
Dr. Lauren Alexander Augustine, Executive
Director, Gulf Research Program, National Academies of Science,
Engineering, and Medicine
America's Natural Solutions: The Climate Benefits of Investing in
Healthy Ecosystems
On Friday, April 1, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``America's
Natural Solutions: The Climate Benefits of Investing in Healthy
Ecosystems.'' The hearing reviewed the climate benefits of the
investments made through the Great American Outdoors Act and
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in ecosystem restoration and
conservation and examined opportunities for further investment
to create healthy and resilient habitats and communities. The
Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
Collin O'Mara, President and Chief Executive
Officer, National Wildlife Federation
Nick Loris, Vice President of Public Policy, C3
Solutions
Dr. Sherry L. Larkin, Director, Florida Sea Grant
College Program; and Professor, Food and Resource Economics,
University of Florida
Dr. Cristina Eisenberg, Courtesy Faculty, College
of Forestry, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society,
Oregon State University
Cost Saving Climate Solutios: Investing in Energy Efficiency to Promote
Energy Security and Cut Energy Bills
On Thursday, April 7, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Cost-Saving
Climate Solutions: Investing in Energy Efficiency to Promote
Energy Security and Cut Energy Bills.'' The hearing examined
how investments in energy efficiency would save Americans
money, reduce carbon pollution, and promote energy security.
The Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
Paula Glover, President, Alliance to Save Energy
Darnell Johnson, President and CEO, Urban
Efficiency Group
Dave Schryver, President and CEO, American Public
Gas Association (APGA)
Sara Baldwin, Director of Electrification Policy,
Energy Innovation
Turning the Tide for Ocean Climate Action: Unleashing the Climate
Benefits of Our Blue Planet
On Thursday, June 9, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Turning the
Tide for Ocean Climate Action: Unleashing the Climate Benefits
of Our Blue Planet.'' This hearing examined the role the ocean
plays in the climate crisis and the need to develop and invest
in ocean-based climate solutions both at home and abroad to
build resilient ecosystems and communities. The Committee
received testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Richard W. Spinrad, Under Secretary
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & Administrator, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Honorable Monica Medina, Assistant Secretary
of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and
Scientific Affairs, Department of State
State Perspectives on Cutting Methane Pollution
On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``State
Perspectives on Cutting Methane Pollution.'' The hearing
featured the Governors of New Mexico and Wyoming, who described
their efforts to reduce harmful methane pollution from oil and
natural gas infrastructure, highlighting lessons for Federal
regulatory efforts and outlining how Federal policies and
investments can complement state initiatives. The Committee
received testimony from the following witnesses:
The Honorable Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor,
New Mexico
The Honorable Mark Gordon, Governor, Wyoming
Cutting Methane Pollution: Safeguarding Health, Creating Jobs, and
Protecting Our Climate
On Friday, June 24, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Cutting Methane
Pollution: Safeguarding Health, Creating Jobs, and Protecting
Our Climate.'' The hearing examined opportunities for federal,
state, and private efforts to reduce harmful methane pollution
from oil and natural gas infrastructure, highlighting benefits
for public health, jobs and the economy, and for tackling the
climate crisis. The Committee received testimony from the
following witnesses:
Patrice Tomcik, Senior National Field Manager,
Moms Clean Air Force
Dr. Robert L. Kleinberg, Senior Research Scholar,
Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy; Senior
Fellow, Boston University, Institute for Sustainable Energy;
and Member, National Academy of Engineering
Dr. Caroline Alden, Co-Founder and Vice President
of Product and Markets, LongPath Technologies
Sarah Ann Smith, Chief of Programs, Clean Air Task
Force
Climate Smart From Farm to Fork: Building an Affordable and Resilient
Food Supply Chain
On Friday, July 15, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Climate Smart
from Farm to Fork: Building an Affordable and Resilient Food
Supply Chain.'' This hearing examined pathways to create a
sustainable food system that is resilient in the face of
climate change by decreasing greenhouse gases while ensuring
access to affordable, safe, and healthy food for all Americans.
The Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
Dana Gunders, Executive Director, ReFED
Kent Swisher, President and CEO, North American
Renderers Association (NARA)
Dr. Melinda Cep, Vice President, Natural Solutions
and Working Lands, National Audubon Society
Elly Brown, Co-Executive Director, San Diego Food
System Alliance
Building Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities: Perspectives From
Oregon's State, Local, and Tribal Partners
On Wednesday, August 3, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid field hearing entitled ``Building
Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities: Perspectives from
Oregon's State, Local, and Tribal Partners.'' This field
hearing was held at Clatsop Community College, Astoria, Oregon.
This hearing examined challenges facing Oregon's coastal
communities and ecosystems due to the climate crisis and
opportunities for the federal government to help state, local,
and Tribal partners build resilient, climate-ready coasts. The
Committee received testimony from the following witnesses:
Ms. Aja K. DeCoteau, Executive Director, Columbia
River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Dr. Elaine Placido, Executive Director, Lower
Columbia Estuary Partnership
Ms. Tyler Bell, Director, Rocky Mountain Region,
Westervelt Ecological Services
Dr. Francis Chan, Director, Cooperative Institute
for Marine Ecosystem and Resources Studies; and Associate
Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State
University
A Big Climate Deal: Lowering Costs, Creating Jobs, and Reducing
Pollution With the Inflation Reduction Act
On Thursday, September 29, 2022, the Select Committee on
the Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``A Big
Climate Deal: Lowering Costs, Creating Jobs, and Reducing
Pollution with the Inflation Reduction Act.'' The hearing
examined how the climate investments in the Inflation Reduction
Act will help lower electric and fuel bills for American
families, create jobs, and expand investments in U.S.
manufacturing of clean energy, clean vehicles, and climate
solutions. The Committee received testimony from the following
witnesses:
Dr. Quinta Warren, Associate Director,
Sustainability Policy, Consumer Reports
Philip Rossetti, Senior Fellow for Energy and
Environment, R Street Institute
Josh Nassar, Legislative Director, International
Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement
Workers (UAW)
Samantha Sloan, Vice President, Global Policy,
Sustainability and Marketing, First Solar, Inc.*
* Ms. Sloan was unable to testify; her testimony was
submitted for the record
Solving the Climate Crisis: Key Accomplishments, Additional
Opportunities, and the Need for Continued Action
On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a hybrid hearing entitled ``Solving the
Climate Crisis: Key Accomplishments, Additional Opportunities,
and the Need for Continued Action.'' The hearing examined
legislation passed by the U.S. Congress during its 116th and
117th sessions to address the climate crisis, invest in a clean
energy economy, and support a healthy, resilient, and just
America. It also explored additional policies and investments
needed from Congress to address the challenges and consequences
of the climate crisis.
The Honorable Alice Hill, David M. Rubenstein
Senior Fellow for Climate Change Policy, Council on Foreign
Relations
Greg Wetstone, President and CEO, American Council
on Renewable Energy
Dr. Michelle Michot Foss, Fellow in Energy,
Minerals, and Materials, Baker Institute for Public Policy,
Rice University
Dana Johnson, Senior Director of Strategy and
Federal Policy, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman, Vice President for
Science and Policy, Evangelical Environmental Network
Brad Markell, Executive Director, AFL-CIO
Industrial Union Council
COMMITTEE ROUNDTABLES
In addition to official hearings, the Select Committee on
the Climate Crisis held Member-level roundtables to hear
additional perspectives and discuss policies with invited
experts.
Roundtable on Critical Minerals
On Thursday, May 27, 2021, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a remote roundtable on critical minerals.
