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WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, delivered the following opening statement at today's hearing titled Beyond the Blue Bin: Forging a Federal Landscape for Recycling Innovation and Economic Growth . Subcommittee Chairman Palmer's opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning, and welcome to today’s subcommittee hearing entitled Beyond the Blue Bin: Forging a Federal Landscape for Recycling Innovation and Economic Growth. “Before we begin, I’d like to thank Chairman Guthrie for the opportunity to lead the Environment Subcommittee. I’d also like to thank Chairman Griffith for his excellent leadership of the Subcommittee and wish him the best as the new Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. And to Ranking Member, Mr. Tonko, I look forward to working with you. “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I focused on the importance of critical minerals to our national security and holding the Environmental Protection Agency accountable. I look forward to continuing that important work in this new role. “Waste and recycling are generally considered to be regional issues, regulated at the state and local level. However, we will hear testimony today about the national and economic security implications of recycling policy. “In his first days in office, President Trump emphasized the need to secure our critical mineral and material supply chains. We must use an all-of-the-above approach when it comes to ensuring our ability to access these critical minerals and materials, which is why electronic waste (e-waste) is so important for our future. “With the growth of data centers and use of technology, e-waste is accumulating at higher rates every year, with billions of dollars in losses as this technology reaches its end of life. E-waste is a commodity that can be repurposed in our fight to not only be energy independent, but energy dominant. “Let me be clear – we will not recycle our way out of these issues. However, as we look to build out our mining capacities, e-waste recycling innovation provides vital short and long-term support for our needs as a nation. “The President also issued an executive order on the importance of Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements. “As part of the negotiations for the global plastics treaty, the Biden-Harris administration announced support for bans on plastics and a cap on plastic production. That would not be in America’s interest. “I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about the role that American businesses can play in innovating and developing technologies to take advantage of the opportunities in the recycling industry. “The threat China poses to the United States and our allies cannot be overstated. We will hear from our witnesses today on how we can use recycling as a tool to compete with China and protect our communities. “Thank you to our witnesses for being here today. It is my understanding we have not had a hearing on this topic in some time, and I appreciate my colleagues engaging on this important issue. I look forward to our discussion.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, led a hearing titled Beyond the Blue Bin: Forging a Federal Landscape for Recycling Innovation and Economic Growth. “It’s time to ensure that government red tape isn’t preventing investments in new technologies and methods that can help support recycling here at home. Today’s hearing was an opportunity to discuss these issues and look at long term solutions that support both mechanical and advanced recycling here in the United States,” said Chairman Palmer. “Finding ways to harness e-waste recycling will be critical as we look to find new sources of critical materials to support our economy and national security, and we cannot afford to let these vital materials go to waste.”   Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02): “I think we’re on the same page we want to strive to build a more innovative economy that incorporates advanced recycling and revitalizes American manufacturing. We need two key elements: clear rules at home and strong leadership abroad. First, we have to provide regulatory clarity and certainty, this is essential for innovation for investment and for scaling domestic recycling infrastructure. You can’t build the future on a regulatory framework that is often shaped by climate alarmism and instead of commonsense.”   Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “It’s an economic and a national security imperative, as well as an environmental issue. Iowa’s manufacturing sector depends on recycled materials as feedstocks, yet we're watching China and other competitors purchase our scrap at above market prices while our own factory struggled to source domestic materials. The data shows we're landfilling millions of tons of valuable manufactured materials every year — materials that should be creating jobs and strengthening supply chains right here in America. In Iowa alone, we're capturing less than half of our aluminum cans and only 15% of our steel cans — despite having to deposit on aluminum cans. That's not just waste, it's a lost economic opportunity for our manufacturers and increased dependence on foreign suppliers.” Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01): “We use plastic in everything. We store our food that way. We use it in medicine. You can't walk into my pharmacy and not see syringes. We use a lot of plastic, but when we're talking about the future of plastics, we need to work towards making a more circular economy. My district is home to Eastman Chemical Company and it's the largest dedicated advanced recycling facility in the world. In Kingsport, Eastman’s been taking plastics that normally would go into the landfill and then instead use the materials for the recycling process, and they can convert them and create new plastic materials that have the same quality and integrity as plastics that were made directly from petrochemicals.