Hill Heat

Hearing page

Hearing page

Hearing memorandum

• Bob Holycross, Vice President, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company
• Natalie King, Chief Executive Officer, Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC
• Cassandra Powers, Senior Managing Director, National Association of State Energy Officials
• Thomas Pyle, President, Institute for Energy Research (Republican witness)

Hearing page

• Herman Haksteen, President, Private Railcar Food and Beverage Association
• Brad Hildebrand, Member, National Industrial Transportation League and former Vice President of Cargill – Rail and Barge Lead
• Dennis Pierce, President, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
• Ian Jefferies, President and CEO, Association of American Railroads
• Dennis Newman, Executive Vice President of Planning, Strategy and Accessibility, Amtrak
• Chris Jahn, President and CEO, American Chemistry Council

Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will convene the full Natural Resources Committee for an oversight hearing titled, “Examining the History of Federal Lands and the Development of Tribal Co-Management” on March 8 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.

The hearing will be the first in congressional history to examine tribal land dispossession enacted by the U.S. government and the impact of dispossession on federal land management practices. Before the arrival of European colonists, Indigenous Peoples lived on and cared for the lands now known as the United States since time immemorial. Centuries of cruel, forcible tactics—coercion, removal, and genocide—and bad-faith congressional and regulatory actions have since pushed Indigenous Peoples off nearly 99% of the lands they previously occupied.

The hearing will also explore the historical and legal support for tribal co-management of federal lands, including current and potential tribal co-management activities. Indigenous Peoples have deep connections to and traditional knowledge of their ancestral homelands, many of which are now federally managed lands. Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) is a tremendous asset to implementing land management practices that promote both environmental sustainability and responsible stewardship of resources. Tribal co-management of public lands is also vital to strengthening tribal sovereignty and promoting self-governance.

The witness panel for the hearing will be comprised of Indigenous voices who will provide cultural, historical, and legal perspectives on the importance of tribal co-management:

• Charles “Chuck” Sams, III, Director, National Park Service (Cayuse and Walla Walla). Director Sams will discuss how the National Park Service has and will continue to expand the role of tribal communities in federal land management.
• Carleton Bowekaty, Lieutenant Governor, Pueblo of Zuni/Member, Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition (Pueblo of Zuni). Lt. Gov. Bowekaty will discuss the efforts of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition to support and manage the Bears Ears National Monument, and how dedicated funding for tribal engagement can transform ongoing co-management efforts.
• Melvin J. Baker, Chairman, Southern Ute Tribal Council, Minority Witness.

• Dr. Doug Kiel, Assistant Professor of History, Northwestern University (Oneida Nation). Dr. Kiel will discuss the history of Indigenous land dispossession enacted by the U.S. government and the historical context of the federal trust responsibility.
• Aja DeCoteau, Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation). Ms. DeCoteau will discuss Indigenous cultural and spiritual connections to the land, as well as the role that ITEK serves in tribal co-management.
• Kevin Washburn, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Iowa College of Law (Chickasaw Nation). Dean Washburn will highlight opportunities to expand tribal co-management under existing law. He will share insights gleaned in the formulation of his recent law review article on tribal co-management.
• Cody Desautel, President, Intertribal Timber Council, Minority Witness.

Hearing page

• Xochitl Torres Small, Under Secretary for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

The purpose of this hearing is to evaluate the Federal Government’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, and to assess the status of ongoing efforts to promote greater climate adaptation and resilience throughout Federal programs, operations, and facilities. The hearing will explore the types of climate risks threatening Federal agencies and the urgent need to address those risks in order to protect Federal assets and investments. The hearing will detail the climate challenges confronting NASA, DOE, and NOAA, along with the adaptation and resilience strategies adopted by those agencies to respond to them. Finally, the hearing will discuss potential opportunities to bolster Federal climate adaptation tools, including enhanced interagency resilience collaboration and the incorporation of accurate, up-to-date climate data into agency planning, implementation, and outreach.