The roundtable examined the mineral supply chains of clean
energy technologies, domestic and global critical mineral
resources, and critical minerals-related efforts in the Federal
government and private sector. The Committee was briefed by the
following panelists:
Dr. Sarah Ryker, Associate Director for Energy and
Minerals, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior
Dr. Steve Feldgus, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior
Dr. Michael McKittrick, Acting Director, Advanced
Manufacturing Office, Department of Energy
Angelos Kokkinos, Associate Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Clean Coal and Carbon Management, Office of Fossil
Energy, Department of Energy
Abigail Wulf, Director, Center for Critical
Minerals Strategy, Securing America's Future Energy
Chloe Holzinger, Investment Associate, The Engine
Roundtable With Faith Leaders
On Thursday, March 17, 2022, the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis held a roundtable with a group of faith leaders.
The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss the faith
communities' perspective on climate issues and their engagement
on climate action. The Committee was briefed by the following
panelists:
Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Executive Director, Coalition
on Jewish Life and the Environment
Dan Misleh, Founder, Catholic Climate Covenant
Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, General Secretary of the
General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Galen Carey, Vice President for
Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals
Rev. Mitchell C. Hescox, President, Evangelical
Environmental Network
Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman, Vice President of
Science and Policy, Evangelical Environmental Network
Cassandra Carmichael, Executive Director, National
Religious Partnership for the Environment
Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Presiding Bishop
of the Fifth Episcopal District, Christian Methodist Episcopal
Church
Sister Marianne Comfort, Justice Coordinator for
Earth, antiracism, and women, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
COMMITTEE AUTHORIZED TRAVEL
Ranking Member Garret Graves Trip to Utah
From Friday, February 19, 2021 through Monday, February 22,
2021, the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis' Ranking
Member Graves traveled to Utah for the purpose of sharing
climate priorities and concerns with other Members of Congress
and engaging with climate policy stakeholders.
Congressman Sean Casten (Codel Keating) Trip to Iceland, Ireland, and
the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
From Sunday, October 10, 2021 through Sunday, October 17,
2021, Rep. Casten joined other Members of Congress to reaffirm
the United States' support for the Good Friday Agreement and
explore the role of women in peace negotiations, as well as to
discuss energy security and climate change issues, and Arctic
security concerns.
Select Committee Member Trip to UNFCCC COP 26
From Sunday, November 7, 2021 through Wednesday, November
11, 2021, Members of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
joined a bicameral Congressional Delegation led by Speaker
Nancy Pelosi to the 2021 United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, held in Glasgow,
Scotland. The delegation engaged in several key non-
governmental organizations to discuss concerns over equity,
efforts to limit temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius,
and climate change financing. The delegation also participated
in bilateral meetings with the Secretary-General of the United
Nations Antonio Guterres, COP26 President, the Right Honorable
Alok Sharma and First Minister of Scotland, the Right Honorable
Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the work of Congress on climate and
clean energy legislation. The bilateral meetings also included
discussions of prioritizing climate action, and commitment to
supporting the most vulnerable nations and communities around
the globe.
Chair Castor Trip to Lisbon, Portugal for U.N. Oceans Conference
From Saturday, June 25, 2022 through Wednesday, June 29,
2022, Chair Castor joined Chair Grijalva and other Members of
Congress at the United Nations Ocean Conference, focusing on
mobilizing, creating, and driving solutions to realize the UN
Sustainable Development Goal focusing on oceans (goal 14) and
the related goal on climate change (goal 13) as it applies to
ocean and coastal policies. Congresswoman Castor engaged with
various government officials and civil society on these issues
at the conference.
