Hill Heat

Full committee markup.

• Full committee mark
• Committee report

09/09/2025 at 11:00AM

The Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests” has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building. This hearing was previously postponed from its original July 9, 2025, date.

09/09/2025 at 10:15AM

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.

Hearing memo

Witnesses:

• Chip Jenkins, Superintendent, Grand Teton National Park, Moose, WY
• Leslie Mattson, President, Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Wilson, WY
• Julie Calder, Board Chair, Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, Wilson, WY
• Taylor Phillips, Founder and Owner, Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures, Jackson, WY
• Kristen Brengel, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, National Parks Conservation Association, Washington, D.C. [Minority Witness]

09/05/2025 at 12:00PM

The purpose of the hearing is to consider the nominations of the Laura Swett to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2030 and David LaCerte to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2026.

Nominees:

• Laura Swett
• David LaCerte

Swett is a Vinson and Elkins lawyer representing fracking pipeline companies, who Trump wants as chair. LaCerte, a Project 2025 contributor, is being criticized by Laura Loomer.

09/04/2025 at 09:30AM

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

09/03/2025 at 06:00PM

On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.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:

• H.R. 2073 (Rep. Newhouse), “Defending our Dams Act”, prohibiting any federal funds from being used “to allow, lead to, or study the breach or functional alteration of, including study of power, flood control, or navigation replacement of, or provide dam removal technical assistance for, the Lower Snake River dams”
• H.R. 3692 (Rep. Moulton), To reauthorize the Young Fisherman’s Development Act
• H.R. 4255 (Rep. Gosar), “Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025”, to delist the Mexican wolf from the ESA, while also nullifying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2015 and 2022 rules, and to also prevent the Service from considering the status of the Mexican wolf in Mexico
• H.R. 4256 (Rep. Min), “Digital Coast Reauthorization Act of 2025”
• H.R. 4970 (Rep. LaMalfa), “Orland Project Water Management Act”, to amend the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991(P.L. 102-250) to authorize the Orland Project to transfer water to the Central Valley Project and its contractors when surplus is available without requiring authorizations

Hearing memo

Witnesses:

Panel I (Members of Congress)

• To Be Announced

Panel II (Administration Witnesses)

• Dustin Sherer, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Water and Science, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. [H.R. 2073, H.R. 4255, and H.R. 4970]

Panel III (Outside Experts)

• Tom Paterson, President-Elect, New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, Luna, New Mexico [H.R. 4255]
• Clark Mather, Executive Director, Northwest RiverPartners, Vancouver, Washington [H.R. 2073]
• Bill Vanderwaal, General Manager, Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority, Willows, California [H.R. 4970]
• Shannon F. Wheeler, Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe, Lapwai, Idaho [H.R. 2073] [Minority witness]

09/03/2025 at 02:00PM

Full committee markup.

Subcommittee markup on July 21.

• Full committee mark
• Subcommittee mark
• Democratic summary
• GOP summary

Climate provisions:

• $6 million for the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority, $2 million less than fiscal year 2025 but $6 million above the request, to fund infrastructure improvements (TITLE IV, p. 68)
• Prohibits funding for any environmental, social, or governance policies, training, or programs within the Department of Treasury (SEC. 134)
• Prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission from promulgating rules to “ban gas stoves” (SEC. 502)
• Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from establishing an ESG advisory committee (SEC. 509)
• Prohibits the SBA from funding climate change initiatives to help small businesses cut energy costs and reduce carbon pollution (SEC. 534)
• Prohibits the SEC from implementing rules on climate-related disclosures (SEC. 633)
• Prohibits the procurement of electric vehicles, electric vehicle batteries, electric vehicle charging stations or infrastructure (SEC. 636)
• Blocks implementation of the FAST-21 critical minerals rule (SEC. 642)
• Codifies a version of the Regulations in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act (SEC. 647)
• Prohibits the Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees from investing in ESG funds (SEC. 753)
• Prohibits DC from implementing more stringent auto emissions standards (SEC. 821)
• Prohibits DC from implementing or enforcing provisions of the Consumer Protection Act (§28–3901–28–3913) against oil and gas companies for environmental claims (SEC. 832)

Budget request

Treasury:

• Executive summary
• Detailed budget

Other agencies:

• Judiciary
• Executive Office of the President
• General Services Administration
• Office of Personnel Management
• Small Business Administration
• Other small agencies

The budget request cuts:

• Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation (100% cut)
• Consumer Product Safety Commission (100% cut)
• Election Assistance Commission (35% cut)
• Federal Election Commission (10% cut)
• Federal Trade Commission (78% cut)
• Merit Systems Protection Board (11% cut)
• National Archives and Records Administration (8% cut)

Department of Treasury
Program Name	$ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions)	Brief Description of Program and Recommended Reduction or Increase
Rural Financial Award Program	+100	The Budget would require 60 percent of Community Development Financial Institutions’ (CDFIs’) loans and investments to go to rural areas.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)	-2,488	The Budget cuts IRS enforcement and taxpayer services.
CDFI Fund Discretionary Awards	-291	The Budget recommends eliminating CDFI Fund discretionary awards. Remaining funding supports oversight and closeout of prior awards, maintaining CDFI certification, and support for New Markets Tax Credit administration and the zero-cost Bond Guarantee Program.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Entrepreneurial Development Programs (EDP) Consolidation	-167	The Budget ends 15 programs, leaving only the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) program. The SBDC request includes a $10 million increase for business technical assistance services for veteran-owned small businesses.
Salaries and Expenses (S&E)	-111	The Budget provides $250 million for SBA’s S&E, a 34 percent cut.

09/03/2025 at 10:30AM

The legislative hearing will be on the following bills:

• H.R. 280 (Rep. Hageman), “Combatting Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025” or the “COAL Act of 2025”, to codify key aspects of the Trump administration’s EO 14261, “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and amending Executive Order 14241,” by nullifying DOI’s Secretarial Order 3338, which placed a moratorium on new federal coal leases
• H.R. 1366 (Rep. Amodei), “Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2025”, to override the Rosemont decision, by creating a new category of mill sites to ensure that operators can use federal lands, whether mineral or non-mineral in character, for activities ancillary to mining, and also creates the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund
• H.R. 3872 (Rep. Fallon), “Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications Act of 2025” or the “MERICA Act of 2025”, to amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to clarify that all federally acquired lands are eligible to be considered for hardrock mineral leasing
• H.R. 4018 (Rep. Ezell), to direct DOI and other federal agencies to accelerate leasing and permitting of seabed mineral projects on the OCS and to identify critical minerals recoverable from those resources, codifying key elements of EO 14285, “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources”
• H.R. 4068 (Rep. Collins), “Streamlining NEPA for Coal Act”, to require the Secretary of the Interior to identify any existing and potential categorical exclusion under NEPA that could further the production and export of domestic coal
• H.R. 4090 (Rep. Stauber), To codify certain provisions of certain Executive Orders relating to domestic mining and hardrock mineral resources, including ordering DOI to annually report on the dollar value and overall economic impact of each mineral commodity for which the U.S. is import-reliant; requiring the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to identify priority mining projects on federal lands that can be immediately approved and take all necessary and appropriate steps to expedite these projects; directing the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to identify all federal lands in their respective jurisdictions that may be suitable for hardrock mineral, exploration, development, or production, as well as potential sites for expanded production of hardrock minerals and their byproducts; directing DOI to revise or rescind agency actions that hinder mining projects, recommend changes to current law necessary to streamline domestic mining, and conduct a nationwide review of state and local laws or regulations that impede mineral exploration and development; and directing DOI to accelerate geologic mapping of the U.S., with a focus on hardrock mineral deposits

Hearing memo

Witnesses:

Panel I (Members of Congress):

• To Be Announced

Panel II (Administration Witness):

• Adam Suess, Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. [All bills]

Panel III (Outside Experts):

• Debra W. Struhsacker, Mining and Public Lands Policy Consultant and CoFounder, The Women’s Mining Coalition, Reno, NV [H.R. 1366, H.R. 3872, H.R. 4090]
• Travis Deti, Executive Director, Wyoming Mining Association, Cheyenne, WY [H.R. 280, H.R. 4068]
• Hans Smit, President and CEO, Ocean Minerals LLC, Spring, TX [H.R. 4018]
• Dr. Steve Feldgus, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. [All bills] [Minority witness]

09/03/2025 at 10:15AM

Full committee hearing, following business meeting.

Witnesses:

• David Wright, Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Bradley Crowell, Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Matthew Marzano, Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission

09/03/2025 at 10:15AM

EPW business meeting to consider:

• Jeffrey Hall to be Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (postponed)
• Katherine Scarlett to be Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (reported favorably 12-7, ranking member Whitehouse voting with Republicans)
• 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 and acting chair 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.

09/03/2025 at 10:00AM