Hearing charter

• Dr. Richard Spinrad, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Ingrid Kolb, Director, Office of Management, and Chief Sustainability Officer, Department of Energy
• Dr. Joel Carney, Assistant Administrator, Office of Strategic Infrastructure, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Alfredo Gomez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office

The purpose of the business meeting is to consider the nominations of:

• Shalanda H. Baker to be Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy (nomination hearing was in July)
• Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe to be Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy (August)
• Sara C. Bronin, to be Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (September)
• Dr. Joseph F. DeCarolis to be Administrator of the Energy Information Administration (February)
• Maria Duaime Robinson to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Office of Electricity) (February)

Join members from the CHAT (Community Healing, Accountability and Transformation) and SJ (Survivor Justice) teams as they share key concepts and takeaways from the books Conflict is Not Abuse and Nonviolent Communication. Think of it as a virtual book club, where you don’t have to read the books!

Using these texts as a starting place, we will learn about concepts like self-empathy, the impulse to escalate, and apply these teachings to ways we can hold ourselves and our communities accountable for reconciling conflict in positive ways—so we don’t end up treating each other the way we treat Joe Manchin!

Join us to get a better understanding of these acclaimed books, think about different perspectives of conflict, and apply these concepts to working through conflict together!

The purpose of the hearing is to review recent actions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relating to permitting construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines and other natural gas infrastructure projects.

Manchin reaction:

“Today’s (Thursday) reckless decision by FERC’s Democratic Commissioners puts the security of our nation at risk. The commission went too far by prioritizing a political agenda over their main mission — ensuring our nation’s energy reliability and security. The only thing they accomplished today was constructing additional road blocks that further delay building out the energy infrastructure our country desperately needs. Energy independence is our greatest geopolitical and economic tool and we cannot lose sight of that as instability rises around the globe.”

Barrasso reaction:

“President Biden is trumpeting the importance of infrastructure at the same time his appointees are working to kill energy infrastructure. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is determined to make it nearly impossible for Americans to maintain or improve access to abundant and affordable supplies of natural gas. Delaying and then denying approval of natural gas pipelines and storage facilities will only drive up already-inflated energy prices. It also threatens natural gas and electric reliability. This is just the latest attack in Biden’s war on American energy.”

Bill Cassidy (R-La.) reaction:

“Our nation depends on clear-minded, nonpartisan policy, not activists carrying out an ideological and political agenda. Yesterday, FERC said it will defy the Natural Gas Act by no longer considering only whether a project is “needed” when granting new natural gas permits. Rather, they will also consider environmental justice and climate impacts that will be determined behind closed doors. This FERC policy announcement all but guarantees no new natural gas construction permits will be issued this year and amounts to a defacto natural gas export ban. All the while, Europe is dependent on Russian natural gas and we are in the midst of a global energy crisis hurting Americans’ pocketbooks. The vacuum of energy production will be filled by foreign countries with lower environmental standards which will increase global emissions. This administration could not be writing worse energy policy.”

• Richard Glick, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Biden/Democratic appointee
• James Danly, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Trump/Republican appointee (dissented)
• Allison Clements, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Trump/Democratic appointee
• Mark C. Christie, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Trump/Republican appointee (dissented)
• Willie L. Phillips, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Biden/Democratic appointee

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an Executive Session at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2022, to consider several presidential nominations. Immediately following the Executive Session, the Committee will hold a full committee hearing on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.).

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act, co-led by Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Roger Marshall (R-Ks.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jerry Moran (R-Ks.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mark Kelly (D-Az.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), would address these supply chain challenges by making it harder for ocean carriers to arbitrarily turn away goods at ports that are ready to be shipped abroad. It would also give the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the federal agency responsible for the regulation of oceanborne transportation, greater authority to regulate harmful practices by carriers. Similar legislation was led in the House by Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 364-60.