Select Committee Site Visit Trip to Coastal Oregon (Portland and
Astoria)
From Monday, August 1, 2022 through Thursday, August 4,
2022, Chair Castor, along with Members of the Select Committee,
Rep. Bonamici, and Rep. Carter, traveled between Portland, OR
and Astoria, OR to explore the various impacts of climate
change on Oregon's coast, as well as to see climate solutions
in action. Site visits included: Electric Island where Daimler
Trucks North America and Portland General Electric have opened
a first-of-its-kind heavy-duty electric truck charging site;
the Port of Portland Terminal 2, where the Oregon Mass Timber
Coalition is working to enhance and expand Oregon's established
mass timber industry ecosystem; Ruby Vineyard & Winery where
they practice organic wine growing and a non-interventional
process to enhance climate resilience and ensure minimal
environmental impact; and Ecola State Park and Indian Beach
where park rangers led the Members on a brief walking tour,
explaining how coastal erosion has forced the Parks & Rec
Department to confront the challenges of climate change to
adapt to more extreme weather patterns. Following the Select
Committee field hearing ``Building Climate-Resilient Coastal
Communities,'' the Members also had an opportunity to visit the
Columbia River Maritime Museum, led by the Mayor of Astoria,
where they learned more about the maritime history of the
Columbia River region.
Select Committee Member Trip to UNFCCC COP 27
From Wednesday, November 9 through Saturday, November 12,
2022, Members of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
joined a Congressional Delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi
to the 2022 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change Conference, known as COP27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh,
Egypt. The delegation engaged in several key bilateral
discussions, including with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and
Foreign Minister and COP27 President Sameh Shoukry and other
senior Egyptian officials to discuss their common goals in
addressing the climate crisis. The discussion also touched on
strategic security issues, and human rights concerns. Chair
Castor participated in a moderated conversation with Kathy
McLeod of the Atlantic Council and Speaker Pelosi discussing
community resilience investments in the face of the climate
crisis. The delegation also met with parliamentarians from the
Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) to discuss how extreme weather
is impacting the most vulnerable communities around the world,
and how to best support developing nations. The delegation also
met with civil society, youth and business leaders and
discussed their shared goals of investing in climate solutions.
The delegation met with U.S. officials, including Special
Presidential Envoy John Kerry, and Administrator Michael Regan,
with both conversations touching on how the Biden
Administration can continue to lead on climate action both at
home and abroad. The delegation also had the opportunity to
learn about and meet participants in various climate and clean
energy educational programs in Egypt supported by the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) and discuss
USAID's climate work with USAID Administrator, Amb. Samantha
Power. Chair Castor, Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Casten also
participated in a panel discussion entitled ``The Future of
U.S. Climate Action'' hosted by the Clean Air Task Force.
APPENDIX I
Printed Meetings
117-1--Organizational Meeting for the 117th Congress;
Friday, March 19, 2021
Printed Hearings
117-2--Making the Case for Climate Action: The Growing
Risks and Costs of Inaction; Thursday, April 15, 2021
117-3--Making the Case for Climate Action: Creating New
Jobs and Catalyzing Economic Growth; Tuesday, April 20, 2021
117-4--Powering Up Clean Energy: Investments to Modernize
and Expand the Electric Grid; Thursday, May 20, 2021
117-5--Building Climate Resilient Communities; Friday, June
11, 2021
117-6--Transportation Investments for Solving the Climate
Crisis; Wednesday, June 30, 2021
117-7--Advancing Environmental Justice Through Climate
Action; Thursday, July 15, 2021
117-8--Financing Climate Solutions & Job Creation;
Thursday, July 29, 2021
117-9--Good For Business: Private Sector Perspectives on
Climate Action; Wednesday, October 20, 2021
117-10--International Climate Challenges and Opportunities;
Thursday, October 28, 2021
117-11--Tribal Voices, Tribal Wisdom: Strategies for the
Climate Crisis; Thursday, November 18, 2021
117-12--Cleaner, Cheaper Energy: Climate Investments to
