Climate science, policy, politics, and action
On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 10:15 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold an oversight hearing titled “All in for America250: Public-Private Partnerships Supporting America’s Semiquincentennial on our Public Lands.”
The Committee on Rules will meet Monday, February 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET in H-313, The Capitol on the following measures:
While the majority claims H.R. 3617 targets and supports the development of critical minerals, including those needed for the development of clean and renewable energy resources, H.R. 3617 uses the term ‘‘critical energy resource’’ instead of ‘‘critical minerals’’ or ‘‘critical materials.’’ The bill defines ‘‘critical energy resource’’ to mean ‘‘any energy resource that is essential to the energy sector and energy systems of the United States.’’ This definition is not restricted to critical minerals and could be interpreted to include a range of resources, including those that are carbon-emitting or that support the fossil-fuel industry. The bill also does not specify or prioritize the securing of supply chains related to clean or renewable energy, even though the majority claims the bill will support these industries. Without a clear prioritization of clean energy supply chains, H.R. 3617 risks devoting additional DOE resources to supporting carbon-emitting industries. Additionally, there is ambiguity surrounding the definition of ‘‘critical energy resource’’ in H.R. 3617, and how it will interact with existing DOE efforts in the critical minerals and critical materials space. For example, the Department of Energy maintains a list of critical materials using the definition established in the Energy Act of 2020. The Trump Administration already showed an openness to adding fossil fuels to the critical materials list when Energy Secretary Chris Wright added metallurgical coal to the list. H.R. 3617 does not attempt to reconcile any of the tensions or differences in definitions with existing directives, and additional specificity would be needed. This bill gives the Trump Administration open-ended authorities to increase the domestic production of critical materials without any proper definitions or substantive guardrails. The bill tasks the Secretary of Energy with facilitating the ‘‘development of strategies to strengthen critical energy resource supply chains in the United States, including by . . . increasing domestic production.’’
H.R. 261 would prohibit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from requiring any authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) if those activities have been previously approved by other Federal or State agencies. The bill would remove NOAA’s authority under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) to conduct environmental review and charge fair market fees for major infrastructure projects in federally protected marine areas.
H.R. 2189 weakens federal firearms laws and goes far beyond the needs of law enforcement. Rather than being focused on the use of less-than-lethal devices by law enforcement officers, this bill would create a dangerous loophole in the Gun Control Act (GCA) by exempting so-called ‘‘less-than-lethal’’ devices from laws requiring firearms to be traceable, detectable by security equipment, and not available to prohibited purchasers like felons. This new loophole would allow dangerous people to more easily access untraceable, undetectable weapons without a background check. This legislation does real damage by rewriting the definition of ‘‘firearm’’ throughout the entire criminal code to exclude certain, ‘‘less-than-lethal’’ weapons—which are still highly dangerous—such as taser guns, which have been identified as a contributing factor in more than 500 deaths in the United States. Because the definition of what constitutes a ‘‘firearm’’ is central to our federal firearm legal architecture, altering that definition is a dangerous and complicated endeavor—and will have consequences that perhaps are not intended by the bill’s proponents.
H.R. 4242 is aimed at lowering taxes on dangerous weapons without meaningfully assisting law enforcement. Law enforcement officers are already exempt from much of the Gun Control Act and are able to procure both firearms and less-than-lethal projectile devices free of tax. Moreover, redefining ‘‘firearm’’ to exclude less-than-lethal projectile devices from background check requirements is of grave concern for public safety. If enacted, that bill would enable people who are currently unable to obtain weapons classified as firearms—such as people convicted of domestic abuse or violent felonies—to more easily obtain dangerous projectile weapons which may be easily modified.
A fundraiser celebrating 10 Years of the civil rights & environmental justice organization Young, Gifted & Green. Join Young, Gifted & Green to celebrate 10 years in the Movement for a #LeadFreeUSA and Environmental Justice!
Young, Gifted & Green (formerly Black Millennials 4 Flint), started as a community outreach project in the wake of the Flint Water Crisis with Thursday Network–Greater Washington Urban League Young Professionals. We were officially founded in Washington, DC on February 10, 2016, and we have been blessed to expand our work nationally.
This fundraising event will feature dinner, music by DJ Marvelous & a violin feature by Candice Mott, a silent auction, a cash bar, a photo booth, and a wonderful celebration of Black Excellence. This esteemed event will also honor the lives of Congressmen Donald McEachin & Raul Grijalva with acknowledgement of remarkable EJ leaders upholding their legacy for cleaner and healthier environments with inductees into the Grijalva-McEachin Legacy Circle along with Inaugural Noir et Vert Award Honorees for Lifetime Achievement & Changemaker.
Special Guests: Mari Copeny (AKA “Little Miss Flint”), Dr. Wes Bellamy, AND MORE!
Tickets: $100 to $1000+. All proceeds benefit Young, Gifted, & Green.
Venue: Ìpàdé
1734 20th Street NW
Climate change isn’t just transforming our planet — it’s shaping how we think, feel, and show up in the world. In the midst of escalating disasters and uncertainty, what does it truly mean to thrive? And how can we build the emotional resilience needed to face these challenges while staying grounded, hopeful, and engaged?
