Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse

05.23.23

In lead-up to COP28, 133 U.S. and European elected officials urge ouster of oil executive as president of upcoming climate talks. Letter also encourages UNFCCC to require companies participating in COP to submit an audited corporate political influencing statement

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Member of the European Parliament Manon Aubry today sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell urging the officials to rid COP28 and all future international climate talks of persistent interference from the fossil fuel industry.  The transatlantic letter, signed by 133 members of Congress and the European Parliament, was delivered as countries prepare for the Bonn Climate Change Conference in early June, a precursor to COP28 this winter.

The signatories called on U.S., EU, and UN officials to push the UAE to withdraw Sultan Al Jaber’s appointment as COP28 president.  Al Jaber is the head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which recently announced a plan to significantly expand its oil and gas production. The decision to name the chief executive of one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies as president of COP28 jeopardizes the opportunity for serious and productive climate negotiations.. 

The letter also requests that the UNFCCC require companies participating in COPs to submit an audited corporate political influencing statement that discloses climate-related lobbying, campaign contributions, and funding of trade associations and organizations active on energy and climate issues.  According to one analysis, at least 636 lobbyists from the oil and gas industries registered to attend COP27 last year.

“COPs offer the largest and most important venue to find international agreement on ways to solve the climate crisis,” said Sen. Whitehouse.  “Companies participating should be required to file audited climate political footprint statements to ensure transparency at the world’s major forum for leading the planet to safety in the race against climate change.”

“For billions of people, the outcome of COP28 and ensuing international climate negotiations will make the difference between life and death, chaos and solidarity,” said MEP Aubry.  “Corporate greed and lobbyists’ lies have led us into this climate crisis. We must prevent private commercial interests from interfering in politics and regain ownership of our future.”

“For decades, the fossil fuel industry has been well aware of the dangers of climate change.  Despite this, they have continually promoted climate denial, downplayed their role in emitting greenhouse gas pollution, and have created countless roadblocks on our path toward a clean energy future.  The last thing we need is the chief executive of one of the planet’s largest oil and gas companies at the helm of global climate negotiations.  For the sake of our planet, President Biden, President von der Leyen, Secretary General Guterres, and Executive Secretary Stiell ought to use their power to keep the influence of the dirty fossil industry out of UNFCCC processes,” said Rep. Huffman.

“The annual COP is critical to all people and nations to accelerate the response to the climate crisis,” said Rep. Castor.  “We cannot afford for our decision-making to be delayed or influenced by the very companies that got us into this crisis.  The health of our communities and the future of our planet hang in the balance.  We must act swiftly, and we must put people over the profits and interests of big oil and gas.”

“Big Oil interests have contaminated our climate for decades—they shouldn’t be able to control our climate negotiations for a livable future,” said Sen. Markey.  “As leaders from around the world come together to envision a world that promotes clean energy and climate justice, not pollution and profiteering, we must shut the door on the fossil fuel industry and keep COP28 free from their influence.”

The letter was cosigned by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).  27 Members of the House of Representatives, including co-leads Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), signed the letter.  99 Members of European Parliament also signed the letter.  A coalition of over 425 civil society organizations worldwide, led by Corporate Accountability and Corporate Europe Observatory, have also endorsed the letter, as has the Sierra Club.

The full letter can be found here or below.

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Dear President Biden, President von der Leyen, Secretary General Guterres, and Executive Secretary Stiell:

We, the undersigned Members of the United States Congress and Members of the European Parliament, write to urge you to address our profound concern that current rules governing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) permit private sector polluters to exert undue influence on UNFCCC processes. We address this letter to the executive leaders from the jurisdictions in which our respective bodies function and to UNFCCC leadership, who can work collectively to enact the requested reforms.

Ahead of the annual Conference of the Parties (COP28) climate negotiations, enacting policies that expose the influence of corporate polluters in UNFCCC meetings will help ensure that climate science takes precedence over climate delay and greenwashing. To that end, we urge you (i) to engage in diplomatic efforts to secure the withdrawal of the President-designate of COP28; and (ii) to take immediate steps to limit the influence of polluting industries, particularly major fossil fuel industry players whose business strategies lie at clear odds with the central goals of the Paris Agreement, at gatherings of the UNFCCC.

