Hill Heat

Full committee hearing.

The Tennessee Valley Authority board has been reduced to three members, less than the quorum of five, following crippling firings by Trump. Trump fired board member Michelle Moore on March 27. Trump fired chair Joe Ritsch on April 1. On June 10, Trump fired Beth Geer, chief of staff to former Vice President Al Gore. No public explanation of the firings has been offered.

Nominees to be Members of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

• Mitch Graves of Tennessee, to replace Brian Noland
• Jeff Hagood of Tennessee, to replace Beth Harwell
• Randall “Randy” Jones of Alabama, to replace William Killbride
• Arthur “Art” Graham, of Florida, to replace Michelle Moore

Graves currently serves on Memphis Light, Gas & Water’s board of commissioners and as the CEO of West Cancer Center & Research Institute. Prior to joining WCCRI, he was the CEO of HealthChoice, LLC. Graves has previously served on the boards of Christian Brothers University (Chairman), United Methodist Neighborhood Centers (Chairman), Revenue Assurance, Precision Infusion, Alliance Health Service, Community Care Associates, First Eight Memphis, and Methodist Federal Credit Union. On a national level, he previously served as a member of United Healthcare’s Executive Advisory Council and Cigna’s National Health Care Advisory Council.

Jeff Hagood is a Knoxville lawyer, a former fundraiser for Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs’ Big Red PAC and a member of the Knoxville Sports Authority Board.

Randy Jones is a well-connected insurance agent in Alabama who sits on the Guntersville Electric Board.

Art Graham is a chemical engineer who formerly worked for Georgia Pacific. Since 2010, he has served on the Florida Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in the state. Graham is the only one of Trump’s current nominees to live outside of TVA’s service region.

10/22/2025 at 10:00AM

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee executive session on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider the following nominations and legislation, originally scheduled for October 8:

Agenda:

• S. 2975, PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 (Cruz, Cantwell), amended after Lujan 2 to include extreme heat and cold in the list of disasters adopted by voice vote, favorably reported by voice vote.
• S. 2563, Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2025 (Young). Markey amendment to rein in FCC rejected 15-13 on party lines. Markey amendment #3 on Trump emoluments rejected 15-13 on party lines. Markey amendment #6 on Federal Reserve independence rejected 15-13 on party lines after Lummis complained about oil and gas businesses being “debanked”. Markey amendment #8 on erratic tariff policies rejected 15-13 on party lines after Cruz called it a “political showboat” and Moreno “vehemently disagreed.” Markey amendment #13 on foreign-company wage standards rejected 15-13 on party lines after Moreno raised the question of “illegal migrants lowering wages” and Cantwell noted the last such Commerce study is ten years old. Favorably reported by voice vote.

Upon the motion of Cantwell, favorably reported en bloc by voice vote:

• S. 1070, National STEM Week Act (Ernst)
• S. 2126, Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Wicker)
• S. 2245, Digital Coast Act (Baldwin)
• S. 2357, Young Fishermen’s Development Extension Act (Sullivan)
• S. 2503, ROTOR Act (Cruz)
• S. 2666, Foreign Robocall Elimination Act (Budd)

Upon the motion of Fischer:

• Nomination of Harry Kumar, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs: With Thune proxy; reported favorably on party lines 15-13.

Upon the motion of Moran:

• Nomination of Joyce Meyer, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs: With Thune proxy; reported favorably 15-13.

Upon the motion of Wicker:

• Nomination of Seval Oz, of California, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology: With Thune proxy and Peters (D-Mich.) aye, reported favorably 16-12.

Kumar’s nomination hearing took place on July 9th. He is a former Trump Department of Commerce official, oil industry lobbyist, and chief lobbyist for battery-recycling startup Li-Cycle, which recently filed for bankruptcy. He is currently Senior Advisor in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Oz’s nomination hearing took place on July 23rd. Oz was Head of Global Strategic Partnerships for Google [X]’s Self-Driving Car Program from 2011 to 2014, where she supported business and marketing efforts for the initiative that later became Waymo. Oz recently served on the board of directors of MicroVision Inc., an advanced driver-assistance systems software company. She is Mehmet Oz’s sister.

