Hill Heat

On Friday, September 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (MDT), the Committee on Natural Resources will hold an oversight hearing titled “The Great American Outdoors Act: Modernizing and Maintaining National Parks to Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday.” The hearing will examine opportunities to reauthorize and reform the Great American Outdoors Act to enhance public access, improve infrastructure, and create new outdoor recreation opportunities at our national parks. This hearing will be held at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

In the face of the Trump administration’s attacks on our communities and the climate, downballot races have an outsized role in the fight for climate and environmental justice. That’s why this summer and fall, Lead Locally is organizing Calls for Climate, a phone banking series to reach voters in key downballot races.

Our next phone bank is on Wednesday, September 3, and we’re making calls in support of climate leader Lily Franklin for Virginia’s House of Delegates.

Calls for Climate is a virtual phone bank that you can join from anywhere — all you need is a computer and a phone. Each week, we’ll be talking to voters about a race with important stakes for climate and democracy:

In Virginia, we’re making calls in support of progressive state legislators to strengthen the state’s Democratic Assembly majority and beat MAGA Republicans. Take action with us to win a pro-climate Democratic trifecta that will pass bills to regulate the statewide utility Dominion Energy, cut carbon pollution, and ensure affordable energy bills for all.

In Georgia, we’re backing two climate champions running for the Public Service Commission. If elected, Dr. Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard will fight to lower energy bills for working families by stopping rate hikes and accelerating the buildout of renewable energy.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, we’re organizing for Pastor Gregory Manning for City Council. A longtime leader in the city’s climate justice movement, Pastor Manning’s platform centers on reigning in the profits of the city’s utility Entergy and tackling the skyrocketing costs of utility bills and housing.

Local races like these are often determined by a small number of votes, so every voter we can talk to really does matter.

Whether you’re making calls for the first time or a seasoned phone banker, we’ve got you covered! We’ll begin by learning what is at stake in the race (often from the candidates themselves), review the phone banking script, and walk through how to use the calling platform.

RSVP

EPW business meeting to consider:

• Jeffrey Hall to be Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
• Katherine Scarlett to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality.
• 10 Committee Resolutions to approve prospectuses from the General Services Administration.

Nomination hearing was on July 3rd.

Scarlett has been serving as the CEQ chief of staff since the start of the current administration; previously, she worked at CEQ and served as chief of staff to the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council during President Trump’s first administration. Additionally, she served as senior Republican professional staff on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee under Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

On February 19, 2025, Scarlett issued guidance in the form of a memorandum to the heads of federal agencies and departments (2025 CEQ Memo), providing direction on how agencies should update their existing NEPA procedures for consistency with the NEPA amendments in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) (2023 NEPA Statute) and the policy priorities laid out in the various Executive Orders (EOs) from President Trump. She made clear that environmental justice and cumulative impacts don’t need to be considered.

Jeffrey Hall, previously a partner at oil-industry law firm Burke Law Group, is principal deputy assistant administrator in EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. At Burke, Hall represented Dr. Eithan Haim, an anti-trans surgeon who stole minor patient files and shared them with neo-Nazi activist Chris Rufo. The case against Haim was dropped by the DOJ days after Trump became president. Hall also represented the anti-trans organization Do No Harm. Hall also represented the State of Louisiana in arguments before the Fifth Court of Appeals in Texas v. EPA. The court ruled against Louisiana.

A March 12 memo from Hall lays out specific “initial guidance” on realigning the agency’s 2023 National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives with the Trump Administration’s stated goals. The memo provides that “enforcement and compliance assurance actions shall not shut down any stage of energy production . . . or power generation absent an imminent and substantial threat to human health or an express statutory or regulatory requirement to the contrary.” Further, actions that “would unduly burden or significantly disrupt energy production or power generation,” among other consequences, must be approved by Mr. Hall.

Join us for a virtual FEMA rally and teach-in!

We are excited to host signers of the Katrina Declaration and rally behind them as they teach us about what FEMA does.

Please register for the Zoom webinar and we will see you Thursday 8/28 at 8p et/5p PT.

What if thousands of us ran for local office on climate? With climate action stalled federally, cities, counties, and states have a huge opportunity to lead, which is why we need progressive climate champions in office at all levels of government now more than ever.

On August 27 at 6pm ET/3pm PT, Lead Locally is hosting a virtual panel featuring elected climate leaders from across the country. In this moment, voters are calling for a change in leadership – generationally, and politically – at all levels of government.

Zohran Mamdani’s historic win in NYC’s mayoral primary, for instance, provides one exciting model of what new leadership on climate can look like. From fare-free buses to green public schools, his bold climate platform centered on making the city more affordable and livable for working class families.

Aru Shiney-Ajay, Sunrise Movement’s Executive Director, will be joining us for a conversation with three elected climate champions from across the country to hear about how they successfully ran for local office and how they’re governing in the face of the Trump administration’s attacks on our planet and communities:

• Oscar De Los Santos, AZ State House Rep. District 11
• Kate Sykes, Portland City Councilor District 5
• Andre Carroll, PA State House Rep. District 201

Panelists will share with us:

• How they successfully ran for local office – and what motivated them to do so
• How they’re governing in the face of Trump’s attacks on our planet and communities
• Whether, and in what way, they think voters are demanding a change in leadership right now – and what races like Mamdani’s can tell us

This call is for all, whether you are just curious about local climate politics or you are committed to running for local office already.

RSVP

ADVISORY

Administrator Zeldin Announces New Name for EPA:

Environmental Pollution Agency

Name change reflects new pro-polluters mission under President Trump

Adm. Zeldin to host renaming ceremony at EPA on Thursday

EAST PALESTINE, OHIO – While visiting the site of an infamous 2023 chemical spill, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the EPA would henceforth be known as the Environmental Pollution Agency to better align with the Trump administration’s pro-pollution agenda.

“For too long the EPA has worked for Americans who want clean air, clean water, and safe environments,” said Administrator Zeldin. “Under President Trump, we’re giving the power back to America’s patriotic fossil fuel and chemical companies. The same guys who raise your electric bill every year should be able to dump where they want without government interference. It’s called freedom.”

The name change comes on the heels of Administrator Zeldin’s other moves to prioritize polluters at the EPA, including dismantling the Office of Research & Development; reconsidering the ban on asbestos and regulations related to wastewater and mercury; and taking steps to allow the oil, gas, automotive, and other industries to pollute to their hearts’ desire.

Administrator Zeldin further announced that he will officiate a renaming ceremony this Thursday, August 7, at 10 a.m. Media and the public are invited to join him at the EPA (12th St. NW between Pennsylvania and Constitution Aves.) at that time. Please RSVP to [email protected].

“The Climate Hoax is DEAD! Just like I PROMISED during the Campaign when I told oil execs why they should give me a BILLION dollars — we’re ENDING the ridiculous, job-destroying “Environmental” Regulations that the Radical Left loves so much,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. “Lee and I are doing an INCREDIBLE job with the Environmental POLLUTION Agency (much better name!). No more Green New Scam — America FIRST means chemical runoff in EVERY backyard and FIRES in every river — just like the GOOD OLD DAYS!!!”

“I commend the Trump administration for taking steps to get rid of the Endangerment Finding that’s been regulating greenhouse gases — or as we call them, Miracle Molecules,” said Michael K. Wirth, CEO of Chevron. “True to its name, the finding endangers small businesses like mine. Thank you to President Trump for the freedom to pollute.”

“Naysayers will claim that pulling back regulations will cause more disasters like the deadly floods in Texas,” said EPA spokeswoman Melinda McFossilShill. “This is 100% false. We all know that floods and hurricanes are caused either by God’s wrath or by suspicious minority groups manipulating the weather.”

Full committee hearing to consider nominations.

Nominees:

• Bryan “Rick” Switzer, of Virginia, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Asia, Textiles, Investment, Services, and Intellectual Property), with the rank of Ambassador, vice Sarah Bianchi
• Gustav Chiarello III, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Financial Resources, vice Robert Michael Gordon
• Michael B. “Mike” Stuart, of West Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, vice Samuel R. Bagenstos, resigned
• Derek Theurer, of Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs, vice Jonathan Davidson

Switzer served as the Director of Policy and Strategy for the Special Envoy Office for Critical and Emerging Technology (S/TECH) at the U.S. Department of State. Prior to joining S/TECH, Rick was a Senior Fellow at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Rick was also the State Department Chair visiting professor at the National Intelligence University teaching graduate courses on China’s economy and innovation system. He served as a member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Council and from 2018 to 2019, and he was a Senior State Department Advisor to the Department of Defense working with the Air Force and the Army. Preceding that he was the Environment, Science, Technology and Health Counselor at Embassy Beijing.

Chiarello most recently was Senior Special Counsel to the House Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan. He serves on the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, chaired by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald. Previously, Chiarello served as an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He also served as an Attorney Advisor to Acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen during the first Trump Administration. Chiarello received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Human Resource Management from the Catholic University of America. He also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a law degree from George Mason University.

Stuart currently serves as a West Virginia State Senator. Elected in 2022, he represents the people of Logan, Lincoln, Boone, and Kanawha counties. Previously, Senator Stuart served as a United States District Attorney, as the Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, and as a corporate attorney for Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (corporate services and tax practice group).

Theurer was Republican Chief Tax Counsel for the House Committee on Ways and Means. Previously he served as Senior Tax Counsel for Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, contributing to construction and passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He also was Vice President of Tax and Fiscal Policy at the Business Roundtable. He spent the first decade of his career with Exxon Mobil Corporation, working in tax advisory and senior government affairs roles. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Utah State University, a J.D. in Tax Law & Policy Specialization from UCLA School of Law, and an LL.M. in Tax from NYU School of Law.

Full committee markup.

• Defense bill text

• Committee report

• Adopted amendments

• GOP summary

• LHHSE bill text

• Committee report

• Adopted amendments

• GOP summary

Subcommittee hearing entitled: “The Future is Loper Bright: Congress’s Role in the Regulatory Landscape.”

Witnesses:

• Allyson Schwartz, Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center and Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (D-PA)
• Susan Dudley, Distinguished Professor of Practice, Regulatory Studies Center, George Washington University
• Chad Squitieri, Assistant Professor of Law, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University

Full committee hearing of the USDA reorganization proposal.

Witness:

• Stephen Alexander Vaden, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, USDA