Last year, many of us attended or followed COP27 in Sharm-al-Sheikh, Egypt. While we applaud the United Nations for bringing tens of thousands of delegates together, leading to a historic agreement that will help developing countries deal with losses and damages from the impacts of climate change, the conference ultimately failed to secure consensus from Parties to cut greenhouse gases in line with the agreed global goals.

It did not escape our attention that at least 636 lobbyists from the oil and gas industries registered to attend last year’s COP—an increase of more than 25% over the previous year. When the number of attendees representing polluting corporate actors, which have a vested financial interest in maintaining the status quo, is larger than the delegations of nearly every country in attendance, it is easy to see how their presence could obstruct climate action.

As you know, there is no time to waste in sharply cutting carbon pollution on a global scale. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report states that, to limit warming to 1.5 °C, global emissions must halve by 2030. The planet has already warmed over 1.2°C, and our ability to reach the 1.5 °C goal is moving fast out of reach, with the IPCC pegging the current probability at just 38%. Maintaining the status quo would lead to a catastrophic 2.8°C temperature rise by the end of the century.

In this moment of great urgency, we must unblock the barriers that have kept us from advancing strong global collaboration to address climate change. One of the largest barriers to strong climate action has been and remains the political influence and obstruction of the fossil fuel industry and other major polluting industries. We have seen their negative influence in our home institutions; oil companies and their industry cheerleaders have spent billions of dollars lobbying both the European Parliament, other European institutions and Member States, and the U.S. Congress in order to obstruct or water down climate policy for years. While we acknowledge that engaging with industry can play a role, we must consider this particular industry’s track record on climate. Since at least the 1960s, the fossil fuel industry has known about the dangers of climate change posed by its products and, rather than supporting a transition to a clean energy future, has instead chosen to promote climate denial and spend millions of dollars to spread disinformation.

Over a half century later, not one of 39 major global oil and gas companies, with collective market capitalization of $3.7 trillion, has adopted a business strategy that would limit warming to safe levels. Several independent analyses agree that the sector is still not taking meaningful action to avoid the worst impacts of the crisis.

Even more outrageous, the global oil and gas industry is expanding amid blockbuster profits to the tune of $4 trillion last year. The sector has poured $160 billion into exploration for new fossil reserves since 2020, even as the IEA has stated that no new fossil fuel projects are compatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C. In short, in the words of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, “We seem trapped in a world where fossil fuel producers and financiers have humanity by the throat.” It is time to alter this dangerous course.

In June, world governments will gather in Bonn for the UN Climate Change Conference, a critical opportunity to advance progress towards implementation of the Paris Agreement, in anticipation of COP28. It is essential that we seize the opportunity to take actionable steps to address and protect climate policy from polluting interference by adopting concrete rules that limit the influence of the fossil fuel industry and its lobbyists in the UNFCCC decision-making process.

First, we urge you to advocate for the United Arab Emirates to withdraw the appointment of Sultan Al Jaber, head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, as President-designate of COP28. The decision to name as president of COP28 the chief executive of one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies—a company that has recently announced plans to add 7.6 billion barrels of oil to its production in the coming years, representing the fifth largest increase in the world— risks undermining the negotiations. With commonsense reforms to help restore public faith in the COP process severely jeopardized by having an oil company executive at the helm, we respectfully submit that different leadership is necessary to help ensure that COP28 is a serious and productive climate summit.