Meyer’s nomination hearing took place on September 17th. She served as the White House’s deputy director of legislative affairs during Trump’s first term, and was a long-time staffer of the former Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.). She would oversee the U.S. Census Bureau.

10/21/2025 at 10:00AM

Full committee business meeting.

Legislation:

• HR. 4550, United States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR4550 Substitute Amendment). Reported favorably 23-0.

Reported favorably en bloc 23-0:

• S. 277, A bill to release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.

• S. 1680, Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2025

• S. 2440, A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for other purposes.

• HR. 197, Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

• S. 1262, A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to release a reversionary interest in certain land in the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin, and for other purposes.

• S. 2548, Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act of 2025

• S. 1681, Shenandoah Mountain Act

• HR. 1612, Flatside Wilderness Additions Act

• S. 1350, A bill to modify the boundaries of the Talladega National Forest, and for other purposes.

• S. 1376, Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025

• S. 1876, Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act

• S. 638, A bill to amend the Act of June 22, 1948.

• S. ______, To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and for other purposes.

• S. 1462, Fix Our Forests Act (S1462 Substitute Amendment)

Klobuchar notes the Padilla-Hickenlooper version is supported by EDF, Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Theodore Roosevelt Partnership

Tuberville withdrew his amendment known as the Disaster Reforestation Act to give tax breaks to landowners for losses of uncut timber in the wake of storms or other climate disasters. Withdrawn as he recognizes it is under jurisdiction of Finance Committee. Warnock supported the amendment.

Bennet introduced amendment with Schiff to require tribal collaboration. Failed on party lines 11-12.

Schiff introduced amendment #3 to ensure funding for Forest Service wildfire mitigation. Failed on party lines 11-12.

Booker introduced amendment #2 with Durbin and Fetterman to strike section 121 which restricts judges’ decisions and limits judicial review from 6 years to 150 days. Durbin noted this should be a province of the Judiciary Committee. Failed on party lines 11-12.

Lujan withdrew amendment #4 which deals with controlled burns that go out of control.

Vote to report favorably S. 1462 as amended: Klobuchar, Lujan, Warnock, Welch, Fetterman, Slotkin aye with all Republicans: 18-5.

10/21/2025 at 09:15AM

Lithium, a crucial input in the batteries powering electric vehicles, has the potential to save the world from climate change. But even green solutions come at a cost. Mining lithium is environmentally destructive. We therefore confront a dilemma: Is it possible to save the world by harming it in the process?

Having spent over a decade researching mining and oil sectors in Latin America, Thea Riofrancos is a leading voice on resource extraction. In Extraction, she draws on groundbreaking fieldwork on the global race for lithium. Taking readers from the breathtaking salt flats of Chile’s Atacama Desert, to Nevada’s glorious Silver Peak Range, to the rolling hills of the Barroso Region of Portugal, she reveals the social and environmental costs of “critical minerals.” In Washington, DC, and Brussels, she tracks the escalating geopolitics of green technology supply chains. And she takes stock of new policy paradigms in the Global South, where governments seek to leverage mineral assets to jumpstart green development. In the process, Riofrancos uncovers surprising links across history, from colonial conquest to the 1970s energy crisis, to our still uncertain green future.

While unregulated mining could inflict irreversible harm, Riofrancos offers optimistic proposals to transform the governance of mining while also reducing the sheer volume of global extraction. A rigorous and hopeful call to action, Extraction shares how we can harmonize climate goals with social justice–and set the planet on a course to ecological flourishing.

Thea Riofrancos is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Providence College, a Strategic Co-Director of the Climate and Community Institute, and a fellow at the Transnational Institute. Previously, she has been an Andrew Carnegie Fellow, a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard, and a Visiting Fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at Notre Dame, as well as holding research positions at institutions in Santiago, Chile and Quito, Ecuador. The author of Resource Radicals and coauthor of A Planet to Win, her articles have appeared in Perspectives on Politics, Cultural Studies, World Politics, and Global Environmental Politics, and her essays in the New York Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, n+1, and Jacobin, among other outlets.