Help Families and Businesses; Thursday, December 9, 2021
117-13--Manufacturing a Clean Energy Future: Climate
Solutions Made in America; Wednesday, February 2, 2022
117-14--Keeping the Lights On: Strategies for Grid
Resilience and Reliability; Tuesday, February 15, 2022
117-15--Confronting Climate Impacts: Federal Strategies for
Equitable Adaptation and Resilience; Wednesday, March 9, 2022
117-16--America's Natural Solutions: The Climate Benefits
of Investing in Healthy Ecosystems; Friday, April 1, 2022
117-17--Cost-Saving Climate Solutions: Investing in Energy
Efficiency to Promote Energy Security and Cut Energy Bills;
Thursday, April 7, 2022
117-18--Turning the Tide for Ocean Climate Action:
Unleashing the Climate Benefits of Our Blue Planet; Thursday,
June 9, 2022
117-19--State Perspectives on Cutting Methane Pollution;
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
117-20--Cutting Methane Pollution: Safeguarding Health,
Creating Jobs, and Protecting Our Climate; Friday, June 24,
2022
117-21--Climate Smart from Farm to Fork: Building an
Affordable and Resilient Food Supply Chain (POSTPONED from May
24, 2022); Friday, July 15, 2022
117-22--Building Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities:
Perspectives from Oregon's State, Local, and Tribal Partners;
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
117-23--A Big Climate Deal: Lowering Costs, Creating Jobs,
and Reducing Pollution with the Inflation Reduction Act;
Thursday, September 29, 2022
117-24--Solving the Climate Crisis: Key Accomplishments,
Additional Opportunities, and the Need for Continued Action;
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
APPENDIX II
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
The Activity Report of the 117th Congress documents the
extensive work of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
during this Congress. In addition, the Democratic Members also
released the majority staff report ``Solving the Climate Crisis
2022: Key Accomplishments and Additional Opportunities.'' The
staff report highlights the historic progress made during this
Congress to reduce heat-trapping pollution, lower energy costs,
and create good-paying jobs across America by addressing the
climate crisis and deploying cleaner, cheaper energy. It also
outlines progress made to help communities adapt to climate
impacts and become more resilient in the face of worsening
extreme weather events. Those accomplishments include
investments in bills like the Inflation Reduction Act, the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS & Science Act, the
Energy Act of 2020, the yearly appropriations bills, the
National Defense Authorization Act, and more.
These additional views, submitted on behalf of the Select
Committee on the Climate Crisis' Majority, include the Preface,
Introduction and Summary of ``Solving the Climate Crisis 2022''
which sums up the climate and clean energy accomplishments
during the course of the 117th Congress and the continued
Congressional action needed to help solve the climate crisis.
The full report of ``Solving the Climate Crisis 2022: Key
Accomplishments and Additional Opportunities'' is available at
http://docs.house.gov/meetings/CN/CN00/CPRT-117-CN00-D001.pdf.
The 2022 staff report supplements the 2020 majority staff
report ``Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action
Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and Healthy, Resilient, and
Just America'' and is available at https://docs.house.gov/
meetings/CN/CN00/CPRT-116-CN00-D001.pdf.
From ``Solving the Climate Crisis 2022: Key Accomplishments and
Additional Opportunities''
Preface
The climate crisis is unmistakably here, fueled by rising
global temperatures and heat-trapping pollution. Climate
disasters are putting America's security and stability at
serious risk and threatening our economy, our way of life, and
our communities. The crisis is no longer a distant threat.
Higher costs, harsh impacts, and greater injury and loss of
life are upon us now. This summer, brutal heat waves shattered
more than 7,000 daily temperature records across the United
States. Persistent drought is quickly drying up our vital lakes
and rivers, while wildfires like the Dixie Fire and the Camp
Fire have unleashed unprecedented levels of destruction across
the West. Massive floods have destroyed the homes and
livelihoods of countless Americans. And climate-fueled storms
like deadly Hurricane Ian, the costliest storm on record for
the State of Florida, which joins the growing list of severe
storms--Katrina, Sandy, Harvey, Ida, Maria--whose names are now
synonymous with destruction.
