05.21.21

Livestreams Next Week: Renewable Energy on Public Lands, Drought Conditions in the West, Public Lands Legislation, Committee Markup on Wednesday

Washington D.C. – The Natural Resources Committee is holding four livestreamed events next week.

Monday, May 24

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources

On Monday, May 24, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, led by Chair Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), will host a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing titled “Expanding Clean Energy on Public Lands” to consider the following legislation:  

  • H.R. 3326 (Rep. Mike Levin) To promote the development of renewable energy on public lands, and for other purposes. Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2021.

Witnesses

Panel I (Administration)

  • Nada Culver

Deputy Director of Policy and Programs, Exercising the Authority of the Director

Bureau of Land Management

Panel II

  • Virinder Singh

Vice President, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs

EDF Renewables

  • Kate Miller

Government Affairs Director

Trout Unlimited

  • Paul Thomsen

Vice President of Business Development

Ormat Technologies Inc

  • Dawn Rowe (Republican witness)

Third District Supervisor

San Bernardino County Board

Expanding renewable energy development on public lands gives Americans the opportunity to create new jobs, support local economies, and increase the nation’s security and competitiveness. The Subcommittee will examine these benefits and the upside of increasing renewable energy capacity as they discuss Rep. Mike Levin’s bill to direct the Department of the Interior to encourage renewable energy projects on public lands.

Levin’s Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act enjoys support from a broad and diverse coalition, including conservation groups, sportsmen, industry groups, and local governments interested in the long-term economic potential offered by renewable energy development.

When: Monday, May 24, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/Bfly95znuPo

Tuesday, May 25

Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife

On Tuesday, May 25, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, led by Chair Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), will hold a virtual, fully remote oversight hearing titled “The Status of Drought Conditions Throughout the Western United States.”

The western United States currently experience severe, climate change-related drought conditions, with 87 percent of the West categorized as being under some degree of drought. For some states, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah, that figure is currently more than 99 percent. Severe water supply shortages are impacting communities, ecosystems, and whole economies. 

The Subcommittee will discuss short- and long-term solutions to respond to the ongoing drought crisis and the need to prepare for the droughts of the future, which are becoming more common and severe because of climate change. Proposed solutions include immediate direct financial assistance for impacted communities, investment in new drought-proof water supply projects, water recycling and modern desalination projects, investment in modern water storage, water conservation, water-use efficiency, and watershed and ecosystem restoration projects.

Witnesses

Panel I: Government Witnesses

  • Elizabeth Klein

Senior Counselor to the Secretary

Department of the Interior

  • Craig McLean

Acting Chief Scientist

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  • Joaquin Esquivel

Chair

California State Water Resources Control Board

  • Amy Cordalis

Counsel, Yurok Tribe

Principal, Ridges to Riffles Conservation Fund

Panel II: Expert Witnesses

  • John Entsminger

General Manager

Southern Nevada Water Authority

  • Michael R. Markus

General Manager

Orange County Water District

  • Tom Collishaw

President/CEO

Self-Help Enterprises

  • Dan Keppen (Republican witness)

Executive Director

Family Farm Alliance

  • Craig Foss (Republican witness)

State Forester

Idaho Department of Lands

When: Tuesday, May 25, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/VNXLwkjmzis

Wednesday, May 26

Full Committee Markup

On Wednesday, May 26, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, the full Committee will hold a markup of the following bills:

  • H.R. 164 (Rep. Soto) To authorize the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain land, and for other purposes.
  • H.R 438 (Rep. Don Young) To amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 1146 (Rep. LaHood) To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to authorize partnerships between States and nongovernmental entities for the purpose of reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining activities before August 3, 1977, and for other purposes. Community Reclamation Partnerships Act.
  • H.R. 1619 (Rep. Clyburn) To clarify the status of gaming conducted by the Catawba Indian Nation, and for other purposes. Catawba Indian Nation Lands Act.
  • H.R. 1733 (Rep. Cartwright) To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to provide funds to States and Indian tribes for the purpose of promoting economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977, and for other purposes. RECLAIM Act.
  • H.R. 1734 (Rep. Cartwright) To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to protect taxpayers from liability associated with the reclamation of surfacing coal mining operations, and for other purposes. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments Act.
  • H.R. 2415 (Rep. Leger Fernández) To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to permanently plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells and the surrounding lands and to provide funds to States and Tribal Governments to permanently plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells and the surrounding lands, and for other purposes. Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act.
  • H.R. 2641 (Rep. Newhouse) To amend the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to authorize pumped storage hydropower development utilizing multiple Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs. Pacific Northwest Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act.

When: Wednesday, May 26, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/_gJiCXPxMy4

Thursday, May 27

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands

On Thursday, May 27, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, led by Chair Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) will hold a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing on the following bills:

  • H.R. 1664 (Rep. Marc Veasey), To authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 1931 (Rep. Doris Matsui), To provide competitive grants for the promotion of Japanese American confinement education as a means to understand the importance of democratic principles, use and abuse of power, and to raise awareness about the importance of cultural tolerance toward Japanese Americans, and for other purposes. Japanese American Confinement Education Act.
  • H.R. 2278 (Rep. Gerald Connolly), To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to designate the September 11th National Memorial Trail, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 2444 (Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón), To establish Fort San Gerónimo del Boquerón in Puerto Rico as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes. Fort San Gerónimo Preservation Act.

Witnesses

Panel I : Members of Congress

  • Rep. Doris Matsui, California, 6th District
  • Rep. Gerald Connolly, Virginia, 11th District
  • Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Puerto Rico, At Large

Panel II

  • Joy Beasley (All Bills)

Associate Director, Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science

National Park Service

Panel III

  • LTC William Swenson (H.R. 1664)

Director

National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation

  • S. Floyd Mori (H.R. 1931)

Former National Executive Director

Japanese American Citizens League

  • David G. Brickley (H.R. 2278)

Founder and President Emeritus

September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance

  • Juan Vera Vega (H.R. 2444)

State Underwater Archeologist

Council of Underwater Archeology, Institute of Puerto Rican Culture

America’s public lands preserve and share the stories of the events and communities that have shaped this nation, and the places we choose to protect are a reflection of our country’s values.  This slate of bills would help honor our nation’s heroes, elevate the stories and contributions of diverse communities to our shared heritage, and strengthen representation and inclusion across the National Park System.

When: Thursday, May 27, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/drtAR12qw_g

Press Contact

Media Contact: Adam Sarvana

(202) 225-6065 or (202) 578-6626 mobile