Second, as some of us have already urged, we request that you institute new policies for corporate participation at COPs and UNFCCC processes more broadly, including requiring participating companies to submit an audited corporate political influencing statement that discloses climate-related lobbying, campaign contributions, and funding of trade associations and organizations active on energy and climate issues. These statements should be reviewed, publicly disclosed, and scrutinized prior to any engagement in UNFCCC climate policymaking processes. The UNFCCC should also consider additional measures to establish a robust accountability framework to protect against undue influence of corporate actors with proven vested interests that contradict the goals of the Paris Agreement; such a framework was proposed last year with broad-based international support from over 450 organizations around the world and five UNFCCC constituencies representing thousands of organizations and millions of people. These reforms would bring much-needed transparency to corporate climate-related political influencing activities around the world, and would help restore public faith that the COP process is not being abused by companies as an opportunity to greenwash.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue and for your ongoing dedication to building global support for reducing carbon pollution and combatting climate change. We welcome further engagement with you on this topic, and the lead co-signers are available to meet with you at a mutually agreeable time prior to the UN Climate Change Conference in June.

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Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

To watch Senator Capito’s full speech, click here or on the image above. 

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, last night delivered a speech on the future of the Republican Party at the Reagan Library. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute hosted Senator Capito as the latest speaker in their “Time for Choosing” series.

The “Time For Choosing” series, hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Institute and Foundation, was modeled after President Ronald Reagan’s iconic 1964 address, delivered to support U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater’s presidential bid. The speaker series brings together some of the leading voices in the conservative movement to consider the past, present, and future of the Republican Party.

Excerpts from Senator Capito’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

A CHILD OF APPALACHIA: “I stand before you a proud child of Appalachia – something that might make me a little different than most of your previous speakers. Our state is the only state in the country fully contained within Appalachia. Hard work, self-sufficiency, and national pride are all deeply instilled in our DNA. As a region, we have one of the highest percentages of veterans per capita. I’ve often compared West Virginia to one very large small town where we know how to stand up for ourselves, while still looking out for one another. We’re tough as nails, but with a smile on our face.”

THE LEFT’S CRUSADE: “The disintegration of the Democrat party and consequent rise of the West Virginia GOP didn’t end with President Obama. The left has only grown bolder in their crusade – one that prioritizes academic goals and partisan ideology over the wellbeing of everyday Americans… Under the left’s vision for America, those who worked hard, saved, paid debts, and responsibly managed their credit are penalized to support those who have not.”

REPUBLICAN VALUES: “But, most importantly, I am a Republican because I believe our party can provide a better way because we’ve done it before. We believe in fair elections, in a secure border, in a strong national defense, and that strong families are at the core of a functioning society. They always have been, and they always must be. We believe in limited government. And, now more than ever, we believe in a government that stays in its lane, and protecting and preserving the institutions that keep America strong.”

WE BELIEVE: “We believe in an intelligence community that focuses on protecting the homeland, not one political party over another. We believe in supporting law enforcement and giving them the resources they need to keep our cities and neighborhoods safe. We believe in supporting our military as they strive to protect us, as well as their families and the veterans who have bravely served our country before them. We believe in responsible regulation, not the weaponization of regulations for political purposes, or regulations for regulations sake.”

CONSEQUENCES OF AN OPEN BORDER: “We believe in a secure border. Immigration has been critical to building the America we have today. We are absolutely a nation of immigrants, and we always will be. But, the biggest threat to that system comes from a lack of order like the kind we have seen for the last few years… Not only because of the dangers that come in from cartels and violent criminals, but also the scourge of Fentanyl, which we know all too well in West Virginia.”

A BIG TENT: “We need to make the case for our policies and our ideas with facts and compassion, recognizing that just as our party is a big tent, our country is an even bigger tent and there’s so much more that unites us than divides us. In our diverse Senate caucus, we don’t agree on everything, but the greatest victories Congress has seen in recent years came when we found the best, most conservative solution possible, and taken the win.”

AUTHENTICITY: “President Reagan wasn’t just the great communicator because he had punchy one-liners and clever zingers. He was authentic and real, and he was open with the American people. Nowhere was this more evident than when he opened up to the world about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in his final letter to the American people. As a child of two parents who battled Alzheimer’s, his letter about it touched me deeply for its humility, his authenticity, and his vulnerability.”

