Energy, Climate, & Grid Security

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today announced a Full Committee Markup of 16 bills.  “The Energy and Commerce Committee is continuing its work to deliver solutions and make life better for the American people. At this week’s markup, we will consider more than a dozen bills, including legislation to repeal harmful regulations that are jeopardizing America’s economic and energy security, extend telehealth services for seniors, and continue to incentivize important innovation for pediatric rare diseases,” said Chair Rodgers. “We will also consider legislation to provide the most significant protections and safeguards to date for children online. The Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act are historic pieces of legislation that finally answer the call of parents across the country who are desperately looking for Congress to act to shield our children from the threats they are facing online. I look forward to taking the next steps in getting these critical pieces of legislation signed into law and ushering in a new era on the internet.”  WHAT: A Full Committee Markup of 16 bills.  DATE: Wednesday, September 18, 2024  TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Legislation to be considered:   H.R. 670 , Think Differently Database Act (Reps. Molinaro and Sherrill)  H.R. 8107 , Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act of 2024 (Reps. Ciscomani and Gluesenkamp Perez)  H.R. 8108 , To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to add a Medicaid State plan requirement with respect to the determination of residency of certain individuals serving in the Armed Forces (Reps. Kiggans and Kaptur)  H.R. 3433 , Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024 (Reps. McCaul and Eshoo)  H.R. 7188 , Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act (Reps. Moolenaar and Dingell)  H.R. 7623 , Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024 (Reps. Carter, Blunt Rochester, Steube, Sewell, Miller-Meeks, Dingell, Van Drew, and Morelle)  H.R. 3227 , Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (Reps. Estes and Connolly)  H.R. 9067 , Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act (Rep. Guthrie) H.R. 7155 , United States-Abraham Accords Cooperation and Security Act of 2024 (Reps. Harshbarger, Vargas, Weber, Peters, Harris, Levin, and Allen)  H.J. Res. 139 , Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to "Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting” (Reps. Fischbach and Pence)  H.R. 7890 , Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (Reps. Walberg, Bucshon, Carter, Dunn, Eshoo, Castor, Moulton, and Auchincloss)  H.R. 7891 , Kids Online Safety Act (Reps. Bilirakis, Bucshon, Castor, Houchin, and Schrier)  H.R. 8449 , AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (Reps. Bilirakis and Pallone)  H.J.Res. 163 , Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule” (Rep. Balderson)  H.J.Res. 133 , Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3" (Rep. Fulcher)  H.J.Res. 117 , Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter" (Rep. Allen) This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Alex Khlopin at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Christopher Krepich at Christopher.Krepich@mail.house.gov and Kate Roberts at Kate.Arey@mail.house.gov .

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing titled “From Gas to Groceries: Americans Pay the Price of the Biden-Harris Energy Agenda."   “Today, we are going to review the past four years to examine how record high energy prices have impacted American families and the pursuit of the American dream. “Since the beginning of this Congress, Members of this Subcommittee have attended numerous hearings and roundtables focused on the issues that impact our everyday lives.” EFFECTS OF THE BIDEN-HARRIS AGENDA “Since day 1, the Biden-Harris administration has waged war on American energy and the results have been devastating. “The facts are undeniable. “Inflation surged out of control, and price levels remain unacceptably high. “Records have been set with historically high prices for gasoline, diesel, fertilizers, and many fossil-fuel based commodities. “Supply chain shortages have rippled across the economy, affecting everything from computer chips to toilet paper. “Americans are paying more for groceries, housing, and credit card bills than when the administration took over. “Massive government spending and tax subsidies have distorted energy markets and have destabilized our electric grid. “Who pays the price for all of this? “Every American, rich and poor, is paying more and getting less under the Biden-Harris agenda.” KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES “Americans are suffering under the Biden-Harris administration’s energy policies.   “Energy powers our economy. The cost of energy—fossil fuels and electricity—is embedded in everything we buy.    “From gas to groceries, everything costs a lot more than it did four years ago.   “My Democratic colleagues may not want to admit it, but American families are feeling the pain. "Inflation. Grocery bills. Housing costs. These are the issues people are talking about around their kitchen tables. “These are the issues people care about.” HIGH ENERGY COSTS ARE CRUSHING EVERYDAY AMERICANS “Today’s hearing will give members an opportunity to hear the stories of Americans on the frontline of the Biden-Harris administration’s war on American energy. “We will learn how the American dream is being threatened by energy and economic policies that prioritize a global climate agenda over American families. “We will hear how federal regulations targeting fossil fuel production and electric generation are resulting in record-shattering electricity bills and forced power outages. “We will also learn why our groceries cost so much more now than they did four years ago. “We will examine the false promises of a ‘green transition’, and why claims of ‘price gouging’ are another distraction from the administration’s failed policy agenda.  “Prices are high because of the built in costs of energy and commodities— these trends are directly related to the policies of the Biden-Harris administration. “Today’s hearing highlights this Subcommittee’s work this Congress. “We’ve held dozens of hearings with expert witnesses and administration officials. We’ve explored the issues sector-by-sector across our jurisdiction. “And a consistent lesson has emerged: increasing the supply of energy and reducing regulatory roadblocks to ease the cost of delivering energy provides a powerful driver for the economy and for lower prices. “Republican’s have worked to do this. “We have also passed important legislation, including H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, to reform the energy permitting process and reverse harmful regulations that threaten economic growth. “We still have important work to do, and I hope to use the remainder of this Congress to push these important reforms over the finish line.” 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing titled “From Gas to Groceries: Americans Pay the Price of the Biden-Harris Energy Agenda."  “Before we begin today, we remember all those we lost and the heroes who bravely confronted evil on 9/11. “We can never forget them or their sacrifices, so we remember what’s at stake: our values, our country, and our children’s future. “Thank you to our witnesses for appearing before the Subcommittee today. We look forward to your testimony. “Affordable, reliable energy is foundational to everything we do. “It’s key for our national security and for the prosperity of American families, businesses, and communities. “From the manufacture and production of the everyday goods we need to take care of our families, to the power necessary to keep homes warm in the winter, and cool in the summer, it all starts with energy.” HARMS OF RUSH-TO-GREEN POLICIES “Over the past two years, the Energy and Commerce Committee has led the way to expose how the Biden-Harris administration’s war on American energy is fueling the out-of-control inflation decimating the financial security of the American people. “We have examined how the administration’s radical rush-to-green agenda and regulations are threatening our national security and economic growth by restricting energy expansion, by shutting down reliable baseload power generation, and replacing it with unreliable, expensive generation, and by driving up the costs of mobility and homeownership, putting the American dream out of reach for many. “We’ve also examined how the radical Biden-Harris EPA has set new emissions standards at levels that will make it nearly impossible to permit the expansion or building of new manufacturing in most parts of the country, crushing many good-paying jobs and further drive up the cost of goods.” THE ECONOMIC PAIN HAS BEEN REAL AND IS NOT SUBSIDING “This administration’s war on American energy impacts every aspect of our lives, and hardworking Americans are facing the consequences every day from the gas pump to the grocery store. “Today, American families pay on average 30 percent more for electricity, 25 percent more for gas to heat their homes, and 56 percent more for gasoline to fuel their cars than they did in January 2021. “Right now, families are paying the largest portion of their income on food in 30 years. “I recently read about a mom living in North Carolina who said ‘Sometimes I have to choose whether I'm going to pay the light bill, or do I pay all the rent or buy food or not let my son do a sport?' “It doesn’t have to be this way, and it shouldn’t be this way. “In my home state of Washington, the average family is paying an additional $1,066 more per month on average than they did in January 2021 for the same goods and services, according to the Joint Economic Committee. “This adds up to more than $27,000 in additional spending due to inflation since the start of the Biden-Harris administration. “In California, it’s even worse. On average, households have spent $35,000 more since this administration took over. “In spite of all of this, the Biden-Harris administration has doubled down on its radical policies.” UNLEASH ENERGY, REDUCE REGULATION TO LOWER COSTS “Today we will focus on how the administration’s rush-to-green energy policies contribute to the high costs Americans face every day across the board and the resulting consequences on families and businesses. “Without taking action to promote American energy expansion, there is tremendous uncertainty for the future. “While the United States has regained its leadership in oil and gas production thanks to the pro-American energy policies of the previous administration, current restrictions led by the Biden-Harris administration on future energy production jeopardizes this success. “The administration’s increased taxes, regulations, and limits on drilling puts us on a path to not being able to meet America’s growing energy needs.” THE CHOICE GOING FORWARD “There is an important choice we must make going forward. “We can continue down the path of energy restrictions, reduced reliability, and unaffordable costs, or we can choose the path of energy dominance, security, and economic prosperity. “I believe the choice is obvious. “We must focus on advancing policies that reduce costs for American families and businesses, and that begins with unleashing American energy production. “To lower costs and make life affordable again, we must reject the Biden-Harris administration’s rush-to-green agenda and stand up for the American values of free market competition, innovation, and environmental stewardship. “That is how we will win the future.”