Join this dynamic webinar with national experts to explore the emotional dimensions of climate change and the powerful connection between individual wellbeing and collective action. Participants will gain practical tools and resources for cultivating emotional resilience, alongside concrete strategies for taking meaningful, values-aligned action in their communities.
Webinar speakers:
Moderator:
On February 5, 2026, join the Center for Climate and Security online for a webinar exploring how intensifying climate change impacts are continuing to shape global peace and security dynamics as they strain food security, stress social cohesion, shift migration dynamics, and threaten lives. At the same time, the unfettered growth of AI systems is increasingly prominent in discussions about climate change and how this technology will impact global resilience.
This webinar will bring together experts from the security, technology, and climate communities to explore a range of issues, including the security implications of AI’s water and energy demands; the role of AI in advancing early warning and risk anticipation systems; and the potential for AI to both strengthen—or undermine—energy systems and infrastructure resilience in a changing climate.
Subcommittee hearing.
Witnesses:
The Subcommittee on Energy will hold a markup on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (ET) in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. The markup will consider the following legislation:
H.R. 7258, Energy Emergency Leadership Act (Reps. Lee-FL and Landsman)
This legislation would amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to include energy emergency and energy security among the functions that the Secretary of Energy shall assign to an Assistant Secretary. The legislation provides that the functions assigned to an Assistant Secretary under this amendment would include responsibilities with respect to energy infrastructure, security and resilience, emerging threats, cybersecurity, supply and emergency planning, coordination, response, and restoration and would include the provision of technical assistance, support, and response capabilities with respect to energy security threats, risks, and incidents to State, local, and Tribal governments and the energy sector. The legislation provides Page 2 Majority Memorandum for February 4, 2026, Subcommittee on Energy Markup that the Secretary of Energy shall ensure the functions under this amendment are performed in coordination with relevant Federal agencies. Substantially similar legislation passed the House in the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses. (Rep. Lee introduced this legislation on January 27, 2026.)
H.R. 7266, Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act (Reps. Miller-Meeks and McClellan)
This legislation would reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity (RMUC) Grant and Technical Assistance Program, authorized in section 40124 of the IIJA,1 through October 31, 2030. The program provides technical and financial assistance to eligible entities, which include rural electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities, and small investor-owned utilities, to protect and harden the systems against cyber threats and to increase participation in cybersecurity threat information sharing programs. The legislation also amends the underlying statute to streamline financial assistance application processes to ensure funding is allocated to small and rural entities that need it most. (Rep. Miller-Meeks introduced this legislation on January 27, 2026.)
H.R. 7257, Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid (SECURE Grid) Act (Reps. Latta and Matsui)
This legislation would amend requirements for State Energy Security Plans, authorized by section 366 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, to consider threats to local distribution alongside bulk-power systems, as well as supply chain and weather-related threats and vulnerabilities. This bill also requires coordination with suppliers of manufactured components and infrastructure in the electric grid to improve understanding of supply chain risks. The bill would also clarify that the Department of Energy is not required to approve State Energy Security Plans. (Rep. Latta introduced this legislation on January 27, 2026.)
H.R. 7272, Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (Reps. Weber and Dingell)
This legislation would require the Secretary of Energy, pursuant to the Secretary’s statutory authorities, to carry out a program that improves coordination among Federal agencies, States, and the energy sector to ensure the security, resiliency, and survivability of natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The program would establish policies and procedures that improve the coordination of analysis and information sharing; lead coordination of responses to and recovery from physical and cyber incidents impacting the energy sector; develop for voluntary use cybersecurity applications, technologies, and analytical tools; perform pilot demonstration projects with the energy sector; and establish workforce development and security curricula for such pipelines and LNG facilities.
The legislation does not provide new regulatory authority and further provides that it shall not be construed to modify the authority of any other Federal agency other than DOE with respect to natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and LNG facilities. Substantially similar legislation was reported favorably by the Committee in the 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses. (Rep. Weber introduced this legislation on January 27, 2026.)
H.R. 7305, Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026 (Reps. Castor and Evans)
This legislation would reauthorize the DOE program authorized in section 40125(c) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which established an Energy Threat Analysis Center. The legislation would reauthorize the program through 2031. In addition, the legislation provides clarifying language for carrying out the program, relating to collaboration and intelligence sharing between the Federal government and the energy sector to strengthen collective defense, response, and resilience. (Rep. Castor introduced this legislation on February 2, 2026.)
On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:
Witnesses:
Panel I (Members of Congress)
Panel II (Outside Experts)
Subcommittee oversight hearing.
Witnesses:
Before confirmation, Walk Walk was Judicial Officer at the United States Department of Agriculture. He served as Associate Counsel to President Donald J. Trump at the White House Counsel’s Office from January 2017 until December 2020. At the White House, Walk advised the President and senior White House officials on the exercise of the President’s constitutional authority, regulatory matters, executive actions, and implementation of public policy. Prior to the White House, Walk served as an attorney at the Department of Homeland Security, providing advice on DHS operations and defending against federal litigation as agency counsel as an ally of Stephen Miller. Before entering the legal profession, Walk was a senior government relations advisor at an international law firm and served as a congressional staffer in the House of Representatives. Walk is the son-in-law of Jeff Sessions, married to Sessions’ daughter Ruth.