THE AMERICAN FAMILY: “As we protect and restore credit in our American institutions, I believe we will see a great restoration of pride in America and in our American values. And the institution I believe is most important to this great restoration is the American family. President Reagan said, ‘All great change in America begins at the dinner table.’ In his farewell address, he spoke of the need for an ‘informed patriotism’ to ensure ‘we are teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world.’ He spoke of the importance of starting with the basics: more attention to American history and a greater emphasis on civic ritual. And again, as President Reagan said, this can and should begin at the dinner table.”

THE GREATEST HONOR: “My own service is entwined with those that have gone before me. As a nine-year old, my dad took me to the U.S. Capitol and I stood on a windowsill where I watched our nation grieve for President Kennedy. And now today, 60 years later, when I walk those halls, I can feel by the grooves in the marble steps the spirits of the men and women who have risen to the challenges of their generations. The honor bestowed on me is never lost. I am humbled, proud, and grateful to walk in their shadows.”

A TIME FOR CHOOSING: “President Reagan closed his timeless ‘Time for Choosing’ speech with the incredible invitation: ‘You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We’ll preserve for our children this – the last best hope of man on earth.’ We stand on a similar precipice today. And we have the tools to climb on as the great City on a Hill that’s inspired millions to embark through darkness and danger for the mere chance to stand on our shores. The roadmap is simpler than you might think: Choose substance, demand the best of those who represent you, and fight like hell for the things you believe in.” 

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Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), Congressman Andy Kim (D-N.J.-03), mental health practitioners and advocates for a roundtable discussion and listening session at Rider University. A recent study by the CDC reported that more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with mental illness and over 1 in 5 youth between the ages of 13 and 18 have or have had a seriously debilitating mental illness. Suicide rates increased 37% between 2000 and 2018. In 2021, over 48,000 Americans committed suicide.

“The mental health crisis facing our country is one of the biggest challenges we must confront. Unmet mental health needs jeopardize the future of our young people, particularly in minority communities. Providing equity in mental health care access and reducing disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups is critical to how we confront this issue and build stronger, healthier individuals and communities,” said Sen. Menendez. “It is fitting that we are coming together for this listening session in May, which is designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, and that we’re doing this after introducing our landmark bill, the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, just last week. This legislation is a positive step to ensure that public health agencies prioritize issues of mental health and suicide, especially in communities with high populations of people of color who continue to bear the disproportionate brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is my sincere hope that together, with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we can finally address this racial inequity in our mental health care system.”

[CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SENATOR’S REMARKS]

In a discussion moderated by Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Dean of the NYU Silver School of Social Work and Paulette Goddard Professor of Social Work, the three lawmakers discussed the ongoing mental health crisis, specifically its impact on children, veterans, and seniors. They also spoke about the cost of mental health inequities, alleviating the health and economic burdens of unmet mental health needs, and charting the path towards a more inclusive and comprehensive mental healthcare system.

The listening session follows last week’s reintroduction of the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act by Sen. Menendez and Rep. Watson Coleman. Originally introduced in 2020, the legislation would authorize $995 million in grants and other funding to support research, improve the pipeline of culturally competent providers, build outreach programs that reduce stigma, and develop a training program for providers to effectively manage disparities.

“The Crisis we were facing had been festering for years before COVID hit and since then it has only grown worse,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “The isolation caused by being forced indoors for months; witnessing parents, grandparents, and loved ones die; the general stress that comes with the loss of jobs and the increase in diseases of despair all impacted our young people. Many of those young people did not have access to the resources they needed to cope. We have an opportunity, right now, to address this crisis and get a generation of young people the help they so desperately need.”

“Every American should have access to mental health support when they need it,” said Rep. Kim. “Right now we need to focus on breaking down inequities in care and increase access, affordability, and overall quality in American mental healthcare. There’s no doubt we’re in crisis. Congress has an opportunity to meet the moment, help break the stigma, surge resources, and help lower the cost of care. We must urgently step up to do so.”

Attendees included Rider Provost Donna Jean Fredeen and Micah Rasmussen, Director of the Rebovich Institute, as well as representatives from the Office of First Lady Tammy Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Human Services. Also in attendance were members of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Moms Demand Action, Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, and the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium.

