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Today we’re looking at a Democratic push for the Civilian Climate Corps, a key senator’s support for a contentious public lands nominee and some details on how the White House will implement its goal of giving environmental benefits to disadvantaged communities.
CORPS VALUES: Democrats lay out vision for Civilian Climate Corps
A group of more than 80 House and Senate Democrats on Tuesday laid out their vision for a climate jobs program called the Civilian Climate Corps that is expected to be part of a sweeping $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill filled with Democratic priorities.
So tell me what they want, what they really, really want:
- Prioritization of natural climate solutions, clean energy, climate resilience and addressing environmental justice
- “Ambitious” labor standards, including a living wage and an award to help participants pay for college or pay back student loans. But their letter didn’t give dollar amounts.
- Half of the climate program’s investment directed into front-line communities disproportionately impacted by environmental issues and half of the Corps’ members coming from such communities.
The push was spearheaded by Reps. Joe Neguse
Joseph (Joe) NeguseProgressive fighting turns personal on internal call over antitrust bills Black Caucus presses Democratic leaders to expedite action on voting rights OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House votes to nix Trump methane rule | Supreme Court rules in favor of oil refineries in blending waiver dispute | Colorado lawmaker warns of fire season becoming year-round MORE (Colo.), Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez (N.Y.), Judy Chu
Judy May ChuDemocrats face daunting hurdles despite promising start Biden to task White House initiative with coordinating ‘comprehensive’ response to anti-Asian bias Biden signs anti-Asian hate crimes bill into law MORE (Calif.), Marcy Kaptur
Marcia (Marcy) Carolyn KapturPelosi picks Democrats for special panel tackling inequality The Memo: Lawmakers on edge after Greene’s spat with Ocasio-Cortez Democrats demand Biden administration reopen probe into Tamir Rice’s death MORE (Ohio) and Bobby Rush
Bobby Lee RushDemocrats seek to counter GOP attacks on gas prices Doug Emhoff carves out path as first second gentleman Granholm expresses openness to pipeline cyber standards after Colonial attack MORE (Ill.) and by Sens. Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenDemocrats seek to tackle climate change with import tax Equilibrium/ Sustainability — The gentler side of Shark Week Biden needs to help end federal cannabis prohibition MORE (Ore.), Chris Coons
Chris Andrew CoonsOvernight Energy: Democrats seek to tackle climate change with import tax | Advocates say bigger deal needed to meet climate crisis | Western wildfires worsen with 80 different fires Democrats unveil polluter import tax legislation Democrats confident their plans are coming together MORE (Del.) and Ed Markey
Ed MarkeyThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Goldman Sachs – Biden rallies Senate Dems behind mammoth spending plan Initial hospital costs for gun injuries tops B per year: GAO report Biden rallies Democrats: ‘We’re going to get this done’ MORE (Mass.).
Plus, Schumer is backing them, saying “I will fight to get the biggest, boldest CCC possible.”
Read more about what the Democrats are pushing for here.
SETTING THE NOMINEE IN STONE? Manchin to back controversial public lands nominee Stone-Manning
Sen. Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinManchin to back nominee for public lands chief Schumer sets up Wednesday infrastructure showdown Clean electricity standard should be a no brainer amid extreme climate impacts MORE (D-W.Va.) will vote to confirm President Biden
Joe BidenAides who clashed with Giuliani intentionally gave him wrong time for Trump debate prep: book Biden says Eid al-Adha carries ‘special meaning’ amid pandemic Manchin to back nominee for public lands chief MORE’s nominee to head the Bureau of Land Management, the subject of increasing GOP opposition over her connection to a controversial “tree-spiking” case, his office confirmed Monday night.
A spokesperson for Manchin told The Hill he will vote yes on the confirmation of Tracy Stone-Manning, whose nomination would likely have been doomed without the West Virginia Democrat’s backing.
Some backstory: In the 1990s, Stone-Manning testified that she had sent a letter given to her by another activist threatening tree-spiking, in which trees intended for logging are spiked with metal rods. The tactic is intended to create potential damage to logging equipment but can lead to human injury as well.
AND! Manchin’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee announced that Stone-Manning will get a vote this week. Senators will vote on whether to approve her during a hearing on Thursday.
Read more about Manchin’s support and the contention surrounding the nominee here.
TODAY IN EJ: White House details environmental benefits plan for disadvantaged communities
The Biden administration has released new guidance kickstarting its plan to offer targeted benefits to communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and other negative environmental issues.
The White House has said it plans to deliver 40 percent of the environmental benefits of its actions to underprivileged communities. The interim guidance issued Tuesday outlines the type of programs that would be included and factors for determining a “disadvantaged” community.
The order gives federal agencies 60 days to put together an assessment of which programs will be part of the initiative and what type of benefits they offer, as well as 150 days to create a way to calculate the benefits that are going to such communities.
And it sets up a pilot initiative for 21 programs under which the agencies will have to engage stakeholders in 30 days, develop a draft implementation program in 60 days and create a way to calculate benefits for disadvantaged communities in 60 days.
Read more about the guidance here.
COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE: TSA issues second security directive to secure pipelines against cyberattacks
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Tuesday issued a second security directive meant to strengthen critical pipelines against cyberattacks in the wake of the crippling ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline earlier this year.
Under the directive, owners and operators of critical pipelines transporting gasoline or other hazardous liquids are required to take specific security measures to protect against ransomware attacks, develop recovery plans in the event of an attack and review their existing cybersecurity plans.
Read more about the directive here.
OWL BE THERE FOR YOU: Biden proposes restoration of northern spotted owl habitat, reversing late Trump rule
The Biden administration is proposing to restore protections for millions of forests home to the northern spotted owl in the Pacific Northwest, the latest reversal of environmental protections undone by the Trump administration.
In a Federal Register notice Tuesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined there was “insufficient rationale and justification” behind the Trump-era removal of protections. The affected 3.4 million acres stretched across nearly 45 counties in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.
The agency said it would instead curtail protections on about 200,000 acres in Oregon, following up on a 2020 proposal.
Read more about the reversal here.
WHAT WE’RE READING:
Inside the campaign to be an EPA regional administrator, E&E News reports
Could the voting rights fight hinder climate and energy policies?, Politico reports
Texas presses Biden to engage Mexico on energy fight, The Houston Chronicle reports
Colorado Initiates Aerial Monitoring Of Methane Emissions At Drilling Sites, CBS Denver reports
ON TAP TOMORROW:
- The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on cybersecurity threats to infrastructure
- The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing on the role of the Small Business Administration in climate solutions
- The House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on environmental justice
- The House Science, Space & Technology will hold a hearing on extreme heat in the U.S.
- The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Proposal for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
ICYMI: Stories from Tuesday (and Monday night)…
Biden proposes restoration of northern spotted owl habitat, reversing late Trump rule
Democrat proposes taxes on commercial space flights for nonscientific purposes
CO2 emissions on track for record in 2023, energy agency says
Democrats lay out vision for Civilian Climate Corps
TSA issues second security directive to secure pipelines against cyberattacks
Manchin to back nominee for public lands chief
Western wildfires delay hundreds of flights: report
White House details environmental benefits plan for disadvantaged communities
OFFBEAT BUT ON-BEAT: Rep. Sean Casten
Sean CastenSean Casten: Congress moving in ‘the right direction’ on clean energy House fails to pass drug bill amid Jan. 6 tensions Democrats don’t trust GOP on 1/6 commission: ‘These people are dangerous’ MORE (D-Ill.) declares it “hot FERC summer” on the House floor