Given the growing costs of these catastrophes, House
Democrats have used the power of our majority to take bold
action to solve the climate crisis. Led by Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, Democrats have delivered on our pledge to reduce heat-
trapping pollution in a way that creates good-paying American
jobs, bolsters domestic manufacturing of clean technologies,
reduces energy costs for families and businesses, invests in
historically disadvantaged communities, and firmly positions
the United States to remain the global leader of the 21st
century. That includes this year's passage of the Inflation
Reduction Act, the largest clean energy and climate investment
in U.S. history, putting the United States on a path to reduce
heat-trapping pollution by roughly 40% by 2030; the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law, which makes communities more resilient to
droughts, wildfires, supercharged storms, floods, heat waves,
and other extreme weather events; and the CHIPS and Science Act
which empowers America's industries to produce the
semiconductor chips that are essential to our clean energy
transition.
Solving the climate crisis is hard work, but the results
already are encouraging--and the opportunities are exciting.
Thousands of manufacturing jobs are popping up in states like
Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Alabama, where companies
are racing to produce the batteries and technologies that will
power our economy. In states like Michigan and Ohio, the auto
industry is investing billions to empower American workers to
build the electric vehicles of the future. Utilities are
increasingly adding wind and solar to their energy mix, taking
advantage of their affordability and boosting America's energy
independence. And millions will breathe cleaner air thanks to
zero-emission school buses, clean postal trucks, and
investments that put families over polluters.
In this report, the majority staff of the Select Committee
lays out the progress made over the past years to address the
climate emergency and fulfill the recommendations in our 2020
Climate Crisis Action Plan, which provided a roadmap for
Congress to build a clean energy economy. In addition to key
accomplishments, the report lays out opportunities for
additional action. And as the 117th Congress draws to a close,
it provides a reminder that the fight for climate action must
continue--guided by science, rooted in justice, and powered by
American workers.
Introduction
Innovations and solutions to solve the climate crisis are
as urgently necessary today as they were in 2019 when Speaker
Nancy Pelosi created the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
and directed the committee to deliver policy recommendations to
start solving the climate crisis. The recent Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report makes
clear that the next few years are critical to limit warming.\1\
Thankfully, progress begets progress--the landmark new laws
passed by the Democratic-led 116th and 117th Congresses make
enormous progress in moving America closer to our climate goals
and a ``net zero'' future--and provides a basis to go further.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\IPCC, ``Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change,''
2022.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Speaker Pelosi stated, the Select Committee's work was
not intended to be just an academic endeavor, but to guide
major climate legislation across the committees to make
informed recommendations and deliver on our moral obligation to
children and future generations.The 117th Congress's historic
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
(BIL), and CHIPS and Science Act together contain hundreds of
recommendations laid out in the Select Committee's June 2020
majority staff report, Solving the Climate Crisis: The
Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a
Healthy, Resilient, and Just America.
Described as the ``most detailed and well-thought-out plan
for addressing climate change that has ever been a part of U.S.
politics,''\2\ the 2020 Climate Crisis Action Plan was
developed after consulting with hundreds of stakeholders,
scientists, and advocates across America, and conducting
numerous fact-finding hearings on and off Capitol Hill. The
Action Plan's robust set of policy recommendations for
ambitious climate action was intended to serve as the framework
for comprehensive congressional action, with a focus on
satisfying the scientific imperative to reduce carbon pollution
as quickly and aggressively as possible, while also making
communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change and
building a durable and equitable clean energy economy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\David Roberts, ``House Democrats just put out the most detailed
climate plan in US political history'' Vox, June 30, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
After releasing this unprecedented framework for climate
action, the Select Committee has focused on turning as many of
the Plan's 715 policy recommendations into legislation and
then. As of December 2022,out of the 715 total recommendations
in the Climate Crisis Action Plan, 436 passed the House and 314
were signed into law.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, ``Tracking Our
Progress,'' Last Updated December 14, 2022.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
These policies span the whole of American life and our
economy: from investing in critical infrastructure and
manufacturing, to restoring healthy habitats that strengthen
community resilience, to deploying affordable clean energy that
lowers costs and creates good-paying jobs. Building on
theEnergy Act of 2020, which authorized important research on
climate solutions, the IRA, BIL, and CHIPS and Science Act of
the 117th Congress are ground-breaking pieces of legislation
that will guide climate action for the next decade. And we are
pressing for meaningful climate action through the last days of
the 117th Congress.