Click HERE to access photos from the event.

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Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statements in response to the Lower Basin States’ proposed plan to conserve 3 million acre-feet of water over the next three years to protect the Colorado River system. 

“With extreme drought across the West, Nevada has consistently prioritized water conservation – often using less water than what is required,” said Senator Rosen. “While this proposed plan is a positive step forward, I’ll continue working to find a permanent solution to address water sustainability for the Colorado River Basin and protect Nevadans’ access to water.”

“Nevada continues to lead efforts to combat drought in the West, and this plan will make a real difference while putting the entire Colorado River Basin on a path to permanent water savings,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ll keep working with the Department of the Interior and states across the West to make sure the Inflation Reduction Act funding continues to build upon this progress and support the long-term water reduction that we need to protect our communities.”

Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have been leaders in the Senate working to combat drought. They both helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will continue to make a historic amount of funding available for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements across the country over the next five years. 

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Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

05.22.23

Cantwell: “We Can’t Just Rely On The Railroads To Voluntarily Do This”

Train conductor, Pasco mayor, first responders, and union leaders join Cantwell to call for stronger federal rail safety regulations; Railway Safety Act of 2023 includes provisions that would have likely prevented disaster in East Palestine, OH

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), joined with rail experts and community stakeholders to discuss the urgent need for federal rail safety reform and to call on the Senate to pass the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023.

Speaking alongside Sen. Cantwell were:

• Andy Collins, Battalion Chief of the Seattle Fire Department;
• Dave Byers, Response Section Manager for the Washington State Department of Ecology and a lead responder at the rail crude oil spills in the Columbia River Gorge in 2016 and Custer, WA in 2020;
• Wil Badonie, Environmental Specialist for Yakama Nation and co-lead with Dave Byers in responding to the 2016 spill;
• Blanche Barajas, Mayor of Pasco;
• Dave Arouca, Transportation Communications Union;
• Herb Krohn, Train Conductor and WA State Legislative Director for transportation union SMART-TD

“We’re here because we finally have a strong bipartisan effort that can help us prevent disasters in the future — and we want to see it on the Senate floor. With derailments in our state on the rise, and with the accident we saw in East Palestine, it’s time to pass national rail safety improvement,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Rail transportation critical to our state, and we need to continue to do everything we can to make sure an East Palestine incident doesn’t happen here in Washington. We know that we can’t just rely on the railroads to voluntarily do this.”

“This critical legislation will require trains in our nation to be operated by a crew consisting of no less than two persons,” Herb Krohn said. “Over the last several decades, the Class I railroads of this country have eliminated staffing in every area of their operations … This is all being done to lower operating costs and maximize the income to profit ratios, all at the expense of public safety.” 

“Carmen used to be allowed six to eight minutes per car (inspection), then it was moved down to three minutes a car, which was much faster but still doable. But today … they are expected within one minute or less – that’s 30 seconds per side. Mind you, there are about 180 points of inspection for rail car. That is simply impossible to do with any safety,” Dave Arouca said. “That’s why the Railway Safety Act is so incredibly important. Not only for railroad workers, but for every single community where our freight trains pass through.”

Each year, 44 million tons of hazardous materials are transported by rail through the State of Washington, including 1.4 billion gallons of crude oil in 2022. Crude oil rail lines pass in or near Washington’s largest cities, including Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver, Pasco, and Bellingham.

A map of the railroad lines running through Washington state is available HERE.

“I’ve had firsthand experience as Washington’s lead representative in unified command in several train derailments, fires and chemical releases across Washington and affecting our state — of note, the 2016 derailment in Mosier, Oregon, the 2020 derailment in Custer, just north of Bellingham, and most recently, my agency responded to the derailment in Anacortes in the Swinomish tribes and the reservation lands,” Dave Byers said. “It takes an act of Congress to solve some of the critical safety issues that are that are addressed in this bill … this legislation addresses key gaps in some pretty important areas.”

