Hill Heat

The Red Road to DC is an online and on-the-ground mobilization happening in July connecting 20 Native-led struggles to protect sacred lands, waters, and wildlife from threats posed by dams, climate change, and extractive industries.

Members of Lummi Nation carved a 25 foot totem pole that is being transported from Washington State to Washington DC, visiting tribal nations and Native communities leading efforts to protect sacred places along the way. The journey ends in Washington, DC, with a totem pole blessing, press conference, exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, and delivering the pole to Secretary Deb Haaland at the Department of the Interior.

The House of Tears Carvers and our partners cordially invite you to the culmination of the #RedRoadtoDC Totem Pole Journey in Washington D.C., after thousands of miles traveled visiting dozens of Native-led struggles to protect sacred places. On the 29th, Secretary Deb Haaland will receive the totem pole at a 2pm blessing ceremony on the National Mall, followed by a rally featuring tribal leaders, organizers, and Congressional representatives.

On the 30th, the public is invited to view the totem pole outside the National Museum of the American Indian.

Join us in action, in prayer, or in person to demand:

• The Biden administration must support and uphold Native People’s Free Prior & Informed Consent, as guaranteed by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• Support the demands and struggles of our frontline partners at each and every journey stop starting June 30.

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Witnesses:

• Giles Dickson, CEO, WindEurope
• Heather Zichal, CEO, American Clean Power Association
• Lars Thaaning Pedersen, CEO, Vineyard Wind, Co-CEO, Copenhagen Offshore Partners

Exposure to pollution and lack of access to clean, affordable energy solutions has created economic and health disparities – particularly in Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities. What are the Biden administration’s policy priorities around environmental justice and pollution-free energy infrastructure? And how do we ensure all Americans have access to clean air, water, and sustainable housing?

The Hill will convene advocates and sustainable energy experts for a comprehensive discussion on environmental justice and climate priorities, moderated by Steve Clemons.

Speakers

• Kim Foreman, Executive Director, Environmental Health Watch
• Brenda Mallory, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
• Ben Passer, Lead Director, Energy Access and Equity, Fresh Energy
• Jacqueline Patterson, Founder and Executive Director, The Chisolm Legacy Project
• Adrianna Quintero, Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Energy Foundation

Sponsor Perspective

• Flo McAfee, President, Summerland Studios
• Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

RSVP

Hearing page

The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Readiness includes Department of Defense policy and programs and accounts related to the environment and energy.

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Witnesses

• Karim Giscombe, Chief Executive Officer, PLANT-AG, West Palm Beach, FL
• Aaron Gadouas, Managing Director, BC Ziegler & Company Investment Bank, Chicago, IL
• Edward Verbakel, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, VB Group and Atrium Agri Group, Netherlands
• Jason Kelley, General Manager, IBM Strategic Partners, Austin, TX
• Kevin Safrance, Executive Vice Chairman, Mastronardi Produce, Livonia, MI

Hearing page

Nominees

• Xochitl Torres Small, To be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development
• Robert F. Bonnie, To be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation

Bonnie is currently serving as the USDA’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Senior Advisor, Climate.

The hearing will focus on how Congress can create financial incentives and make smart investments to help families afford clean energy and energy efficiency technologies, to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission cars and trucks, and to create good-paying jobs across America. These incentives and investments include clean energy tax credits; clean vehicle tax credits; tax credits for domestic manufacturing; and a clean energy and sustainability accelerator, which can help support state-level green banks.

Witnesses:

• Duanne Andrade, Chief Financial and Strategic Officer, Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF). Andrade leads development of innovative financing programs at SELF, which helps low-and-moderate income Floridians make their homes more sustainable through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience. She previously worked as a consultant for start-ups focused on environmental justice, sustainability, and clean energy finance models
• John Larsen, Director, Rhodium Group. Larsen leads Rhodium Group’s U.S. power sector and energy systems research, specializing in analysis of clean energy policy and market trends. Previously, he worked for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis as an electric power policy advisor
• Zoe Lipman, Director, Manufacturing & Advanced Transportation, BlueGreen Alliance (BGA). Lipman leads BGA’s policy and advocacy on clean technology manufacturing, advanced vehicles and transportation, and related economic topics. A former trade union official, she previously led the National Wildlife Federation’s program on fuel economy and advanced and electric vehicles and headed the organization’s Midwest climate policy program
• Rich Powell, Executive Director, ClearPath. Powell leads ClearPath, whose mission is to develop and advance conservative policies that accelerate clean energy innovation. Rich served as a member of the 2019 Advisory Committee to the Export Import Bank of the United States. He is also on the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center’s Advisory Group

Hearing page

Hearing page

On Wednesday, July 28, at 10:00 AM ET, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing to examine the benefits of investing in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects.