News

Press Releases

May 5, 2021 Press Release
The briefing will focus on new research that warns of the potential for “rapid and unstoppable sea-level rise” if the world fails to meet the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
Apr 22, 2021 Press Release
“We are ready to work with President Biden to unleash clean energy technologies, good-paying jobs, and American innovation as we make progress on his ambitious goal to reduce our emissions by half over the next decade,” said Chair Castor.
Apr 16, 2021 Press Release
This hearing will explore the ways that climate action can drive economic growth and create good-paying jobs in the United States.
Apr 9, 2021 Press Release
The hearing will explore the changes we are seeing in climate, the efforts underway to study those changes, and the economic risks and impacts the climate crisis poses to labor supply, human health, and the American economy.
Mar 31, 2021 Press Release
"Whether it's electricians, steelworkers, plumbers or pipefitters, we are ready to unleash the potential for American workers to build a modern, more resilient infrastructure - one that will protect families and small businesses from the growing costs of the climate crisis," said Chair Castor.
Mar 10, 2021 Press Release
"As we deliver on President Biden's plan to put shots in arms, children in schools, and people in jobs, we're making sure that farmers, tribes, and low-income families are reaping the benefits of our economic recovery," said Chair Castor.

Pages

Opinion Pieces

Aug 9, 2021 Opinion Piece
"We’ve known for years that we are in a race against time. We’ve run out of time. Now, every bit of pollution — and every fraction of a degree — counts," writes Chair Castor in the New York Times.
Apr 20, 2021 Opinion Piece
Just as past presidents led our allies through major global crises, President Biden is poised to build a new era of American leadership to guide the rest of the world into a clean energy future, with good-paying jobs and technological innovation.
Apr 12, 2021 Opinion Piece
It’s time we make the right investments that will power our 21st century economy, putting Americans to work and helping us reach net zero as fast as the science requires.

Reports & Documents

Dec 12, 2022

Majority Staff Report

This majority staff report highlights the historic progress made by House Democrats to reduce heat-trapping pollution, lower energy costs, and create good-paying jobs across America by addressing the climate crisis and deploying cleaner, cheaper energy. It also outlines progress made to help communities adapt to climate impacts and become more resilient in the face of worsening extreme weather events. 

Those accomplishments include investments in bills like the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS & Science Act, the Energy Act of 2020, the yearly appropriations bills, the National Defense Authorization Act, and more.

A two-page summary of the report is available here.

Some of the key accomplishments highlighted in the new report include:

  • Laying the foundation to slash pollution across the board with tax credits that will drive investment in affordable clean energy, electric vehicles made in America, and cost-saving energy efficiency technologies;

  • A massive down payment on the electrification of the entire economy, with substantial investments and policy changes in electric transmission and a historic deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure;

  • Making environmental justice a cornerstone of climate action, with a focus on stronger enforcement of environmental laws and increasing investments to EJ communities, including rural and tribal communities;

  • Creating good-paying jobs for American workers as a key aspect of solving the climate crisis, with tax incentives that provide bonuses for high-road labor standards;

  • Transformational incentives for domestic manufacturing of climate solutions to enhance American economic competitiveness and investments in clean energy demonstrations to commercialize advanced technologies;

  • A cross-cutting approach to reducing methane pollution from the oil and gas sector, including the first-ever Methane Emissions Reduction Program;

  • Transforming and strengthening our nation’s core infrastructure from every corner, including transportation, clean water, broadband, and a reliable electric grid that can increasingly withstand climate impacts;

  • Making unprecedented investments to deploy natural climate solutions, expanding conservation measures and harnessing the power of our lands and waters to capture heat-trapping pollution and boost resilience;

  • Advancing climate science within the federal government, improving earth observations and data collection, climate and oceanic research, and emissions measurements;

  • Working to protect the health of all Americans, reducing air and climate pollution and directing funding for disadvantaged communities to help reduce impacts on public health;

  • Reaffirming America’s leadership role in global efforts to reduce heat-trapping pollution and help vulnerable communities adapt to climate impacts; and

  • Confronting the national security implications of the climate crisis, advancing mitigation and resilience for our nation’s military, prioritizing energy resilience and security, and increasing preparedness for personnel, operations, and installations.

The report, which follows up on the Select Committee's Climate Crisis Action Plan from the 116th Congress, also highlights additional opportunities for future Congresses to address the climate crisis, including the need for:

  • A comprehensive transmission strategy to meet the increased electric load from electrification of vehicles, buildings, and industrial processes;

  • A Clean Electricity Standard, Zero Emission Vehicle sales standards, and other sector-specific standards to provide certainty for investments in pollution reduction;

  • A comprehensive approach to critical minerals sourcing and recycling, including updating outdated mining laws to ensure critical minerals are secured in an environmentally, economically, and socially responsible way;

  • Continued investments in research for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like off-road transportation and industry, and for carbon removal;

  • Improving community engagement in the permitting process, addressing the cumulative impacts of plastic production and disposal in fenceline communities, and supporting efforts to strengthen the environmental justice focus of agencies;

  • Increasing support for workforce development and communities experiencing energy transitions, including through registered apprenticeships and a reimagined Civilian Conservation Corps, and ensuring all workers are protected by securing strong labor standards, especially during any extreme weather conditions or events;

  • A National Adaptation and Resilience Plan, including strategies to advance climate science and tools, expand technical assistance to improve planning and access to federal programs, and prioritize investments in environmental justice communities;

  • Advancing resilience-based codes and standards against rising flood, wildfire, and extreme weather risks, and accelerating disaster recovery and bridging the resilience and protection gap for communities at greatest risk;

  • Implementing nature-based solutions on public, private, and working lands and waters, enshrining climate mitigation and adaptation in federal natural resource and land management, and protecting and conserving at least 30% of lands and waters;

  • Increasing research on climate and public health impacts, prioritizing health equity in federal planning for climate impacts on the healthcare sector and public health, recognizing the disproportionate burden on disadvantaged communities; and ensuring all health sector infrastructure is resilient to the impacts of climate change;

  • Fulfilling our commitments to mobilize climate finance for developing countries, and expanding diplomatic, humanitarian, and military capacity to address climate issues; and

  • Embedding climate considerations into all facets of national security and defense policy, including acquisitions, vehicles, technologies, construction, and other approaches.

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