Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up |  March 18 - March 22, 2024

Highlights:

Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Growing Opportunities in Agriculture (GO Agriculture) Act (H.R.7731) in the House. The bipartisan bill would establish a grant program to support new agricultural education opportunities in U.S. high schools, promoting future food security by paving the way for young people to enter the field. For more on supporting a new generation of farmers, check out EESI’s article, Growing Career Opportunities for Young People in Agriculture.

Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) and bipartisan cosponsors in the House, alongside Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in the Senate, introduced the Farm Transitions Act (H.R.7769/S.4018) to reauthorize the Commission on Farm Transitions. The reauthorization bill will set up the Commission—part of the 2018 Farm Bill (P.L. 115–334)— to address the challenges of passing ownership of agricultural land to the next generation of farmers.

Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) and Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) introduced the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 (H.R.7779/S.2781). The bipartisan bill would allow qualified environmental, community, and other groups to clean up polluted, abandoned hardrock mines. The Senate bill, reintroduced by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), passed the Environmental and Public Works Committee in January. EESI’s article on clean energy development on reclaimed mine lands discusses some of the benefits of remediating these areas.

To catch up on all of the recent environmental and energy legislation in Congress, read the PDF here.