December 17, 2022
Dear Friends,
This year, I’ve been proud to lead House Democrats’ efforts to deliver the most substantial action in history to combat the crisis of climate change. Our Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in August, represents the largest investment in clean energy, environmental justice, and green jobs in American history. And as Chair of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, I was proud to author many of the climate provisions in this legislation, including measures that provide rebates for electrifying low- and moderate-income homes and a provision empowering new development in offshore wind technologies.
But our work to drive clean energy advancements goes far beyond this single transformative bill. Over the past few months, I’ve joined with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce legislation that will build on the successes of the IRA to further advance innovative green energy solutions that address floating solar technology, clean hydrogen development, and community resilience.
This October, I introduced the Community Mental Wellness & Resilience Act, a bipartisan bill that will tackle our nation’s mental health crisis head-on by addressing the significant community trauma associated with natural disasters. Last year alone, more than 1 in 5 American adults experienced a diagnosed mental illness. And with more than 40 percent of Americans living in a county impacted by a major natural disaster in just the past year, it is growing clear that worsening severe weather patterns are a major contributor to this crisis. By providing new grants and partnerships with local, community-based initiatives that can craft locally specific approaches to prevent and heal mental health issues caused by disasters and other toxic stresses, this legislation will help communities across the nation better prepare for and respond to the growing challenges associated with climate change. I was thrilled that a Senate companion bill for this legislation was introduced just this week by Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts.
Even as we work to reduce the harm natural disasters cause in our communities, we’re also working toward greener energy solutions that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and slow the effects of climate change. Earlier this month, I introduced the POWER our Reservoirs Act, a bill to direct key federal agencies to study opportunities to advance clean energy production and improve drought protection by deploying floating solar arrays on federal water reservoirs. According to a 2018 study, the use of such technology on the country’s more than 24,000 human-made reservoirs could produce enough energy to meet 10 percent of our nation’s electricity needs, all while reducing harmful evaporation that contributes to worsening droughts. This legislation, inspired by an innovative project I supported in the City of Cohoes, will protect our depleting water systems while expanding domestic renewable energy production – a significant victory both for our climate and for consumers.
And last week, I joined Rep. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma to introduce the Department of Energy Clean Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research, Development and Demonstration Act. This bipartisan legislation will empower the Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate and strengthen its efforts to support the research and development of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Clean hydrogen energy provides us with an important pathway toward a more sustainable energy future. By providing critical federal support for projects to improve the durability of hydrogen fuel cells, optimize for clean hydrogen production in new electricity markets, and more, this bill will make certain that our nation is at the forefront of innovation in this crucial industry.
Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve always worked to address our climate crisis from every angle. Even after the passage of the groundbreaking Inflation Reduction Act and its unprecedented clean energy investments, I’ve continued my efforts to boost renewable energy production here at home while also working to reduce the harmful effects of climate change, from historic droughts to community trauma. In the upcoming session of Congress, I’ll continue to work tirelessly alongside my colleagues from both parties to help move our nation forward on the path to a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to ensure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- With the holiday shopping and travel season well underway, it’s a critical time to be aware of your rights as a consumer and of steps you can take to keep your family safe.
- To keep you and your family updated, I hosted an informational webinar on Tuesday on federal consumer protection and safety.
- At the webinar, we were joined by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric as well as by representatives from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), who shared their insights on how to avoid and report scams, understanding product safety concerns, and more!
- A full recording of Tuesday’s webinar can be found HERE on my Facebook page.
- If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, I welcome you to share them with my office at 518-465-0700.
