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Today we’re looking at the end of infrastructure talks, some tense Senate hearings for the Colonial Pipeline CEO and President Biden
Joe BidenBiden DOJ adopts Trump’s liability stance in E. Jean Carroll defamation suit Boston mayor fires city’s police commissioner months after domestic abuse allegations emerge Book claims Trump believed Democrats would replace Biden with Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama in 2020 election MORE’s lands agency pick respectively and the signing of weatherization bills in Texas following this year’s winter storms.
THE ART OF NO DEAL: Biden ends infrastructure talks with key Republican
President Biden on Tuesday cut off prolonged infrastructure negotiations with a GOP group led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito
Shelley Wellons Moore CapitoBipartisan group prepping infrastructure plan as White House talks lag Overnight Energy: Climate emerges as infrastructure sticking point | US recovers millions in cryptocurrency paid to pipeline hackers | Chief scientist: NOAA is ‘ billion agency trapped in a .5 billion budget’ On The Money: White House sees paths forward on infrastructure despite stalled talks | Biden battles Dem divides | FBI seizes bitcoin ransom paid by Colonial Pipeline MORE (R-W.Va.) and will instead move forward on discussions with a bipartisan group of senators.
The White House announced Biden’s move after the president and Capito spoke Tuesday afternoon. The two remained far apart on a deal during that discussion despite weeks of talks. The White House as a result is shifting to talks with a bipartisan group that is crafting its own proposal, an administration official confirmed.
Members of the bipartisan group include Sens. Kyrsten Sinema
Kyrsten SinemaBipartisan group prepping infrastructure plan as White House talks lag Democrats reach turning point with Manchin Cher apologizes for confusing Sinema, Gillibrand MORE (D-Ariz.), Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanBipartisan group prepping infrastructure plan as White House talks lag On The Money: White House sees paths forward on infrastructure despite stalled talks | Biden battles Dem divides | FBI seizes bitcoin ransom paid by Colonial Pipeline White House sees paths forward on infrastructure despite stalled negotiations MORE (R-Ohio) and other Senate moderates, such as Sens. Jon Tester
Jonathan (Jon) TesterPro-gun groups step up lobbying campaign against Biden ATF pick Biden ‘allies’ painting him into a corner Democrats set for filibuster brawl amid escalating tensions MORE (D-Mont.), Bill Cassidy
Bill CassidyPence: Trump and I may never ‘see eye to eye’ on events of Jan. 6 White House: Biden will not appoint presidential Jan. 6 commission Bottom line MORE (R-La.), Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinBipartisan group prepping infrastructure plan as White House talks lag Democrats reach turning point with Manchin The Memo: Political winds shift against Biden MORE (D-W.Va.) and Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiPro-gun groups step up lobbying campaign against Biden ATF pick Pence: Trump and I may never ‘see eye to eye’ on events of Jan. 6 White House: Biden will not appoint presidential Jan. 6 commission MORE (R-Alaska). The senators are aiming to release a proposal by the end of the week.
The president began speaking with members of the bipartisan coalition on Tuesday, and he will engage with those lawmakers while in Europe for the next week. Cabinet officials such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Pete ButtigiegIs the infrastructure bill a bridge too far? The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden, Harris take US goals abroad Juan Williams: Biden should go it alone MORE and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer GranholmGranholm launches ‘Earthshot’ goal of reducing hydrogen energy cost to The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden, Harris take US goals abroad Divisions remain on infrastructure as clock ticks on bipartisan deal MORE will also take a leading role, an administration official said.
Read more about the talks here.
PIPING UP: Colonial Pipeline CEO provides new details on cyberattack
Colonial Pipeline President and CEO Joseph Blount was grilled by lawmakers Tuesday on his decision to pay hackers in a ransomware attack that forced a temporary shutdown of operations — and led to gas outages in parts of the country.
During a sometimes-tense Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Blount indicated that the company did not consult with the FBI and other agencies before it paid the equivalent of $4.4 million in bitcoin to regain control of its systems.
“It was our understanding that the decision was solely ours as a private company to make the decision about whether to pay or not to pay,” Blount said in response to a question from Sen. Gary Peters
Gary PetersHillicon Valley: Facebook to resume some political donations | Microsoft says Russian hackers utilized email system used by USAID to target other groups | Senate confirms Biden’s top scientist Khanna, Mace introduce bill to strengthen federal cyber workforce following major hacks Postal Service sees chance to turn the page after tumultuous year MORE (D-Mich.), the panel’s chairman.
“Considering the consequences of potentially not bringing the pipeline back on as quickly as I possibly could, I chose the option to make the ransom payment,” he said.
Yes, and: Blount also testified that multifactor authentication was not used to secure the account suspected to have been exploited by hackers to gain access to company systems and that there was no plan in place to respond specifically to a ransomware attack.