Riofrancos will be in conversation with Dharna Noor. Noor is the fossil fuels and climate reporter at the Guardian US. Before joining the Guardian, she helped launch the Boston Globe’s climate team as a writer and producer. Previously, she was a staff writer at Earther, Gizmodo’s climate vertical, where she also co-produced a season of the podcast Drilled on the fossil fuel industry’s influence on education. Dharna began her career in media at the Real News Network, where she launched and led the climate team. Her multimedia reporting has also appeared in various publications and was also featured in the 2021 book The World We Need and the intro for the 2022 book Future on Fire. She has been interviewed on an array of shows such as PBS News Hour, Democracy Now, and NPR’s Living on Earth. She lives in Baltimore.

This event is free with first come, first serve seating.

At Politics & Prose at the Wharf, 610 Water St SW, Washington DC

10/10/2025 at 07:00PM

Postponed to October 21. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee executive session on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider the following nominations and legislation:

Agenda:

• Nomination of Harry Kumar, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
• Nomination of Joyce Meyer, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs
• Nomination of Seval Oz, of California, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology
• S. 1070, National STEM Week Act (Ernst)
• S. 2126, Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Wicker)
• S. 2245, Digital Coast Act (Baldwin)
• S. 2357, Young Fishermen’s Development Extension Act (Sullivan)
• S. 2563, Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2025 (Young)
• S. 2666, Foreign Robocall Elimination Act (Budd)
• S. XXXX, PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 (Cruz, Cantwell)

Kumar’s nomination hearing took place on July 9th. He is a former Trump Department of Commerce official, oil industry lobbyist, and chief lobbyist for battery-recycling startup Li-Cycle, which recently filed for bankruptcy. He is currently Senior Advisor in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Oz’s nomination hearing took place on July 23rd. Oz was Head of Global Strategic Partnerships for Google [X]’s Self-Driving Car Program from 2011 to 2014, where she supported business and marketing efforts for the initiative that later became Waymo. Oz recently served on the board of directors of MicroVision Inc., an advanced driver-assistance systems software company. She is Mehmet Oz’s sister.

Meyer’s nomination hearing took place on September 17th. She served as the White House’s deputy director of legislative affairs during Trump’s first term, and was a long-time staffer of the former Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.). She would oversee the U.S. Census Bureau.

10/08/2025 at 10:00AM

Full committee hearing.

Nominees:

• Ho Nieh, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Douglas Troutman, of Maryland, to be Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances of the Environmental Protection Agency

Ho Nieh, an officer of Southern Nuclear, is on loan to the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, where he is fully dedicated to supporting the Continuous Monitoring organization. He joined Southern Nuclear in September 2021 as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Nieh has more than 20 years of experience with the NRC, most recently serving as Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, where he was responsible for NRC reactor safety licensing and oversight programs for operating and new reactors. In addition to serving as Resident Inspector and in various roles impacting policy, operations, licensing and incident response, Nieh served as Director of Division Reactor Projects in Region 1, Director of Division Inspection and Regional Support at NRC Headquarters and as Chief of Staff for Commissioner William Ostendorff. Beyond the NRC, Nieh served the Nuclear Energy Agency as Director of the Division of Nuclear Safety Technology and Regulation, where he enhanced international cooperation for nuclear safety regulatory authorities and research institutes. He served as Communications Advisor to the International Atomic Energy Agency and worked in many capacities at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, including as a Civilian Instructor for the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program.

Doug Troutman is a chemical industry lobbyist, currently the Co-Interim CEO, General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for the American Cleaning Institute. Troutman joined ACI (then the Soap and Detergent Association) in 2007. He previously held senior positions at Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). He was on the legislative staff to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) from 1992 to 1996.