“The Yakama Nation is one of the Columbia River Treaty tribes, so we recognized the derailment in Mosier, Oregon, had significant impact,” Wil Badione said. “Incidents like derailments can have a big impacts to our waters, to tribal foods.”

In Seattle, an average of forty trains pass through the city every day. During the last three months, more 8,000 tank cars filled with crude oil were transported through King County. Over the past decade there have been 52 Class I railroad derailments in King County, including seven last year alone.

“Rail runs through as well as under our communities … we need all the tools to prevent disastrous derailments, as well as information about what’s being transported through our communities,” Andy Collins said. “We’re pleased to see this legislation also include reimbursement for fire for the equipment and supplies used by the relevant responders. Currently, any equipment that is damaged or contaminated must be replaced at taxpayer expense. And that can be a very heavy impact on already tight budgets.”

In Pasco, an average of 34 BNSF freight trains travel through the city every day, some of which carry crude oil. The Washington State Department of Transportation expects this to increase by 58%, to 56 trains each day 2040.  In the tri-county region of Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties, 43 Class I derailments have occurred in the last decade resulting in $6.8 million in damages and involved a total of 93 cars carrying hazardous materials. In recent years derailments have become more frequent in the region, increasing from two derailments in 2012 to six derailments in 2022.

“We are very supportive of this act,” Blanche Barajas said. “We can take precautions, but precautions do not guarantee that there will not be a spill.”

On May 10, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation chaired by Sen. Cantwell passed the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023, which would implement new safety measures to better prevent and respond to derailments like the incident in East Palestine, OH. On Wednesday, Sen. Cantwell held a press conference outside the Capitol alongside Deanna Dawson, CEO of the Association of Washington Cities, and mayors from around the country, to address the need for strong railway safety legislation. That press conference can be watched HERE. The full Senate will consider the legislation at a future date.

Among other provisions, the legislation would:

• Mandate the use defect detection technology that could have prevented the East Palestine derailment;
• Expand the types of hazardous materials that trigger increased safety regulations like speed restrictions, better braking, and route risk analysis;
• Strengthen emergency response plans to prepare for railroad disasters; and 
• Ban rail companies from imposing time limits for railcar inspections.

A full list of the eight key safety provisions included in the bill can be viewed HERE.

Video of today’s press conference is available HERE; audio HERE; photos and a map of WA state rail lines is HERE; and a transcript HERE.

Source: United States Senator for California – Dianne Feinstein

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after Applied Materials announced it was investing up $4 billion to build a semiconductor research center in Sunnyvale, California:

“It’s wonderful news that Applied Materials is investing up $4 billion to build a state-of-the-art semiconductor research facility in the heart of Silicon Valley.

“Thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act, the Biden administration and American industry are revitalizing semiconductor manufacturing in California and across the country.

“Applied Materials’ investment is a welcome development that will speed up advances in semiconductor manufacturing and create thousands of jobs in the Bay Area, ensuring that California remains at the forefront of technological innovation.”

Background:

Senator Feinstein supported the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill that was signed into law last year to jumpstart domestic manufacturing of computer chips, ensure access for U.S. companies and consumers, strengthen supply chains and increase America’s global competitiveness in science and technology.

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Source: United States Senator for California – Dianne Feinstein

Washington—Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the Colorado River lower basin states announced a proposal to conserve 3 million acre-feet of water over the next three years:

“We applaud the proposal agreed to by California, Arizona and Nevada and the federal government to conserve 3 million acre-feet of water over the next three years from the Colorado River.

“Southern California’s communities and farmlands depend on the Colorado River. Unfortunately, climate change and a historic drought in the West have reduced the average annual flow of the river and dropped water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell to 25 percent of their capacity.

“The proposal by the lower basin states could help ensure that these reservoirs continue supplying water and hydropower through 2026, while the seven basin states and the Interior Department consider plans to protect Colorado River water supplies over the long-term.

“This proposal shows the commitment that California has to saving the Colorado River system. Our state will continue to work with the upper and lower basin states to maintain this critical source of water.”

