Transportation Technologies
The purpose of the hearing is to examine ways to strengthen research and development in innovative transportation technologies with a focus on solutions that decrease emissions, reduce our reliance on foreign supply chains, and increase manufacturing in the United States.
Witnesses
- Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary & Acting Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
- Edmund Adam Muellerweiss, Chief Sustainability Officer, Clarios
- Janvier Désiré Nkurunziza, Officer-in-Charge, Commodities Branch and Chief Commodity Research and Analysis Section Division on International Trade and Commodities, United Nations Conference on Trade & Development
- Tony Satterthwaite, Vice Chairman, Cummins
- Robert Wimmer, Director, Energy and Environmental Research Group, Toyota Motor North America
The Science Behind Impacts of the Climate Crisis
Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Witnesses- Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs, Princeton University
- Dr. Zeke Hausfather, Director of Climate and Energy, The Breakthrough Institute
- Dr. Noah S. Diffenbaugh, Kara J. Foundation Professor, Department of Earth System Science, Kimmelman Family Senior Fellow, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University
- Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, Dean, Graduate School of Oceanography, Professor of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Building Back Better: Building Resilience for the Economy, Climate, and Ecosystems
On Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. EST, the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife will hold a virtual, fully remote oversight hearing titled, “Building Back Better: Building Resilience for the Economy, Climate, and Ecosystems.”
Witnesses- Laura Ziemer, Senior Counsel and Water Policy Advisor, Trout Unlimited
- Aleksandr Modjeski, Habitat Restoration Program Director, American Littoral Society
- Dr. Cassandra Moseley, Research Professor and Senior Policy Advisor, Ecosystem Workforce Program, University of Oregon
- Dan Keppen, Executive Director, Family Farm Alliance
Native Communities and the Climate Crisis
Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a roundtable discussion, “Native Communities and the Climate Crisis,” to hear from Native leaders and experts from around the country on how climate change is impacting their communities, and how Congress can be partner in mitigating these impacts and developing solutions and climate resiliency.
As Schatz reflected on the panelist testimony, he noted how important it is for Congress to learn from Native communities in managing resources, adapting to climate change, and developing solutions:
“Native communities have shown us that climate solutions are not exclusively found in spreadsheets, or in tax credits, or incentives, or even in the regulatory area,” said Chairman Schatz. “It is in the actual, physical restoration of the land, and the water, and our streams, and our lakes. Native wisdom has to be incorporated into any climate policy that we have.”
Innovation and Investment in Water Resources Infrastructure
Chairwoman Kaptur Opening Statement As Prepared
Witnesses- Bidtah Becker, Associate Attorney, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
- Kevin DeGood, Director of Infrastructure Policy, Center for American Progress
- Jason Uhley, General Manager-Chief Engineer, Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
- Thomas J. Winston, President & CEO, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Full Steam Ahead for Rail: Why Rail is More Relevant Than Ever for Economic and Environmental Progress
The hearing will explore the importance of rail to the U.S. economy and as a tool to mitigate climate change.
Witnesses- Shannon Valentine, Secretary of Transportation, Virginia
- Caren Kraska, President/Chairman, Arkansas & Missouri Railroad
- Greg Regan, President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD)
- Tom Williams, Group Vice President for Consumer Products, BNSF Railway
The Path Forward: Restoring the Vital Mission of EPA
Opening Statement from Chairman Pallone
Opening Statement from Subcommittee Chair DeGette
Witnesses- Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator (2001-2003), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Carol Browner, Administrator (1993-2001), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, Former Chief of Staff and Region 4 Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Wendy Cleland-Hamnett, Former Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- John Deskins, Ph.D., Director, Bureau of Business & Economic Research, West Virginia University
Building Back Better: Addressing Climate Change in the Electricity Sector and Fostering Economic Growth
- Eric Garcetti, Mayor, Los Angeles, CA
- Frank Rusco, Director of Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office
- Ben Fowke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Xcel Energy
- Sandra Snyder, Vice President of Environment, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
- Jim Wood, Director, Energy Institute at West Virginia University
Modernizing Energy Development Laws for the Benefit of Taxpayers, Communities, and the Environment
On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. (EST), the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will host a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing titled, “Modernizing Energy Development Laws for the Benefit of Taxpayers, Communities, and the Environment,” including the following bills and other related measures.
- H.R. 1492 (Rep. Diana DeGette), Methane Waste Prevention Act
- H.R.1503 (Rep. Mike Levin), Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act
- H.R. 1505 (Rep. Alan Lowenthal), Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act
- H.R. 1506 (Rep. Alan Lowenthal), Transparency in Energy Production Act
- H.R. 1517 (Rep. Katie Porter), Ending Taxpayer Welfare for Oil and Gas Companies Act
Witnesses
Panel I
- Rep. Mike Levin, California, 49th District
- Rep. Katie Porter, California, 45th District
- Rep. Diana DeGette, Colorado, 1st District
Panel II
- Tracy Stone-Manning, Associate Vice President, Public Lands, National Wildlife Federation, Missoula, MT
- Hilary Cooper, Commissioner, District 1, San Miguel County, CO
- Brian Prest, PhD, Fellow, Resources for the Future
- Mark Murphy, President, Strata Production Company, Roswell, NM