Despite the incredible progress made, the costly climate
crisis still rages. The United States faced 35 ``billion-
dollar'' extreme weather and climate-related disaster events in
2021 and 2022, with a cumulative price tag of more than $180
billion in direct economic losses alone.\4\ The climate crisis
did not spare other nations and regions, whether unleashing
record-setting deadly heat waves in Europe, causing massive
flooding in Pakistan that displaced millions, Nigeria's worst
flooding in a decade, and worsening drought in Kenya, Ethiopia
and Somalia increasing food insecurity and leaving millions of
children malnourished.\5\ Without action, the science points
toward continued global catastrophe. In fact, the United
Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres referred to the IPCC
Sixth Assessment Report as a ``code red for humanity,''
pointing to its dire findings on some of the irreversible
trends set in motion by climate change.\6\ However, the IPCC
concluded that it is still technologically possible to halve
global climate pollution by 2030 and warned that global climate
pollution must peak by 2025 in order to avoid the worst
devastation.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\National Centers for Environmental Information, ``Summary Stats
| Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters,'' National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, 2022.
\5\Diana Mandia, ``Record heatwaves drive EU's July excess deaths
to 2022 high,'' Reuters, September 16, 2022; United Nations, ``Pakistan
floods: Six month wait for water to recede, warn relief agencies,'' UN
News, September 20, 2022; United Nations, ``Millions at risk in flood-
hit Nigeria; relief chief highlights hunger in Burkina Faso,'' UN News,
October 21, 2022; Jefferson Kahinju, ``Northern Kenya faces hunger
crisis as drought wipes out livestock,'' Reuters, October 4, 2022.
\6\United Nations, ``IPCC report: `Code red' for human driven
global heating, warns UN chief,'' UN News, August 9, 2021.
\7\IPCC, ``Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change,''
2022.
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Government action alone cannot meet the scope and potential
devastation of climate crisis. This is why the targeted actions
of the federal government designed to spur private investment
are crucial to unleashing, expanding, and deploying the
technologies necessary to respond to the challenge of our
lifetimes.New challenges also spurred on the Select Committee
to tackle solutions for the rising costs of energy due to
exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices and limit the leverage
of petrodictators in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and
the ongoing war.
With these scenarios in mind, it is crucial that Congress
continues to push for a clean energy economy that supports a
healthy, resilient, and just America. The past four years have
seen prodigious changes to the nation and the world, creating
an unparalleled opportunity to comprehensively address these
challenges. Doing so will have a tremendous positive impact on
the lives of millions of Americans, lowering grocery store
prices, slashing energy and fuel bills, creating good-paying
jobs, fostering economic growth, advancing environmental
justice, and improving public health. With all of these
considerations in mind, the Select Committee presents this
report, Solving the Climate Crisis 2022: Key Accomplishments
and Additional Opportunities, building on and supplementing the
recommendations included in the Climate Crisis Action Plan to
capture what we have accomplished and what remains for future
Congressional action to solve the climate crisis.