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA) yesterday sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm urging the Department of Energy to prioritize the onshoring of our critical mineral supply chains following the Chinese Communist Party’s July 1 declaration that rare earth metals were the “property of the state.” CLICK HERE to read exclusive coverage by E&E News. KEY QUOTE “Critical minerals are essential to America’s economy and to America’s capacity to manufacture goods and high-tech devices. Many critical minerals are essential to the energy sector, as they are needed to manufacture solar panels, batteries, and electrical equipment. As the DOE is aware, the CCP announced limitations on gallium, germanium, natural and synthetic graphite last October. These critical minerals are vital for our defense and energy technologies and are listed as critical and at high risk of supply disruption. On November 21, 2023, the Committee on Energy and Commerce sent a letter raising security concerns over the CCP limiting exports of gallium, germanium, natural graphite, and synthetic graphite. Your response to that letter failed to address these concerns and lacked basic information to help Members of Congress assess the risks of America’s increasing dependence on CCP controlled minerals.” [...] “The administration should prioritize the onshoring of domestic mining and processing industry for these critical minerals and materials. The answer to a lack of mining and processing is not to extend credits to companies using minerals from a major geopolitical adversary that relies on child labor and exploitation.” Chairs Rodgers, Duncan, and Carter asked Secretary Granholm to answer the following questions by August 13, 2024: Are you concerned by reports that the Chinese government has declared rare earth metals property of the government of China? What actions will the DOE take in response to the Chinese government’s announcement? Please describe any actions DOE has taken to prioritize onshoring domestic mining and processing of synthetic and natural graphite. Please describe any actions DOE has taken to prioritize onshoring domestic mining and processing of gallium and germanium. How will DOE work to expedite projects to ensure a secure and stable supply chain of these critical minerals and materials given these recent announcements? What actions will DOE take to mitigate potential domestic supply shortages of these minerals? Were you consulted about the Treasury Department’s decision to extend the graphite exemption through 2027? Did you advise or recommend that the White House extend the graphite exemption through 2027? Please explain. CLICK HERE to read the letter to Secretary Granholm. CLICK HERE to read the November 21, 2023, letter to Secretary Granholm raising concerns over the CCP’s decision to limit exports of gallium, germanium, natural graphite, and synthetic graphite.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Oversight and Acoountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) sent letters to eight federal agencies today following the recent Supreme Court decision on Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo , in which the court overruled Chevron deference. Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK) and House Agriculture Committee Chair GT Thompson (R-PA) joined Chairs Rodgers and Comer on an additional letter sent to the Environmental Protection Agency. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “We write to call to your attention Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, a recent Supreme Court decision that precludes courts from deferring to agency interpretations when the statutes are ambiguous. In its decision, the Court explicitly overruled Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837 (1984), which required deference to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes. By allowing such deference, the Court in Chevron enabled the ‘Administrative State’ to usurp the legislative authority that the Constitution grants exclusively to Congress in Article I. The Chevron decision led to broader, more costly and more invasive agency regulation of Americans’ lives, liberty, and property.   “Perhaps no administration has gone as far as President Biden’s in issuing sweeping Executive edicts based on questionable assertions of agency authority. The Biden administration has promulgated far more major rules, imposing vast costs and paperwork burdens, than either its most recent predecessors. Many of these rules...have been based on overreaching interpretations of statutes enacted by Congress years ago, before the issues now regulated were even imagined.   “The expansive Chevron deference has undermined our system of government, creating an unaccountable Administrative State. Thankfully, the Court has now corrected this pattern, reaffirming that ‘[i]t is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.’ Given the Biden administration’s record of agency overreach, we are compelled to underscore the implications of Loper Bright and remind you of the limitations it has set on your authority.”   CLICK HERE to read the letter to the Environmental Protection Agency. CLICK HERE to read the letter to the Federal Communications Commission.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to the Federal Trade Commission.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to Department of Commerce.   CLICK HERE to read the letter to the Department of Energy.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  CLICK HERE to read the letter to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration.

