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WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement after Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “For far too long, EPA policies have picked winners and losers, limited economic growth, and driven up costs for working families. With the confirmation of Administrator Zeldin, the American people will once again have a leader at the EPA who will work to promote commonsense environmental stewardship focused on protecting human health while course-correcting the agency back to its core mission by cutting overreaching regulations,”  said Chairman Guthrie.  “I congratulate Administrator Zeldin on his confirmation and look forward to working with him to enact policies that put Americans first.” ###

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: Assessing the Legacy and Impact of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act .  Subcommittee Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “I am really looking forward to working with you, Ranking Member Tonko. I am hopeful we can work together on some bipartisan legislation going through this Subcommittee. SUPPORTING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING “Today is not only my first hearing as Chair of the Subcommittee, but it is the first subcommittee hearing the House Energy and Commerce Committee is holding to start the 119th Congress.  “The American people have spoken loud and clear—they’ve had enough of rising prices and a regulatory burden that threatens energy reliability, reduces American competitiveness, and in some cases, makes for stagnant economic growth.  “In general, I’ve long believed Congress needs to get back into the practice of passing regular authorizations. As Chair of this Subcommittee, it is my goal to modernize some of our major environmental laws and enable predictable, common sense, regulation.  “I’m glad we’ve hit the ground running with this hearing and hope that we have signaled our commitment to dig into the statutory language to find out where we can make the law work better for all interested parties. “To that end, today’s hearing will examine the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, or the Lautenberg Act.  “Nearly ten years ago, the Members of this Committee worked tirelessly to develop the Lautenberg Act to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, often referred to as ‘TSCA.’ “TSCA governs the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA’s, regulation of new and existing chemicals and the chain of commerce for products containing those chemicals. “This was no easy row to hoe—the Lautenberg Act made the most significant changes to TSCA since it became law in 1976. The Lautenberg Act enjoyed strong bipartisan support in this Committee before becoming law in 2016. I was proud to be part of that process. EMBRACING TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION “However, nearly ten years have passed since the Lautenberg Act’s passage. Both Democrat and Republican Administrations at EPA have had the opportunity to implement the Act’s procedures for collecting new information on chemicals, reviewing new chemicals, and for regulating those that the EPA determines pose an  ‘unreasonable risk.’ And each Administration, as we will hear today, has encountered a number of challenges in implementing the Act.  “In 2023, the Government Accountability Office found that, between 2017 and 2022, EPA completed only 10 percent of the pre-manufacture chemical reviews within the time limit laid out in the Lautenberg Act.  With the ten-year anniversary of the Lautenberg Act’s passage quickly approaching, today’s hearing will provide us an opportunity to learn more about what’s working and what’s not at the EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. “And it’s important that we make the most of this opportunity to create that record. Among other things, TSCA, as amended by the Lautenberg Act, governs the EPA’s processes for reviewing new chemicals or in allowing new uses for existing chemicals before those products can be sold to consumers in the United States. Chemicals are part of manufacturing methods and products that we depend on for our everyday life.  “New chemicals, utilized in a safe manner, not only lead to new products that enhance our quality of life but also are necessary for addressing crucial challenges like harnessing energy resources and treating disease. “Similarly, our economic competitiveness and national security depend on our ability to innovate and bring new technologies to market safely and efficiently. As chemicals are part of nearly every product, and new chemistries are essential to developing better products, the TSCA regulatory scheme has a profound impact across nearly every sector of our economy. New chemicals and new uses for existing chemicals must undergo EPA review.  “If these reviews don’t take place in a timely manner, our international competitors could gain an edge, and more production would likely shift overseas.  “We are fortunate to have a panel of experts joining us to help us pinpoint shortcomings with our current regulatory mechanisms and to discuss potential opportunities for reform. “Today, we will hear testimony from Mr. Chris John, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Chemistry Council, or ACC. The ACC serves as an organization of chemical companies who often engage in EPA’s regulatory process, including new chemical reviews. “Also joining us is Mr. Jeff Moody, the Vice President of Government Relations for the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. He will share the experiences of refiners and manufacturers that comply with TSCA  to make the products we depend on every day.  “We are also glad to have Dr. Richard Engler. Prior to his current role as Director of Chemistry at the ACTA group, Dr. Engler served at the Environmental Protection Agency for 17 years and will be able to share more about the agency staff’s experience implementing the Act. “Additionally, Dr. Maria Doa, the Senior Director of Chemicals Policy at the Environmental Defense Fund will offer testimony. Before joining the Environmental Defense Fund in 2021, Dr. Do-A served at the Environmental Protection Agency for 30 years, working on chemical safety and TSCA.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, led a hearing titled  A Decade Later: Assessing the Legacy and Impact of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act . Chairman Griffith issued the following statement following the hearing: “Each administration has encountered a number of challenges in implementing the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act,”   said Chairman Griffith .  “Today, the Environment Subcommittee rightly explored these issues and underscored the need to revise the EPA regulatory structure for the uses of new and existing chemicals and for products containing those chemicals.” Watch the full hearing  here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Vice Chairman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) : “I just want start off by noting how important chemicals are to a strong economy, they are essential in making all of the products that are necessary for our modern life in the 21st century. Even the word chemicals elicits a pretty visceral negative reaction from many. But we have to remember that we have to put emotions aside and actually acknowledge that chemicals play an indispensable role in creating everything from lifesaving medical devices, to computers, smartphones, and cutting-edge military platforms. The domestic chemical industry supports hundreds of thousands of high paying jobs that generates hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity. And unfortunately, the prior administration poorly implemented chemical regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act, putting all of this at risk. Impractical, duplicative or overburdensome regulations for existing chemicals threaten critical supply chains for the products that we all know and rely upon every single day.” Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-02) : “This subcommittee has the responsibility of addressing the aggressive overregulation of the chemicals industry by the Biden administration, which has severely hindered American companies' ability to innovate, grow, and compete in the global market. I believe this hearing is a strong step in the right direction toward achieving that goal. Dr. Doa said that the EPA wouldn't restrict vinegar, but let me give you an example of aggressive overregulation. I'm both a former operating room nurse and a doctor. When the EPA came out with its rules on ethylene oxide, which is the source for non-steam sterilization with no alternative in place, what was the assessment of the best available science? What was the assessment and evaluation of risks and the cost? Was it better to have people have non-sterilized equipment put in their bodies, risk infection, sepsis, and death? I would say that is an example of overzealous regulation.” Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (ND-AL) : “We all want to make America safer for our children, and I agree with my colleagues that we should always be trying to do better. But let's be clear, this change in approach from the EPA is a sea change in approach, and it creates more regulatory uncertainty and makes Americans less safe, not more safe, by pushing manufacturing overseas, jeopardizing American jobs, threatening supply chains, exposing them to intrusion by foreign adversaries, driving up costs for North Dakota farmers and ranchers, and thereby for everything that we purchase. These are real impacts and real risks for American families, and I appreciate that the EPA is taking a cumulative risk assessment of chemicals.”  ###

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 the first hearing of the 119th Congress for the Subcommittee on Environment titled “A Decade Later: Assessing the Legacy and Impact of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act .” “The domestic production of chemicals is critical to the growth of our economy and vital to the success of American manufacturers. Nearly ten years after the passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented the law’s requirements in a manner that runs counter to congressional intent. During this hearing, the Subcommittee on Environment will get to the root of those policies that have inhibited American innovation and our ability to compete in the global market,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith . “The new administration offers a chance to address these issues and ensure American leadership in safely producing the chemicals vital to manufacturing in the years ahead.” Subcommittee on Environment Hearing titled “A Decade Later: Assessing the Legacy and Impact of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.” WHAT : Subcommittee on Environment Hearing Notice DATE : Wednesday, January 22, 2025 TIME : 10:30 AM ET LOCATION : 2123 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Kaitlyn Peterson at Kaitlyn.Peterson@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, announced the Committee’s Subcommittee Chief Counsels for the 119th Congress: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology  Chief Counsel - Kate Harper Kate O’Connor Harper will serve as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, where she has served for the past 5 years. Kate previously served as the Chief of Staff for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, where she worked on legislative and communications policy focused on spectrum and broadband issues. She also worked in NTIA’s Office of Congressional Affairs and engaged with Congress, state government officials, and other federal agencies to advance the Administration’s legislative initiatives on broadband and 5G. Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Chief Counsel - Giulia Leganski Giulia Leganski will serve as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. Prior to this role, Giulia served as a Professional Staff Member for the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, handling issues related to Big Tech, Section 230, Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, media, and public safety. Previously, Giulia worked as a Professional Staff Member for the House Small Business Committee, as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.  Subcommittee on Energy  Chief Counsel - Mary K. Martin Mary K. Martin will serve as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Energy. Prior to her years at Energy and Commerce, Mary previously served as policy counsel and committee executive to the Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Before joining the Chamber, Mary spent 10 years as an attorney in private practice litigating complex commercial disputes, including environmental contamination, toxic tort, breach of contract, and insurance coverage matters. Most recently, Mary served as Of Counsel at Steptoe & Johnson LLP in Washington, D.C.  Subcommittee on Environment  Chief Counsel - Jake Tyner  Jake Tyner will serve as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Environment. Jake has extensive Capitol Hill experience, most recently serving as General Counsel for Senator Dan Sullivan. In this role, Jake led the Senator’s efforts on issues related to energy, then environment, natural resources, and permitting and regulatory reform. Prior to joining Senator Sullivan’s office, Jake worked for Congressman David McKinley of West Virginia, the ranking member on the Environment & Climate Change Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives and at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Subcommittee on Health Chief Counsel - Jay Gulshen Jay Gulshen will serve as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Health. Jay most recently served as a Senior Health Advisor for the Committee on Energy and Commerce, working on Medicare Part B and Part D. Prior to returning to Energy and Commerce, Jay worked for the Committee on Ways and Means, advising on Medicare Parts A and B, served as the Health Policy Advisor for Congressman Buddy Carter, and as a Legislative Associate for the Energy and Commerce’s Health Subcommittee. Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations  Chief Counsel - Brittany Havens Brittany Havens will serve as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Prior to this role, Brittany served as a Senior Oversight Counsel on the Committee on Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee working on a variety of issues, including oversight of federal agencies and programs; oversight of the tax-exempt sector; and legislation related to matters of tax administration. Prior to that, Brittany served in various roles for the Committee on Energy and Commerce between 2012 - 2022, most recently as a Professional Staff Member, conducting oversight on a wide range of topics within the Committee’s jurisdiction. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee staff will work under the direction of Staff Director Megan Jackson, Deputy Staff Director Sophie Khanahmadi, and Chief Counsel Joel Miller.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Yesterday, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, along with Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, penned a letter to Secretary Jennifer Granholm questioning the Department of Energy’s involvement in the Biden-Harris Administration’s decision to prevent new offshore oil and gas production, leading to higher prices for consumers and harming U.S. energy security. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “Closing off swaths of U.S. offshore areas to energy production, as the Biden-Harris Administration reportedly intends to do, will lead to higher energy prices for American families, the loss of American jobs, and greatly diminish our country’s energy security. As the Secretary of Energy, you have an obligation to weigh in on this matter and insist on a full review of the energy security and economic impacts before any decisions are finalized. “The United States stands at an energy crossroads, facing mounting global security threats and soaring demand for power. Instead of leading the world in energy production, we’ve allowed misguided “green” policies to hamstring our potential. It’s time to unleash American energy dominance again—the federal government must become an ally, not an obstacle, to our nation’s energy security. We look forward to your prompt response to this request, no later than January 10, 2025.” Read the story  here . BACKGROUND: This morning, the Biden Administration announced that more than 625 million square miles of coastline would be off-limits for energy production. Republican Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce have continuously called on the Biden-Harris Administration to end its attack on American energy production before leaving office on January 20th. The letter requests an explanation of the DOE’s involvement in the decision and whether the White House or the Department of Interior consulted with the DOE about the plans to close off access to offshore resources. Any decision to shut down access to significant American energy resources impacts U.S. energy policy and should be reviewed by the DOE. The Biden Administration’s energy policies have continued to create major harm to America’s energy production and workforce. A unilateral ban on energy production in large swaths of the U.S. coastline will have lasting impacts on American energy production and security.