10/08/2025 at 10:00AM

Business meeting to consider the nominations of

• Jonathan Greenstein, of New York, to be Deputy Under Secretary for International Finance
• Donald Korb, of Ohio, to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General Counsel
• Derek Theurer, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary for Legislative Affairs, all of the Department of Treasury

Jonathan Greenstein served as Senator Bill Hagerty’s (R-Tenn.) Senior Policy Advisor. Greenstein is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Yale Law School.

Derek Theurer is a Counselor to the Secretary and advises the Secretary on domestic and international tax policy. Mr. Theurer joins the Treasury Department after four years in the House of Representatives, serving as Chief Tax Counsel at the Committee on Ways and Means and most recently as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Speaker. Mr. Theurer previously served as Senior Tax Counsel in the Senate, contributing to the design and passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. His private sector tax experience includes senior roles at Exxon Mobil Corporation and the Business Roundtable. Mr. Theurer hold a BS from Utah State University, a JD from UCLA, and an LLM in Tax from New York University.

10/08/2025 at 10:00AM

Southwest Neighborhood Assembly in collaboration with DC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster invite you to “All Hands on Deck: Building a Disaster-Resilient and Prepared City,” an open house on Monday, September 29, 7 pm - 9 pm.

Speakers from:

• United Way National Capital Area
• Department of Energy and the Environment
• DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency
• Up to 40 nonprofit disaster and environmental groups and local government agencies showcasing their work in environmental protection, disaster preparedness, and disaster response

Location:
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
1101 Sixth St SW, Washington, DC 20024

For more information and/or to help volunteer, contact Ben Curran (202) 294-7043 [email protected]

09/29/2025 at 07:00PM

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), in partnership with Georgetown University’s Global Cities Initiative, is proud to host its second annual Healthy Building Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., on September 29. This landmark, full-day event is dedicated to exploring the critical role of policy at all levels of government in transforming workplaces, buildings and cities to improve health, build resilience and foster thriving communities.

The Summit will focus on critical topics and timely issues impacting the built environment including indoor air quality, the evidence-based return on investment (ROI) of healthy buildings, as well as the influence of legislation on market transformation. Other key topics include access to healthy environments, the leadership role of cities and states, and the contribution of professional organizations and technical standards in advancing healthy building initiatives.

Join us at our annual policy summit, exploring opportunities to advance healthy buildings.

Location:
McCourt School of Public Policy
125 E Street NW Washington, DC 20001

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Registration + Coffee

9:45 AM - 9:55 AM

Opening Remarks

• Jason Hartke, IWBI
• Dr. Christopher King, Dean, School of Health, Georgetown

9:55 AM - 10:10 AM

Opening Plenary

• Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th U.S. Surgeon General

10:10 AM - 10:55 AM

Panel: Unlocking Policy Solutions to Accelerate Healthy Indoor Air

• Nora Wang Esram, CEO, New Building Institute
• Sean McCrady, Vice President of Software & Advisory, UL
• Dr. Georgia Lagoudas, Brown University School of Public
• Jonathan Gritz, SVP of Energy Solutions, WellStat

Poor indoor air quality represents a pervasive public health crisis–one that demands urgent, coordinated global action. With Americans spending 90% of their time indoors–often breathing air more polluted than outside–the need for bold, coordinated policy has never been more urgent.

10:55 AM - 11:10 AM

Movement Break

11:15 AM - 12:05 PM

Panel: Investing in Health Pays Back: Lessons from the Field

• Whitney Austin Gray, SVP of Research,IWBI
• Denise Hauck, President, Department of Defense, Corvias
• Susan Chung, Associate Director,HKS
• Serene Almomen, Co-Founder and CEO, Attune

While the benefits of people-centric practices have long been established in public health and building science research, recent studies outline a clear connection between these investments and enhanced business performance, increased asset value and higher financial returns. Discover how research-backed strategies strengthen the business case for health investments.