Washington D.C. — In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) are pressing for more information on FERC’s ability to address the growth in electricity demand, particularly from the rapid growth of AI data centers. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “After years of minimal growth, electricity demand in the United States is projected to grow nationally at a significant pace through the end of the decade. It is anticipated that much of this demand growth will come from a surge in the number of data centers and the growing uses of artificial intelligence (AI) by data centers, onshoring of industry and manufacturing, and increased electrification. Estimates show annual growth of 5 to 6 percent through the end of the decade, a tenfold increase in the growth rate from current levels. By the end of the decade, data centers, which are driving increases in electricity demand, could consume as much as 9.1 percent of all electricity in the United States. "Unlike many sources of demand that consume electricity at a lower energy density, data centers consume large quantities of power at a near constant level throughout the year. This surge in demand for reliable and dispatchable baseload generation comes at a time when the NERC has repeatedly raised concerns over the adequacy and reliability of the grid. These risks are due to a confluence of factors, including state and federal policies that have forced premature retirements of reliable generation without adequate replacement generation resources and electric infrastructure. FERC’s recent summer assessment lists data center demand growth as a driver for increased demand while acknowledging that supply shortages are possible this summer.” BACKGROUND: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security held a hearing on June 4, 2024 to discuss the energy demands of emerging technologies, like Artificial Intelligence, and how to ensure that America continues to be a technological leader. Some experts project a ten-fold increase in the growth rate of new power demand, compared with the past decade. Data centers that process AI and digital transactions are a major driver of this increase in demand. Biden Administration actions, like the Clean Power Plan (CPP) 2.0, are accelerating the retirement of baseload power sources, which are essential for providing the 24/7/365 energy needed to power our technological future. E&C Republicans led a join resolution of disapproval on June 5, 2024 to halt President Biden’s CPP 2.0 which will shut down critical baseload energy generation. Chair Rodgers and Carter released a statement on April 25, 2024 blasting the EPA’s devastating power plant rules that would shut down American energy. The Chair requested the FERC Commissioners provide the following information by July 30, 2024: Explain what FERC is doing to assess the challenges of this new demand growth from data centers and industrial sectors. Explain what options FERC is considering to address this new demand growth to assure reliable, affordable delivery of power in the FERC regulated markets. What effect will demand growth have on capacity prices? Are the FERC jurisdictional wholesale markets prepared to withstand retirement projections and coinciding demand increase projections? The potential for co-locating data centers or industrial loads presents the risks of taking baseload, reliable generation off the grid at the expense of ratepayers. Is FERC monitoring the potential for merchant generators to enter into behind-the-meter agreements with data centers? What actions is FERC considering to address the incentives and impacts of any loss of load due to out-of-market financial arrangements? If state and federal policies do not adjust to preserve adequate baseload generation, how will the growing demand for reliable energy add additional costs and strain to our grid? CLICK HERE to read the full letter.