Environment and Climate Change

WASHINGTON, DC – Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) remarks at an Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee hearing titled, “Promoting American Innovation and Jobs: Legislation to Phase Down the Use of Hydrofluorocarbons.”

As Prepared for Delivery

This morning’s hearing will examine a bill that would mandate a rapid phase down, in the United States, of the use of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs.

These substances, which contribute to climate change when emitted into the atmosphere, serve many important uses, including as a very critical ingredient in cooling and refrigeration equipment throughout our...

WASHINGTON, DC – Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Republican Leader John Shimkus (R-IL) released the following statement slamming Democrats for putting politics over solutions to the country's PFAS challenges.

“Our Democratic colleagues are regrettably beginning the New Year with more of the same from last year: putting politics over progress. We have broad, bipartisan, and commonsense solutions to address the country’s PFAS challenges. Unfortunately, just as Democrats twice rejected a real opportunity to protect our drinking water from PFAS chemicals...

WASHINGTON, DC – What do firefighting foam, cell phones, medical devices, Kevlar, and solar panels have in common? They all contain chemicals. To be specific, they contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances—or PFAS. This chemical is resistant to heat, oils, stains, grease, and water – making them very important to the above products.

E&C Republicans agree that we must protect public health and the environment from the challenges that PFAS can present, but the legislation the House of Representatives is considering this week—H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019—is not the...