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Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Legislation comes as demand grows for critical minerals necessary for the transition to a clean energy future

Washington (May 19, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today joined Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) in introducing the Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act to modernize the nation’s severely antiquated Mining Law of 1872. The bills will address major environmental justice concerns, protect the environment, and ensure a fair return for the American people.

Regulation of hardrock mining in the United States has remained virtually unchanged for more than 150 years. This outdated system has allowed mining companies—many of which are foreign-owned—to extract more than $300 billion worth of gold, silver, copper, and other valuable minerals from U.S. public lands without paying a single cent in royalties to the American people. These same companies have left taxpayers with billions of dollars in cleanup costs for abandoned hardrock mines and other toxic mining pollution, which has already contaminated 40 percent of the headwaters of western watersheds. Indigenous communities are especially at-risk; the vast majority of clean energy minerals are found within 35 miles of tribal lands. 

The clean energy transition is driving increased demand for certain minerals, making the need for mining reform even more urgent. The Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act updates requirements and standards for hardrock mining operations to be more similar to those that apply to oil, gas, and coal development on public lands. Among other important provisions, Heinrich’s bill will:

• Require annual rental payments for claimed public land, thereby treating mine operators as other public land users.
• Set a royalty rate of not less than 5% and not greater than 8% based on the gross income of production on federal land but would not apply to mining operations already in commercial production or those with an approved plan of operations.
• Revenues would be deposited into a Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund for abandoned mine cleanup. Additionally, the Fund would be infused by an abandoned mine reclamation fee of 1 percent to 3 percent.
• Allow the Secretary of the Interior to grant royalty relief to mining operations based on economic factors.
• Require an exploration permit and mining operations permit for non-casual mining operations on federal land, which would be valid for 30 years and continue as long as commercial production occurs.
• Permit states, political subdivisions, and Tribes to petition the Secretary of the Interior to have lands withdrawn from mining.
• Require an expedited review of areas that may be inappropriate for mining, and allow specific areas be reviewed for possible withdrawal. 

Joining Senator Markey in cosponsoring Senator Heinrich’s bill were Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Original cosponsors of Grijalva’s bill include Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Katie Porter (CA-47), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Mike Levin (CA-49), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

“Fair royalties, the ability to protect sacred sites and sources of drinking water, and funding for abandoned mine cleanups are essential components of a modern mining law. We appreciate the efforts to bring a living anachronism into the modern era,” said Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “As Congress debates options for permitting reform, we look forward to working with all stakeholders to help advance mining legislation that ensures certainty needed by industry while providing the tools and resources needed to clean up abandoned mines – one of the nation’s biggest threats to clean water.” 

“The New Mexico Wildlife Federation strongly supports the pending legislation to reform the 1872 Mining Act,” said Jesse Deubel, Executive Director at New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “This dinosaur of a law has been on the books for over 150 years. It allows foreign companies and others to secure mining rights to our federal lands essentially for free. This law fails to protect lands and waters that are sacred to Native American communities. It fails to recognize and protect lands and waters critical to our nation’s fish and wildlife. After 150 years, it’s time to stop this enormous government welfare program for the mining industry.”

“It’s time to take our nation’s mining laws out of the 19th century and reform them to adequately meet the challenges that face our public lands, waters, and wildlife in the 21st century,” said David Willms, Associate Vice President of Public Lands at the National Wildlife Federation. “We applaud Senator Heinrich for legislation that will reform the antiquated 1872 mining law, invest in the cleanup of our public lands and waters, and ensure that the public receives fair compensation for the use of our public lands.”

“Modernizing the General Mining Act of 1872 is one of the most consequential legacies our congressional leaders can leave behind for our public lands and waters,” said John Gale, Vice President of Policy and Government Relations for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “A lot has changed in 150 years and we have a collective obligation to eliminate patenting provisions, cleanup abandoned mines, and establish parity with other extractive industries that pay royalties and have greater regulatory safeguards. It’s not only the right thing to do, this legislation will generate new jobs and revenue streams that restore polluted waters and improve management of our natural resources.”

The full text of the Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act is available here. A fact sheet is available here.

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