12:05 PM - 12:15 PM

Georgetown’s Commitment to Health and Sustainability: A Campus Perspective

• Rachel Kohli, Director of Campus Planning, Georgetown

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

Networking Lunch

1:15 PM - 2:05 PM

Fireside Chat: Built for Health: The Path to Scale

• Erin Billups, National Health Reporter, Spectrum News
• Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI
• U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D, NY)

From cutting-edge technology to legislative momentum, this conversation explores how buildings have become a defining opportunity to transform how we live, work and thrive.

2:05 PM - 2:50 PM

Panel: How the Private Sector is Raising the Bar on Healthy Buildings

• Chris Pyke, GRESB
• Tanya Eagle, Director of Sustainable Buildings, JLL
• Wendy Feldman Block, Savills

Across industries, pioneering companies are turning buildings into engines of health, productivity and business performance. By showcasing what’s possible–and profitable–the private sector is setting a new standard. This panel dives into how policy can accelerate adoption and bring these benefits to communities everywhere.

2:50 PM - 3:10 PM

A Special Conversation with ASHRAE President William McQuade

• Erika Heet, Editor-In-Chief, BuildingGreen
• William McQuade, President, ASHRAE

3:10 PM - 3:40 PM

Movement Break

3:40 PM - 4:30 PM

Panel: Unleashing innovation to propel the healthy buildings movement

• Cameron Oskvig, NAS
• Trisha Miller, VP and Market Dev., Aeroseal

Cities and states are proving that big change starts at home. From bold building codes to public-private partnerships, local leaders are advancing health-first policies that are reshaping neighborhoods and inspiring national action. This panel highlights the power of place-based leadership to drive scalable impact.

4:30 PM - 5:20 PM

Panel: The role of states and cities in pioneering healthy building policy

• Uwe Brandes, Georgetown
• Kazukiyo Kumagai, California Department of Public Health
• Elizabeth Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel, USGBC
• Seydina Fall, Senior Lecturer, Johns Hopkins University

Technology is reshaping the way we think about our spaces: enabling healthier, more responsive buildings at a pace once thought impossible. From real-time air quality monitoring to AI-driven design, innovation is fueling a healthier built environment.

5:20 PM - 5:30 PM

Closing Remarks

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Networking Reception + Tour

Hosted at the Daikin Sustainability & Innovation Center

09/29/2025 at 09:00AM

Calling all Water Warriors! Join us at The Office of the People’s Counsel’s Water Summit on Monday, September 29, 2025, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library located at 901 G Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001.

Be a part of the change for a sustainable future!

Hear from local and national environmental leaders, witness groundbreaking demonstrations, and connect with passionate advocates from around the region.

This engaging and interactive summit will bring community partners together with industry experts, dynamic panelists, utility officials, and social service providers. Our luncheon keynote speaker will close out the day with a call to action to empower consumers with the tools to be “water smart”.

Water is our right — help us protect it. Register now and let your voice be heard!

Why Attend? How will the OPC Community Water Summit Benefit You?

• To empower communities, policymakers, and industry leaders with actionable knowledge.
• Learn about water discount programs to help lower your water bill.
• Learn how to read your water bill.
• Learn how to save money on your water bill with water conservation tips.
• Learn how water services are aligned to electricity and gas.
• Participate in utility discount clinic and get help with completing applications for utility discount and affordability programs.
• Hear from dynamic keynote speakers.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with passionate professionals, organizations, and decision-makers in the utility sector and water industry.
• Youth & Community Engagement: Special sessions designed to amplify the voices of young leaders with a call to action as Ambassadors.

What You’ll Get!!!

• Raffle giveaway
• Free lunch
• Bag of Swag items for attending
• Meet with Water influencers
• Consumer education. Walk away empowered from Community Water Summit
• Network with tabletop vendors
• Engage in break out and panel sessions
• Participate in live interactive demonstrations
• Use your voice at the interactive roundtable discussions
• Receive one-on-one technical assistance for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other utility discount programs at the technical clinic. (Please Note: Applications will not be processed on-site)

09/29/2025 at 09:00AM