On the Hill in July and August 2025: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environmental Hearings

Before the break for August recess, Congress held a total of 21 environmental, energy, and climate-related hearings in July. The House of Representatives held 13 of these hearings, spanning eight of 22 standing and select House committees. The Senate held 8 such hearings across five of its 20 standing and select Senate committees. Hearings covered issues ranging from the role of the federal government in recycling to pipeline safety to reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

As Congress looks to begin work on a new Farm Bill, agriculture was a major focus. The House and Senate dedicated a total of five hearings to it in July, spanning a wide range of topics. One hearing, Past Breakthroughs and Future Innovations in Crop Production, explored new tools and programmatic improvements to keep the United States internationally competitive in agricultural production. Supporting farmers by financing their credit was the topic of Financing Farm Operations: The Importance of Credit and Risk Management. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry also heard testimony from the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stephen Vaden, on the agency’s reorganization proposal.  

Congress held four transportation-focused hearings ahead of the upcoming surface transportation bill reauthorization, three in the Senate and one in the House. The three Senate hearings included hearings on stakeholder perspectives, creating more effective, efficient, and safe transportation programs, and the issues impacting the busing and trucking industries. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s FY2026 Budget. 

Several of July’s hearings took place in committees that do not typically focus on climate, energy, or environmental policy. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations both held hearings focusing on the importance of securing the critical minerals supply chain. The Senate hearing explored U.S.-African critical minerals partnerships, while the House hearing focused on China’s role in the global critical minerals supply chain. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform also held a hearing on streamlining the nuclear permitting process to allow for increased nuclear development. 

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