Summary
``Solving the Climate Crisis 2022'' highlights many of key
climate and clean energy accomplishments of the 117th Congress,
including:
Laying the foundation to slash pollution
across the board with tax credits that will drive
investment in affordable clean energy, electric
vehicles made in America, and cost-saving energy
efficiency technologies;
A massive down payment on the
electrification of the entire economy, with substantial
investments and policy changes in electric transmission
and a historic deployment of electric vehicle charging
infrastructure;
Making environmental justice a cornerstone
of climate action, with a focus on stronger enforcement
of environmental laws and increasing investments to EJ
communities, including rural and tribal communities;
Creating good-paying jobs for American
workers as a key aspect of solving the climate crisis,
with tax incentives that provide bonuses for high-road
labor standards;
Transformational incentives for domestic
manufacturing of climate solutions to enhance American
economic competitiveness and investments in clean
energy demonstrations to commercialize advanced
technologies;
A cross-cutting approach to reducing methane
pollution from the oil and gas sector, including the
first-ever Methane Emissions Reduction Program;
Transforming and strengthening our nation's
core infrastructure from every corner, including
transportation, clean water, broadband, and a reliable
electric grid that can increasingly withstand climate
impacts; Making unprecedented investments to deploy
natural climate solutions, expanding conservation
measures and harnessing the power of our lands and
waters to capture heat-trapping pollution and boost
resilience; Advancing climate science within the
federal government, improving earth observations and
data collection, climate and oceanic research, and
emissions measurements;
Working to protect the health of all
Americans, reducing air and climate pollution and
directing funding for disadvantaged communities to help
reduce impacts on public health;
Reaffirming America's leadership role in
global efforts to reduce heat-trapping pollution and
help vulnerable communities adapt to climate impacts;
and
Confronting the national security
implications of the climate crisis, advancing
mitigation and resilience for our nation's military,
prioritizing energy resilience and security, and
increasing preparedness for personnel, operations, and
installations.
``Solving the Climate Crisis 2022'' also highlights
additional opportunities, including the need for:
A comprehensive transmission strategy to
meet the increased electric load from electrification
of vehicles, buildings, and industrial processes;
A Clean Electricity Standard, Zero Emission
Vehicle sales standards, and other sector-specific
standards to provide certainty for investments in
pollution reduction;
A comprehensive approach to critical
minerals sourcing and recycling, including updating
outdated mining laws to ensure critical minerals are
secured in an environmentally, economically, and
socially responsible way;
Continued investments in research for hard-
to-decarbonize sectors like off-road transportation and
industry, and for carbon removal;
Improving community engagement in the
permitting process, addressing the cumulative impacts
of plastic production and disposal in fenceline
communities, and supporting efforts to strengthen the
environmental justice focus of agencies;
Increasing support for workforce development
and communities experiencing energy transitions,
including through registered apprenticeships and a
reimagined Civilian Conservation Corps, and ensuring
all workers are protected by securing strong labor
standards, especially during any extreme weather
conditions or events;
A National Adaptation and Resilience Plan,
including strategies to advance climate science and
tools, expand technical assistance to improve planning
and access to federal programs, and prioritize
investments in environmental justice communities;
Advancing resilience-based codes and
standards against rising flood, wildfire, and extreme
weather risks, and accelerating disaster recovery and
bridging the resilience and protection gap for
communities at greatest risk;
Implementing nature-based solutions on
public, private, and working lands and waters,
enshrining climate mitigation and adaptation in federal
natural resource and land management, and protecting
and conserving at least 30% of lands and waters;
Increasing research on climate and public
health impacts, prioritizing health equity in federal
planning for climate impacts on the healthcare sector
and public health, recognizing the disproportionate
burden on disadvantaged communities; and ensuring all
health sector infrastructure is resilient to the
impacts of climate change;
Fulfilling our commitments to mobilize
climate finance for developing countries, and expanding
diplomatic, humanitarian, and military capacity to
address climate issues; and
Embedding climate considerations into all
facets of national security and defense policy,
including acquisitions, vehicles, technologies,
construction, and other approaches.
Full report available at http://docs.house.gov/meetings/CN/
CN00/CPRT-117-CN00-D001.pdf.
Kathy Castor,
Chair, Select Committee on
the Climate Crisis.
Suzanne Bonamici.
Julia Brownley.
Jared Huffman.
Mike Levin.
Sean Casten.
Joe Neguse.
Veronica Escobar.