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May 5, 2026
Since the beginning of March, Congressional committees have held a total of 65 hearings on climate, energy, and environment-related topics, with the House of Representatives hosting 47 such hearings across nine different committees and the Senate holding 18 hearings across six committees. The Appropriations Committee held the most hearings (17) on the House side, followed by the Natural Resources Committee (12) and the Energy and Commerce Committee (8). On the Senate side, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee took the lead with six hearings, followed closely by the Environment and Public Works Committee (5) and the Appropriations Committee (4). Hearings covered issues such as federal agency funding, public lands and land use, the electric grid, critical minerals, wildlife and biodiversity, and disaster management.
Appropriations season is currently underway in Congress, with a total of 22 hearings in March and April—primarily in the House and Senate Appropriations committees—to debate, review, and share priorities on the funding of various departments and agencies. Agencies like the National Weather Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation were the topic of hearings in the House Appropriations Committee. The committee also held its annual four-hearing-series (1, 2, 3, and 4) specifically on budget priorities for American Indians and Alaskan Natives, which covered topics like land use and infrastructure. The Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and the Interior were the topics of multiple hearings in both chambers’ Appropriations committees and in committees such as the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The House Energy and Commerce Committee also held hearings on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency budget and Nuclear Regulatory Commission budget, while the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a subcommittee hearing on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration budget. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which houses the Federal Emergency Management Agency, saw one budget hearing in the House Appropriations Committee, as well as multiple hearings on the effects of the DHS shutdown (1 and 2) from the House Homeland Security Committee.
The electric grid continues to be a hot topic on the Hill. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held three hearings: one on reviewing the bulk power system that underpins the grid, one that emphasized nuclear energy as a vital tool for enhancing grid capacity, and one that reviewed a variety of interconnection, grid enhancement, and transmission bills. The House Energy and Commerce and Homeland Security Committees held similar hearings on the electric grid, with a special emphasis on how it has been impacted by artificial intelligence and data centers. The House Energy and Commerce Committee also held a hearing on the impacts of Winter Storm Fern on the grid as well as a hearing on natural gas pipeline safety.
The House held five hearings about public lands and land use, four of which were held by the Natural Resources Committee. Priorities included revitalizing brownfield sites, enhancing access to public lands, and investments in national parks (1 and 2). Critical mineral hearings (five in total) also touched on public lands and land use topics, with the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee holding two hearings on deep sea and subsurface mining and the House Natural Resources Committee holding one on copper mining. Other critical mineral hearings focused on supply chains, including one about the impact of environmental laws.
Water, from source to tap, continues to be an area of interest for Congress, with five hearings looking at water quality, resources, and infrastructure. The House Natural Resources Committee held two hearings covering topics like water research and expanding regional water supplies. The remaining three water hearings were held in the Senate and saw testimony on Native American water rights settlements, Great Lakes restoration, and a plethora of other water legislation.
Wildlife conservation legislation was also a popular topic of discussion on the Hill in March and April, with hearings on implementing the Endangered Species Act (P.L. 93-205), oversight of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (P.L. 65-186), and curbing invasive species in wildlife refuges.
To keep up with these hearings, get EESI’s weekly Environmental and Energy Congressional Round-Up by subscribing to our biweekly newsletter, Climate Change Solutions.
Author: Aastha Singh
Advancing science-based solutions for a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world
Top-Rated Climate Nonprofit – 4-Star Charity