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman-Designate of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a hearing titled Beyond the Blue Bin: Forging a Federal Landscape for Recycling Innovation and Economic Growth .  “From addressing e-waste and microplastics to creating opportunities for advanced recycling technologies, the Subcommittee on Environment is working to find commonsense solutions that promote innovation while protecting our nation's soil, air, and water,” said Chairman Guthrie and Chairman-Designate Palmer. “This hearing will provide a platform to examine new opportunities in the field of recycling, the current state of our recycling infrastructure, and whether current law can support the AI industry here at home.”   Subcommittee on Environment hearing titled Beyond the Blue Bin: Forging a Federal Landscape for Recycling Innovation and Economic Growth   WHAT: Subcommittee on Environment Hearing to Discuss Advanced Recycling.  DATE: July 16, 2025  TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. This hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions about this hearing please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov . If you have any press related questions please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov .  ### 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following op-ed by Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, appeared in the Washington Examiner this week.   “The intense heat wave battering the United States pushes America’s electric grid to the brink and could lead to power outages. But House Republicans offer a policy change that bolsters the grid and helps protect the public from blackout threats.   “Communities across much of the country face scorching temperatures, prompting power companies to take notice and act accordingly.   “In my part of Virginia, local power companies affiliated with the Tennessee Valley Authority are encouraging their customers to reduce electricity use. This request appears to be based on an announcement from the TVA.   “Alerts of possible breaking points in America’s electric grid are not unique to the TVA and are, unfortunately, becoming more and more frequent.   “The Friday before Memorial Day, Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order directing the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, the Midwest grid operator, to keep a coal-fired power plant in Michigan in operation. These emergency actions are authorized for up to 90 days at a time under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act.   “Wright issued the order to minimize the risk of blackouts ahead of the high electricity demand expected this summer.   “MISO runs north to south from Manitoba and Michigan down to Louisiana and a portion of East Texas.   “Notwithstanding keeping the plant in Michigan open, the New Orleans metro area suffered a large and unexpected power outage during Memorial Day weekend. At the blackout’s peak, more than 100,000 customers lost electricity.   “Utilities knew high demand was likely that weekend, but they had no extra power capacity. When one plant went down, their customers were plunged into darkness.   “Reports confirmed that two of the region’s nuclear power plants lost connection to the grid. One was due to expected maintenance, while the other was unexpected. Constrained by a lack of energy supply, grid operators cut power to customers in New Orleans.   “Entergy, an electric utility company in the region, said that the forced outages directed by MISO were done to prevent a larger-scale and more prolonged power outage from affecting the electric grid.   “This blackout was not the only major power outage in recent memory.   “On April 28, Portugal and Spain witnessed the worst blackout in their history, affecting 55 million people, per the Guardian.   “Airports shut down, cars drove on streets without traffic lights, hospitals resorted to backup generators, and some people were stuck in elevators.   “The Iberian Peninsula blackout continues to be investigated. Lots of finger-pointing is going on between Spain’s grid operator, the government, and plant operators. But it is interesting to note that on April 16, Spain reported its first weekday when its national power grid was 100% reliant on renewable power.   “A coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.   “Coincidentally, in a recent Virginia Tech press release, professor and Power and Energy Center Director Ali Mehrizi-Sani highlighted how the systems that control these clean energy sources are more susceptible to blackouts.   “As parts of the world transition to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, the lack of seamless grid adaptation to the use of these sources, as illustrated by the blackouts in Spain and Portugal and by experts like Mehrizi-Sani, threatens the destabilization of electric grids and could lead to more blackouts.   “Leftist policies that attempted to gut our grid’s reliance on fossil fuels and convert to renewables have pushed America’s electric grid to the brink.   “Federal policies, like the Obama-era ‘War on Coal’ and the Biden administration’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act, shunning reliable baseload forms of energy like coal and natural gas have made our electric grid more vulnerable to failure.    “But House Republicans offer a policy change that levels the playing field and openly welcomes baseload power.   “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act curtails some Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, which disincentivize coal and natural gas power plants. We maintain the incentives for nuclear because of its significant potential for baseload power.   “The bill also creates an energy project insurance pool to help protect energy investors from permits being revoked for coal, oil, critical minerals, natural gas, or nuclear installations.   “This derisking compensation fund will make it harder for federal policies to discourage and phase out these reliable energy sources.   “As extreme summer heat continues to pose the threat of power outages, we must secure and equip our electric grid with reliable energy solutions.   “We do not need to follow in Spain’s footsteps and make Iberian Peninsula-style blackouts the norm.   “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act helps the public avoid blackout threats by instituting reliable forms of baseload power.”   ###

WASHINGTON, D.C . – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing titled A Decade Later: A Review of Congressional Action, Environmental Protection Agency Rules, and Beneficial Use Opportunities for Coal Ash.    “The expert witnesses we heard from today made it clear that coal ash recycling is a win-win for our environment and for American manufacturing,” said Chairman Griffith . “This hearing offered our members a chance to learn more about the impact of the EPA’s coal ash regulations. It’s time to unleash American technology and innovation to use coal ash in practical and responsible ways both in construction, and as an avenue for the large-scale recovery of critical materials.”  Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13): “For years, coal-fired power generation facilities have worked in Pennsylvania and throughout the entire United States, and they have worked to properly manage coal combustion residuals or coal ash. This is long been done either through disposal and monitoring or through beneficial uses such as the making of concrete or construction applications, as in drywall production. With the EPA's finalized 2024 legacy CCR rule, electric utilities will be faced with burdensome costs for sites where coal ash has already been safely disposed of and environmental concerns mitigated and beneficial use programs will be subjected to harsh regulations despite the evidence that they posed little or absolutely no environmental or health or safety risks.”   Congresswoman Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “I understand the critical importance of striking the right balance between protecting our natural resources and promoting practical science-based solutions to manage industrial byproducts, coal ash being a prime example.” Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08): “We have a massive footprint in our area dedicated to producing the raw materials that build Colorado to include a lot of concrete and cement production in the area. I know that our producers are working as hard as they can because we all want clean air, clean land, and clean water. We also have the technology these days to see where a lot of the pollution is coming from in my area, double digit percentages of pollution along the Colorado Front Range are coming from China and the fact is, if we don't produce things in the United States, it's not like we get suddenly clean air, clean land, clean water, that production is going to go other places, and we're still going to inherit that pollution.”   ### 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, delivered the following opening statement at today's hearing titled A Decade Later: A Review of Congressional Action, Environmental Protection Agency Rules, and Beneficial Use Opportunities for Coal Ash. Subcommittee Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Today, this Subcommittee will examine coal ash management practices and innovative ways people are utilizing coal waste.  “Coal, historically, has played a major role in keeping our lights on and powering our large industries.  “Currently, there are over 200 coal-fired electric power plants in the United States and a fair amount of industrial boilers that use coal for fuel.  “Coal’s fuel storage attributes and its dispatchable power qualities continue to make it a crucial component of our domestic electric power mix.  “Today’s hearing will focus on one of the byproducts of coal use, coal combustion residuals, commonly referred to as CCR or “coal ash.”  “The Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, first began regulating coal combustion residuals from electric utilities in 2014, under its Resource Conservation and Recovery Act or ‘RCRA’, Subtitle D authority, to regulate solid waste.  “In 2016, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act amended RCRA to grant the EPA the authority to approve state CCR permit programs if a state chose to run its own program.  “However, nearly a decade later, only three state programs have been approved.  “Hopefully, today we will learn more about states’ permitting programs, and how EPA is using its CCR permitting approval authority.  “Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris administration pressed necessary coal ash regulations into its wider attempts to force a transition to renewable energy by imposing unreasonable and onerous regulations on disfavored traditional energy resources, like coal.  “This war on coal included a 2024 rule regulating INACTIVE coal combustion residuals storage sites, or legacy impoundments, as well as sites where coal ash had PREVIOUSLY been placed, known as coal combustion residuals management units.  “Utilities warned that this unworkable rule would impose needless and unplanned costs on ratepayers.  “Today, we will learn more about the problems with the current regulatory landscape and the costs it imposes on power generation and in-turn, ratepayers.  “Thankfully, in March of this year, the EPA announced that it is reviewing this rule and plans to propose amendments within the next year.  “Additionally, EPA has also announced it plans to prioritize working with states on their permit programs to hopefully facilitate more state management of coal ash disposal.  “I’m encouraged by the Trump administration’s apparent willingness to listen to the states and their utilities and hope the EPA can work with them, and not against them, as partners in protecting our environment.  “I also hope to learn more today on opportunities to improve the reuse of coal byproducts.  “In addition to this primary use, coal byproducts can be reused for many purposes, such as cement manufacturing, drywall manufacturing, road paving, and producing concrete.  “This recycling, known as “beneficial use,” can not only save costs but also result in lower emissions.  “Many may be surprised to hear that there is a thriving coal ash reuse industry in the United States. According to the American Coal Ash Association, 69 percent of all coal ash produced in 2023 was recycled.  “In addition to these established uses in construction, agriculture, waste management, and mining, new uses are emerging.  “For example, research from the University of Texas found that as much as 11 million tons of rare earth elements could be found in accessible coal ash in the United States.  “In fact, researchers from Virginia Tech, located in my district and where one of my children graduated, one is attending, and one hopes to attend, they are leading projects to analyze the presence of critical minerals and rare earth elements in coal byproducts.   “According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the United States currently relies on imports for 80 percent of its supply of rare earth elements, with 70 percent of those imports coming from China.  “Our regulatory policy for coal combustion residuals management must facilitate continued beneficial use.  “I look forward to today’s discussion of how we can address shortcomings of our current approach to coal combustion residuals management and innovation in how our country deals with waste.”  ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a hearing titled A Decade Later: A Review of Congressional Action, Environmental Protection Agency Rules, and Beneficial Use Opportunities for Coal Ash “While coal has played a significant role in our nation's energy sector, coal ash also holds untapped value. From its use in construction materials, such as cinder block, to the potential for remining critical materials, coal ash is a resource that we cannot afford to waste,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith. “This hearing will offer a chance to examine the past decade of coal ash regulations as well as how government red tape and bureaucracy can stifle innovation surrounding the use of coal ash, and what steps can be taken to ensure it remains available and is used safely and effectively in the coming years." Subcommittee on Environment hearing titled A Decade Later: A Review of Congressional Action, Environmental Protection Agency Rules, and Beneficial Use Opportunities for Coal Ash. WHAT: Subcommittee on Environment hearing to discuss how coal ash can be used safely and effectively in construction as well for the remining of critical materials. DATE: June 26, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. This hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions about this hearing please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov . If you have any press related questions please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov . ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed three resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, which repeal disastrous electric vehicle (EV) mandates.  “By rejecting EV mandates, the signing of these resolutions is a victory for American consumers who reject government mandates and one-size-fits-all policies,”  said Chairman Guthrie.  “Without this repeal, the special rules for California would have led to higher prices on both new and used vehicles, furthered our dependence on China, and overwhelmed our already-strained electric grid. Instead, Congressional Republicans and President Trump are standing up for American consumers by rolling back the worst policies of the Biden-Harris Administration. Thank you to Vice Chairman Joyce, Congressman Obernolte, and Congressman James for your work to ensure that families and businesses can continue choosing the vehicles they need.” Read an Op-Ed from Chairman Guthrie, Vice Chairman Joyce, Congressman James, and Congressman Obernolte on these resolutions  here . Background: The Clean Air Act generally preempts individual states from setting their own vehicle emission standards. However, section 209 of the Clean Air Act allows the Environmental Protection Agency to waive state preemption for California. This carveout was intended to allow California to implement stricter air vehicle emission standards to address “compelling and extraordinary circumstances” involving local air pollution – not to remake the auto industry and limit consumer choice nationwide. The Biden-Harris EPA granted these waivers that have allowed California to ban sales of new gas, diesel, and hybrid vehicles, as well as heavy-duty trucks, while also mandating 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035. H.J. Res. 88, led by Rep. John Joyce (PA-13), Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, repeals California’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) waiver, which would have the State to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. H.J. Res. 87, led by Rep. John James (MI-10), repeals California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) waiver, which would have allowed the State to mandate the sale of zero-emission trucks. H.J. Res. 89, led by Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23), puts an end to California’s implementation of its most recent nitrogen oxide (NOx) engine emission standards, which would have created burdensome and unworkable standards for heavy-duty, on-road engines. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  Short-Circuiting Progress: How The Clean Air Act Impacts Building Necessary Infrastructure And Onshoring American Innovation. Subcommittee Chairman Griffith's opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Today, this Subcommittee begins its efforts to modernize the Clean Air Act.  “The Act was last amended in a consequential way in 1990 with Energy and Commerce Chair, John Dingell, being a driving force in that bicameral compromise.  “The Clean Air Act has already been effective.  “According to EPA’s 2023 Air Quality statistics report, since the Clean Air Act amendments were passed in 1990, there has been a 79 percent reduction in Carbon Monoxide, a 92 percent reduction in Sulfur Dioxide or SOx, and a 55 percent reduction in Nitrogen Dioxide or NOx.  “Since 2000, we’ve seen a 42 percent reduction in Particulate Matter 2.5, which are inhalable particles measuring less than two and a half micrometers. “The Clean Air Act’s National Attainment Air Quality Standards standard setting and permitting programs, with each new review, EPA generally sets new lower pollution allowances, over time, these newer standards have had the tendency to pass the point of diminishing returns. “Accordingly, If you’re an industrial plant wanting to build in this country, you may have to wait until another plant goes out of business and you can take over their permit.  “That is not a path to economic prosperity. “Additionally, I don’t believe that banning new industrial activity in the United States was what the authors of the Clean Air Act were aiming for. “It was a tough compromise bill meant to have each state scrutinize major sources and think about air permit planning, industry concentration, and air quality in unfavorable geographic settings. “The Act was written to get industry to reexamine its operations and control pollution by investing in, and implementing, innovative technologies. “It worked, but now we need to examine the law in light of little additional public health gain at the expense of paralyzing nationally important industries.  “We need to begin a modernization effort by examining draft legislative proposals to reform the out-of-date NAAQS process.  “As we heard in our recent full Committee hearing, overly restrictive air regulations have curtailed some domestic investment in semiconductor plants and data centers, which in turn could jeopardize America’s ability to compete in the global Artificial Intelligence race. “One of the draft bills we are discussing today would improve the processes EPA uses to identify NAAQS pollutants and ceilings. “And then, for states to implement those new standards.  “Under the Clean Air Act’s NAAQS program, the EPA sets standards for six criteria pollutants like ground-level ozone and particulate matter.  “Historically, the Clean Air Act required EPA to review NAAQS standards and if appropriate, issue new limits, at five-year intervals.  “The EPA has consistently missed statutory deadlines for both reviewing standards and for providing implementation guidance to states which has led to litigation in some cases. “These proposals will enable more reasonable requirements that states can actually implement. “This is why the Clean Air Act and Economic Advancement Reform Act that we are talking about today would lengthen that interval to 10 years and allow the EPA Administrator to consider whether it was likely the standard can actually be attained.  “Additionally, the bill would require the EPA to consider the economic feasibility of these standards.  “The bill would also allow for naturally occurring air pollution events, such as wildfires, to not count against NAAQS emission averages for a state.  “The other bill, the Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvements Act has to do more specifically with the most recent PM 2.5 rule that really would cripple a lot of industry by reducing that limit from 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air. “Further, it allows for an easier preconstruction permitting process. “Protecting our environment and our economy do not have to be mutually exclusive goals, but in order to achieve both, we must rethink how our country classifies pollution levels outside our control.  “The EPA is still in the process of updating various air quality standards. “As that work continues, Congress must ensure states and employers aren’t unfairly penalized by impractical or burdensome new rules which could hurt our national security and our economic competitiveness. “I look forward to learning more from our expert witnesses who have extensive experience in implementing, and complying with NAAQS standards under the Clean Air Act.” ###