“Congestion at ports and increased shipping costs pose unique challenges for U.S. exporters, who have seen the price of shipping containers increase four-fold in just two years. Meanwhile, ocean carriers have reported record profits,” said Klobuchar. “This legislation will help level the playing field for American exporters so they can get their goods to market in a timely manner for a fair price. As we work to improve our supply chains, I’ll keep fighting to establish trade opportunities for the U.S.”

“I want to thank Senators Klobuchar and Thune for their introduction of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. For far too long, American entrepreneurs have been at the mercy of ocean shippers, and their exorbitant fees. This bill, and the House companion, would bring much needed relief to the pocketbooks of American innovators and consumers,” said Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association.

“The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association deeply appreciates the bipartisan work on the difficulties Minnesota’s soybean growers have had with container exports. Container access in Minnesota historically has been difficult and that difficulty has increased in the past years to a near impossibility. Export markets are vital to Minnesota’s specialty soybean growers. Balancing the power of shippers and guaranteeing fair access to ships is vital to the agriculture sector of Minnesota’s economy. MSGA thanks Senator Klobuchar for her work on these difficult issues,” said Mike Skaug, President of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.

“The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) thanks Senator Klobuchar and Senator Thune for this bipartisan bill to ensure an efficient, competitive and economical transportation system for crops and other export-bound goods. Exports are a key market for Minnesota’s corn farmers, and MCGA supports efforts to ensure affordable and dependable shipping options for their crop,” said Bryan Biegler, President of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act would:

• Require ocean carriers to certify that late fees —known in maritime parlance as “detention and demurrage” charges—comply with federal regulations or face penalties;
• Shift burden of proof regarding the reasonableness of “detention or demurrage” charges from the invoiced party to the ocean carrier;
• Prohibit ocean carriers from unreasonably declining shipping opportunities for U.S. exports, as determined by the FMC in new required rulemaking;
• Require ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter on total import/export tonnage and 20-foot equivalent units (loaded/empty) per vessel that makes port in the United States; Authorize the FMC to self-initiate investigations of ocean common carrier’s business practices and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate; and
• Establish new authority for the FMC to register shipping exchanges.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act is supported by the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC), the National Retail Federation, the National Industrial Transportation League, the Home Furnishings Association, the Hardwood Federation, National Milk Producers Federation, American Trucking Associations (ATA), ADM, National Milk Producers Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Tyson Foods, the American Home Furnishings Alliance, Auto Care Association, International Association of Movers, Harbor Trucking Association, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Travel Goods Association, American Pyrotechnics Association, National Association of Chemical Distributors, American Equipment Manufacturers, National Marine Manufacturers Association, ATA Agriculture and Food Transporters Conference, ATA Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference, California Automotive Wholesalers’ Association, DairyAmerica, Fragrance Creators Association, Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers, California Dairies, Inc., Sartori Cheese, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., International Ingredient Corporation, Associated Milk Producers, American Bankers Association, International Warehouse Logistics Association, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Agri-Mark, Inc., Northeast Dairy Cooperatives, Retail industry Leaders Association, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, United Dairymen of Arizona, Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, Midwest Dairy Coalition, International Dairy Foods Association, High Desert Milk, the Consumer Technology Association, Northwest Dairy Association, Darigold, Schreiber Foods, Dairy Farmers of America, First District Association, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Leprino Foods Company, the North American Meat Institute, Meat Import Council of America, Leather and Hide Council of America, Milk Specialties Global, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, South Dakota Soybean Association, Pet Food Institute, Western Growers, Allports Forwarding Inc., California Fresh Fruit Association, Capay Canyon Ranch, Double River Forwarding LLC, Fornazor International, IMC Companies, International Fresh Produce Association, National onion Association, Pacific Northwest Asia Shippers Association, Pandol Bros. Inc., SB&B Foods LLC, ShoEi Foods USA, Specialty Crop Trade Council, Specialty Soya & Grains Alliance, Total Logistics Resources Inc., Williams Clarke Company, Inc, and California Farm Bureau.