A host of administration officials leading energy and environment agencies will be on Capitol Hill this week defending President Joe Biden’s fiscal 2023 budget, including spending increases to address climate change.
After appearing at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in advance of the two week recess, Michael Regan from the EPA Administration will answer questions from House appropriators.E&E DailyApril 7, 2009.
The White House proposed $11.9Billion to EPA, a 25% increase over current funds. The president sought a significant increase for the current fiscal year, only to see lawmakers increase the agency’s spending by about $300 million.
Jennifer Granholm, Energy Secretary to the House, will be quizzed by lawmakers on why the administration wants more spending than $3 billion. This includes a $4 billion appropriation to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.E&E Daily, March 29,
House appropriators and members from the Energy and Commerce Committee will push her to address energy prices, releases and implementation of the infrastructure law.
Deb Haaland, Interior Secretary may be subject to one of the most intense grillings. Oil and gas drilling on public lands is a topic of intense debate ahead the midterm elections. The White House wants Interior to spend approximately $4 billion more than current spending (Greenwire, 28 March
Commerce, Transportation and Agriculture
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will appear before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where lawmakers may ask about the administration’s proposals on climate and fisheries.
NOAA’s spending would increase by $1 billion to nearly $7 billion. The National Weather Service would receive $1.2 billion, an increase of approximately $100 million. NOAA Fisheries would see a $100 million increase to $1.1billion (Greenwire, 28 March
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack may get more of a grilling on climate issues, with many Republicans deeply concerned about the department’s role on the issue. The White House is calling for a 12 percent increase in USDA funding, including money for climate hubs or monitoring greenhouse gas emissions.E&E News PM, 28.03.2008
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will also answer questions on the administration’s work implementing the infrastructure law, along with his department’s request for $27 billion in discretionary spending (E&E News PM, 28.03.2008
Army Corps, Forest Service
Army Corps of Engineers leaders will have to contend with House appropriators, particularly Energy and Water Chair Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), asking why the administration wants to cut the agency’s spending.
The president’s budget would set aside $6.6 billion for the corps, a drop from the roughly $8 billion Congress approved for the agency in this year’s omnibus package.
However, lawmakers are likely not to consider the cuts. Administration officials have pointed to $22 billion in supplemental funding to the corps from the infrastructure and disaster relief budgets (E&E DailyApril 7, 2009.
Separately, Forest Service Chief Randy Moore will defend the administration’s plan to increase spending on wildland fire management and $25 million for climate-related research.
Other hearings
Hearing on the State Department budget may yield questions about the administration’s proposals to increase international spending on climate change programs despite continued Republican resistance.
Hearings on Defense Department spending and military construction spending could also touch on climate change preparedness and efforts to clean up toxics such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds.
Legislators are also eager to question officials about cybersecurity concerns. Jen Easterly is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director and has appeared on the Hill many times in recent months. She will be back this week.
Calendar
TUESDAY
Schedule: The Senate Foreign Relations hearing regarding the State Department budget will take place at 10 a.m. in Dirksen and via webcast.
Witness:Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
Schedule: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the Justice Department Budget is at 10 a.m. in via 192 Dirksen. webcast.
Witness: Attorney General Merrick G.
WEDNESDAY
Schedule: The Senate Commerce hearing on Commerce Department budget will take place at 9:30 AM in 253 Russell. webcast.
Witness:Gina Raimondo, Commerce Secretary.
Schedule:The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Hearing on the Coast Guard Budget is at 10 a.m. in 2167 Rayburn and via webcast.
Witnesses: TBA.
Schedule:The House Small Business hearing is at 10 a.m. in 2360 Rayburn. webcast.
Witness: Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman.
Schedule:The House Appropriations subcommittee hearing about the Homeland Security budget will be held at 10 a.m. in 2359 Rayburn. webcast.
Witness: Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary
Schedule:The House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the Food and Drug Administration Budget is at 10 a.m. via webcast.
Witness: FDA Commissioner Robert Califf.
Schedule:The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing about the Health and Human Services Budget is at 10:15 AM in 2123 Rayburn and via webcast.
Witness:Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services Secretary.
Schedule: The hearing by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency budgets is at 10:30 AM in H-405 Capitol (closed).
Witness: Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander, U.S. Cyber Command.
Schedule:The House Budget hearing regarding the Defense budget will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the 210 Cannon and via webcast.
Witness:Michael McCord, Chief Financial Officer and Defense Comproller.
Schedule:The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the State Department Budget is at 2:05 p.m. in Dirksen (via webcast.
Witness: Blinken.
Schedule:The House Homeland Security hearing is at 2 p.m. in the 310 Cannon and via webcast.
Witness: Mayorkas.
Schedule:The House Appropriations subcommittee hearing about the Forest Service budget will be held at 2 p.m. via webcast.
Witness: Forest Service Chief Randy Moore.
Schedule:The House Appropriations Hearing on the Army Corps & Bureau of Reclamation Budget is at 2:30 PM in 2362B Rayburn and via webcast.
Witnesses:
- Michael Connor, assistant Army secretary to civil works.
- Scott Spellmon is the Army Corps commanding general and chief engineer.
- David Palumbo is the Bureau of Reclamation deputy commissar of operations.
- Tanya Trujillo assistant Interior secretary for science and water.
THURSDAY
Schedule:The House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the Interior Budget is at 9 a.m. via webcast.
Witness:Deb Haaland is the Interior Secretary.
Schedule:The House Appropriations subcommittee hearing about the Agriculture budget will take place at 10 a.m. via webcast.
Witness:Tom Vilsack, Agriculture Secretary.
Schedule:The House Appropriations subcommittee hearing about the State Department budget will take place at 10 a.m. via webcast.
Witness: Blinken.
Schedule: House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing about the Energy Department budget will be held at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn and via webcast.
Witness:Jennifer Granholm is Energy Secretary.
Schedule:The Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing about the Food and Drug Administration budget will be at 10 a.m. in Dirksen and via webcast.
Witness: Califf.
Schedule:The House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on Air Force Installations is at 2:05 p.m. in 2358A Rayburn and via webcast.
Witnesses:
- JoAnne Bass, Air Force chief master sergeant.
- Bruce Hollywood, Space Force assistant chief operation officer.
- Brig. Brig.
- Edwin Oshiba is acting assistant Air Force secretary, installations, environment, and energy.
- Roger Towberman, Space Force chief master sergeant.
Schedule:The House Ways and Means hearing about the Health and Human Services Budget is at 10:30 am in 1100 Longworth and via webcast.
Witness: Becerra.
Schedule: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the Transportation Budget is at 10:30 AM in 192 Dirksen. webcast.
Witness: Pete Buttigieg is Transportation Secretary.
Schedule:The House Foreign Affairs hearing regarding the State Department budget starts at 1 p.m. in 2172 Rayburn and via webcast.
Witnesses: TBA.
Schedule: The House Appropriations subcommittee hearing about the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency budget will be at 1:30 p.m. in 2359 Rayburn and via webcast.
Witness:Jen Easterly, Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Schedule: The House Appropriations subcommittee hearing about the Justice Department budget will take place at 2 p.m. via webcast.
Witness: Garland.
Schedule:The House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the Energy Budget is at 2:30 PM in 2362-B Rayburn. webcast.
Witness: Granholm.
FRIDAY
Schedule:The House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the EPA Budget is at 9 a.m. via webcast.
Witnesses:
- EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
- EPA Chief Financial Officer Faisal Amin.