DC Legislative Update: August 2 – 6, 2021

Check here for the 2021 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2021 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings

Senate Appropriations Committee
- Monday, August 2 at 5:30pm EST: Markup of the “Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022.”

Monday, August 2 at 5:45pm EST: Markup of the “Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, ”
Wednesday, August 4 at 10am EST: Markup of the FY 22 Energy and Water, Agriculture, and MilCon VA Appropriations

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Tuesday, August 3 at 10am EST: Hearing to consider the nominations of Dr. Geraldine Richmond to be Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy;Ms. Cynthia Weiner Stachelberg to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Policy, Management, and Budget); and Asmeret Berhe to be Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy.”
- Thursday, August 5 at 10am EST: Hearing On The Role Of And Programs Within the DOE’s Office Of Science.

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Tuesday, August 3 at 2:30pm EST: “Toxic Marketing Claims and Their ”
- Wednesday, August 4 at 10am EST: Hearing to consider a number of nominations as well as a few bills, including 1880, Protecting Indian Tribes from Scams Act.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Wednesday, August 4 at 10am EST: Hearing on three of President Biden’s nominees to key positions at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Senate Agriculture Committee
- Thursday, August 5 at 10am EST: To consider the following nomination: Homer L. Wilkes to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment.

Last week, Reps. Lowenthal [D-CA] and Fitzpatrick [R-PA], along with 47 bipartisan cosponsors, introduced the Migratory Bird Protection Act to safeguard and strengthen longstanding protections for North America’s migratory Read NWF’s press release here.
NWF’s Tracy Stone-Manning received her first of three floor votes on Tuesday, winning the support of the full Democratic caucus. The Senate will hold one more procedural vote before a final confirmation Timing on these votes is unclear.
The Senate, in a bipartisan 58-41 vote, confirmed Todd Kim as assistant attorney general in charge of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
The Senate confirmed Janie Hipp for General Counsel of the US Department of Hipp’s nomination advanced through the Senate Agriculture Committee with bipartisan support on May 27.
The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on the nominations of Xochitl Torres Small to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development and Robert Bonnie to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation.

The House passed a minibus that included seven appropriations bills, including the Interior-EPA, Energy & Water, and Agriculture subcommittee The Senate begins work on appropriations this week, with three hearings scheduled for the committee.
In previous weeks, Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee agreed to a $3.5 trillion top-line spending level to address President Biden’s priorities, laid out in the American Families Plan and American Jobs We expect movement on the budget resolution in the coming weeks.
Last week, the Clean Economy Coalition of Color convened to discuss ways that federal investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs and businesses can ensure every community doesn’t just survive, but thrive in a clean energy future. Stay tuned for the next convening.

Last week, NWF’s Collin O’Mara testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee – on water infrastructure – and the House Natural Resources’ Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee – on a number of wildlife bills, including Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. See here and here for O’Mara’s testimonies, respectfully.

The White House nominated Jainey Bavishi for Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of Bavishi has advocated for confronting climate change, and, if confirmed, will serve as one of the two top deputies to NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad.
See here for White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics.

The House is in The Senate is expected to work on infrastructure this week.
Last week, the Senate voted 67-32 to proceed towards consideration of a bipartisan infrastructure Over the weekend, the Senate released bill text for the $1 trillion dollar package – see here for text. We anticipate Senate passage in the coming weeks.
NWF will continue to weigh in with offices on organizational priorities. NWF’s statement on the bill is here, and the White House fact sheet is here. In addition, check out this new white paper, led by Brittney Parker and Jessie Ritter, which details opportunities to advance natural infrastructure through FEMA and HUD funding
As Congress continues to work to advance reconciliation and appropriations, please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.