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Today’s focus is on federal action regarding wildfires. We also look at a poll that found popular support for the BuildBack Better bill’s climate agenda. This comes despite the fact that the bill has stalled and new findings showing that vulnerable populations are more severely affected by natural catastrophes.
Rachel Frazin, Zack Budryk and I are The Hill’s editors. Send us your tips: [email protected] [email protected]. Follow us on twitter: @RachelFrazin @BudrykZack.
Let’s jump in.
Officials announce plans to deal with wildfires
Tuesday’s announcement by the Biden administration was that it would be implementing a 10-year strategy to reduce wildfire damage using funds from the bipartisan Infrastructure bill.
The administration stated that it will use prescribed fires to preserve forest health and help communities adapt to fires through the initiative. It will also include investments in post-fire recovery, reforestation, and addressing postfire risks.
The Department of Agriculture oversees Forest Service. They hope to treat additional 20 million acres of National Forests and Graslands and support the treatment of 30 millions more acres of lands held by other federal, state and tribal entities.
The Associated Press The plan was reported to be $50 billion. However, a press release indicated that the project would require the use of $3Billion from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“The negative consequences of today’s most destructive wildfires far outpace efforts to protect homes and communities, natural resources, and other property,” Agriculture Secretary Tom VilsackStatement.
You can read more about the plan by clicking here.
BBB measures still popular according to poll
According to a new poll, climate action and specifically the Build Back Better proposals of Democrats are getting public support, even though their prospects remain uncertain.
The survey found that a majority of likely voters support congressional climate action. This includes several climate policies Democrats have proposed in their Build Back Better legislation.first shared with The HillIt was found.
The poll was conducted by Data for Progress for Climate Power and included 92 percent of Democrats as well as 46 percent of Republicans. It found that 70% of likely voters believe that Congress should act on climate change.
It found that majorities supported policies including a tax on methane emissions and credit for electric vehicles.
The poll found that 67 per cent of respondents support making oil and gas companies pay a charge for excess methane and holding them responsible for repairing methane leaks.
Only 24 percent were against the idea.
The poll also showed support for a $7500 electric vehicle tax credit with 60% supporting and 33 against. Additionally, a $12,500 credit to vehicles made in the USA by union workers saw even greater support.
The union proposal, which is opposed to swing vote Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., whose state is home a non-union Toyota factory, received support from 66 percent, while only 25 percent opposed it in a poll.
A total of 67 per cent supported Build Back better overall. It was described as a plan to “expand Medicare benefits and lower healthcare costs and prescription drugs expand accessibility to affordable caretaking service for children and the aged ….take action to address climate change, extreme weather, create jobs in clean energy, and reduce pollution.”
It was opposed by 28.8%. Similar results were obtained from October, when the group discovered that 64% of respondents supported the plan, while 28% were against it.
However, Manchin’s opposition to the legislation makes it uncertain if the legislation will be adopted. Over the weekend Sen. Tim Kaine (D.Va.) DescribedThe latest package was deemed “dead”, but he said that he believes the “core” provisions will pass.
The new poll interviewed 1,369 likely voters between Jan. 1 and 5. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.
VULNERABLE SCHOOL AREAS HITTED BY DISASTERS
According to a Tuesday report from the Government Accountability, natural disasters are associated a rise in racial- and income-based academic inequalities in affected school district schools, according to the Government Accountability.
Let’s take a look at the stats…The report revealed that 57% of school district receiving key disaster grants in 2017-2019 served students who were from two or more socially vulnerable classes.
Only 38 percent have a higher-than average percentage of students in two of these groups. These include children with disabilities, English learners or children with low incomes.
Such data can offer a glimpse into who is affected by these events and the overall inequality.
GAO officials spoke with five school districts in need about the challenges that they face after a national disaster.
GAO staff was told by officials in a large urban centre that the district’s mental health providers were already stretched too thin, and that funding issues had left more than 100 schools without counsellors.
The report states that one subject matter expert stated that there is often a disconnect between the long-term mental health needs for disaster survivors and the short term nature support offered to the community.
According to the report, natural disasters can have a particularly negative impact on academic performance. One county official stated to the GAO that recent progress in closing a gap between Hispanics and white students was nearly erased after natural disasters in their area. Students with disabilities, students who are still learning English, and students from low-income families, who are already at an academic disadvantage due to natural disasters, face additional obstacles. Higher-income areas do not experience the same academic declines after disasters, according to statistics.
You can read more about the report by clicking here.
WHAT WE ARE READING
Scientists say that chemical pollution has exceeded the safe limit for humanity.The Guardian)
EPA addresses the coal-to-crypto industry trendE&E News)
Momentum is building in the fight against ‘forever chemical’ in water and environmentOhio Capital Journal)
Ecuadorian indigenous demand rights to consent to extractive projects (Reuters)
ICYMI
Exxon sets ‘net zero’ Emissions goalBy 2050, operations
Erdoan: US pulls support EastMed gas pipelineHigh costs
DiCaprio on climate change:Vote for the sane
Finally, let’s not forget something that could be very helpful: Here’s how to get your COVID-19 test free.
This is it for today. Thanks for reading. Visit The Hill’s website. Energy & Environment PageFor the latest news and coverage. We’ll see you there You Tomorrow.