“My concern is how unprepared Colonial Pipeline was,” Sen. Maggie Hassan
Margaret (Maggie) HassanSchumer faces cracks in Democratic unity 9 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2022 Biden budget includes 0M to help agencies recover from SolarWinds hack in proposed budget MORE (D-N.H.) told reporters following the hearing. “I have small school districts in New Hampshire that are more prepared than Colonial Pipeline appeared to be, and that’s really concerning.”
“When critical infrastructure is run by a private entity there need to be some rules and some frameworks to make sure that the interests of the American people are served,” she added.
Read more about the hearing here.
TURN UP THE HEAT: Republicans grill Biden public lands agency pick over finances, advocacy
Republicans on the Senate Energy Committee on Tuesday grilled Tracy Stone-Manning, President Biden’s pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management, questioning her on partisanship and her personal finances.
While Democrats praised Stone-Manning for her record on issues of importance to the western U.S., ranking member John Barrasso
John Anthony BarrassoOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden suspends Arctic oil leases issued under Trump | Experts warn US needs to better prepare for hurricane season | Progressives set sights on Civilian Climate Corps Granholm divests from electric vehicle manufacturer Senate Republicans warn Biden against using reconciliation for infrastructure MORE (R-Wyo.) expressed concerns that she “does not fit the bill” to direct the bureau.
The GOP senator pressed Stone-Manning about political ads run by the group Montana Conservation Voters last year targeting Sen. Steve Daines
Steven (Steve) David DainesBiden ‘allies’ painting him into a corner Senate chaos: Johnson delays exit as votes pushed to Friday Senate panel deadlocks on energy tax credits bill MORE‘s (R-Mont.) conservation record. Stone-Manning served as treasurer and was on the group’s board of directors at the time.
“I have led nonprofit organizations and I have been on the board of nonprofit organizations, and I take very seriously the difference between those two roles,” Stone-Manning responded, adding that she had a policy of “never micromanaging staff” over the course of her nonprofit work.
Read more about the hearing here.
EVERYTHING IS WEATHERIZED IN TEXAS? Texas governor signs bills to improve power grid after deadly winter storm
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed two bills into law Tuesday aimed at improving the operation and oversight of the state’s power grid after broad criticism over the handling of a deadly winter storm.
One of the bills Abbott signed would require the weatherization of power generation facilities, natural gas facilities and transmission facilities to be better prepared for severe weather and will also mandate that the Texas Railroad Commission and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) inspect the facilities, with fines of up to $1 million for failure to properly weatherize them.
The new laws also establish the Texas Energy Reliability Council to boost harmonization between state agencies and industry during long power outages and bouts of extreme weather.
The laws do not include requirements regarding consumer infrastructure such as homes and pipes and do not mandate that weatherization occur until 2022.
Read more about the bill here.
GOING, GOING GOM: Biden administration eyes potential offshore wind sites in Gulf of Mexico
The Biden administration is looking to potentially open the Gulf of Mexico to offshore wind and other renewable energy development, it announced on Tuesday.
The Interior Department said it will examine potential opportunities for development at the Gulf’s outer continental shelf and will allow for public comment to assess interest and gain information.
A spokesman for Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, John Filostrat, said in an email that this is the first time the agency is gauging interest for renewable energy in the Gulf.
Later this week, the administration will publish a request for information for potential development off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.
Read more about what they’re looking to do here.
ON TAP TOMORROW:
WHAT WE’RE READING:
As Biden’s BLM pick awaits confirmation, its Grand Junction headquarters sit empty, Colorado Newsline reports
Pollster’s private message to GOP: Win on climate, E&E News reports
Southwest utilities bet on solar, storage for resilience against wildfires, Energy News Network reports
‘Energy Justice’ Nominee Brings Activist Voice To Biden’s Climate Plans, NPR reports
Hawaii bill seeks to gut funding aimed at protecting environment from tourism, The Guardian reports
ICYMI: Stories from Tuesday (and Monday night)…
Texas governor signs bills to improve power grid after deadly winter storm
Biden administration eyes potential offshore wind sites in Gulf of Mexico
Dozens arrested during protest of oil pipeline in Minnesota
Jane Fonda: Biden hasn’t done ‘enough’ on oil pipelines
Colonial Pipeline CEO grilled over ransomware attack
Conservation deal puts additional hurdle in front of embattled mine proposal
Republicans grill Biden public lands agency pick over finances, advocacy
Colonial CEO apologizes for pipeline attack’s impact
Energy Department announces new steps on US battery production
GAO to examine border wall environmental impacts
OFFBEAT AND OFF-BEAT: The cicadas are dangerous!!!