California should not dictate the vehicles Americans can drive Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted California a waiver for its ban on gas-powered cars. The waiver comes after the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, led by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) to protect America’s automotive future. “By granting this waiver, the Biden EPA is further proving how out of touch it is from not only the reality of what people want, but also from what is possible. Banning gas-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles, as California intends, will raise costs for Americans and compromise our grid reliability. Just this week, NERC reported that more than half of the nation is at risk of blackouts. California has already had to ask its residents to not charge EVs during blackouts—and EVs currently make up a fraction of vehicles in the state. The bottom line is that California should not dictate what types of cars that Americans drive, which is why House Republicans passed H.R. 1435. The Senate should act immediately.”  BACKGROUND:   In September 2023, the House passed H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, led by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA), with a bipartisan vote of 222-190. E&C Republicans Lead Passage of Bill to Stop the Bans on Gas-Powered Cars   Chair Rodgers: “H.R. 1435 ensures people have the option of driving practical, functional, and affordable cars”   June 2023: Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Legislative Hearing: “Driving Affordability: Preserving People’s Freedom to Buy Affordable Vehicles and Fuel”

Republicans Advocate for American Energy on World Stage Energy and Commerce Committee Member August Pfluger (R-TX) led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29. Members met with world leaders to discuss efforts to build a cleaner energy future. Throughout bilateral meetings and panel discussions on the international stage, E&C Members not only highlighted America's energy leadership but also underscored our commitment to environmental stewardship. Check out these top photos from the trip: At a press conference , Members highlighted how America has led the world in reducing emissions without sacrificing innovation, economic development, or national security. Our allies and partners benefit from America’s energy exports, technological leadership, and environmental stewardship. At a bipartisan panel moderated by Heather Reams, President of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), Members highlighted how a robust nuclear energy industry is critical for providing affordable clean energy to communities across the country and around the world. Members also underscored the significance of the ADVANCE Act, signed into law July 2024, which will modernize and improve licensing processes at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).  Meeting with COP 29 President Minister of Ecology Mukhtar Babayev    and Lead Negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev Meeting with the President of Azerbaijan   Meeting with U.S. Ambassador Mark Libby Meeting with South Korean officials Meeting with Taiwanese officials

Revelations come following release of new Committee report Washington D.C. — This weekend, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Fox & Friends to discuss a new Committee Report on the failures of the Biden-Harris Clean School Bus Program. Highlights and excerpts from the interview below: On Defending American Leadership:   “This is a so-called clean school bus program, and it’s just another part of the Biden-Harris administration’s rush-to-green [agenda]. “We’ve seen them mandating electric vehicles, banning gas stoves, really shutting down American energy.   “But unfortunately, it’s an agenda where the Chinese Communist Party is leading, and America is dependent upon China because they control 90 percent of supply chains for electric batteries.   “This is not the agenda that America needs. We need an agenda of American innovation and free markets, not one where we are dependent upon China. ”  On the Exorbitant Price Tag of Electric Buses:   “Whether it’s Wisconsin or North Dakota or Washington State, they are unreliable.   “We do not have the infrastructure [to support electric school buses], and they are expensive.   “This is a program where the Biden-Harris administration wanted to hand out free school buses across the nation, but unfortunately, they’re not free.   “They’re very expensive, as you mentioned—$381,000.   “These are hard-earned taxpayer dollars that are going to fund part of their so-called green energy agenda.  “There are other clean alternatives, if it really was a clean bus program, that are about $140,000.   “But unfortunately, the administration is mandating this agenda that is expensive, unreliable, and also makes us even more dependent upon the Chinese Communist Party because they control 90 percent of the supply chains.”   CLICK HERE to read more about the Clean School Bus report.