On the Hill in September and October 2025: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environmental Hearings

After returning from August recess, Congress held a total of 20 environmental, energy, and climate-related hearings in September before the government shutdown began. The House of Representatives held 16 of these hearings, spanning seven of its 22 committees. The Senate held four hearings, all under one of its 20 committees. The House Committee on Natural Resources was the most active, holding seven hearings in one month. The hearings covered a wide range of topics, from fusion energy and permitting reform to wildfires and agency oversight.

Wildfire management and forest health were a hot topic for lawmakers, spanning four hearings in September. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing to discuss a new wildfire emissions prevention bill, which aims to improve prescribed burning practices. Another hearing, under the House Committee on Agriculture, focused on strategies for restoring forests, strengthening ecosystem health, and reducing catastrophic wildfire risks. A Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing addressed the challenges fire departments face in getting essential firefighting equipment, while a House Committee on Natural Resources hearing examined how decades of fire suppression, drought, and reactive measures have worked to exacerbate wildfire risk.

Mining and drilling on federal public lands was also a popular topic this fall, taking up three House hearings, all within the House Committee on Natural Resources. One such hearing examined the COAL Act of 2025 (H.R.280), the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2025 (H.R.1366), and the MERICA Act of 2025 (H.R.3872). Another House Natural Resources hearing focused on balancing multiple uses of federal land to simultaneously support economic growth, energy security, and conservation. At a third hearing, two panels of experts discussed expedited permitting for drilling on public lands in Alaska.

September also saw three hearings on the future of America’s energy systems, innovation, and infrastructure regulation. The House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Science, Space, and Technology held respective hearings on federal appliance and building efficiency standards and on fusion energy technologies. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, meanwhile, held a hearing to identify federal initiatives supporting energy development in Native communities.

To keep up with Congressional hearings in the future, get EESI’s weekly Environmental and Energy Congressional Round-Up by subscribing to our biweekly newsletter, Climate Change Solutions.

By Hailey Morris