Climate Change and the Environment

Rep. Don Beyer today hailed the release of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis action plan, “Solving The Climate Crisis.” The plan recommended the adoption of legislation previously introduced by Beyer: HR 5162, the Green Vehicle Adoption Nationwide (VAN) Act, which would use tax credits to boost production of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, in the section “Building… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced legislation designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the federal government through procurement processes. The Smarter Purchasing Act would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lead key government departments in a study to determine how to reflect the larger cost of carbon, also known as “shadow pricing,” when contracting… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Task Force on Climate Change, issued the following statement today on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to weaken rules governing emissions of mercury and other toxic chemicals from power plants: “It’s hard to imagine a more disgraceful abuse of the EPA’s mission than increasing the amount of toxic… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer issued the following statement today on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rollback of fuel economy standards: “This is not the time to weaken safety standards designed to protect public health. This is not the time to dirty our air with increased carbon and other air pollution that will particularly harm those with respiratory conditions. This is not the time to… Read more »

Today, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), led by NDC Chair Derek Kilmer, NDC Vice Chair Scott Peters, and NDC Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Don Beyer, Sean Casten, Elaine Luria, and Susan Wild, endorsed an additional slate of bills. This package of bills presents forward-looking, politically durable solutions. With these endorsements, the NDC continues its leadership on climate… Read more »

Climate takes center stage in sweeping federal infrastructure plan By Robin Bravender - 1/30/2020 U.S. House Democrats this week unveiled plans to spend $760 billion over five years on infrastructure upgrades throughout the country.  A central theme throughout their plan: combating climate change. The framework unveiled by Democrats on Wednesday prioritizes… Read more »

Today, Rep. Beyer (D-VA) joined House Democrats to unveil a new framework for a five-year, $760 billion investment in the nation’s infrastructure. Those investments would create an estimated 10 million jobs addressing some of the country’s most urgent infrastructure needs, from the massive maintenance backlog, to designing safer streets, to putting the U.S. on a path toward zero carbon… Read more »

Today, Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA) led a letter signed by 36 House Democrats to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) expressing serious concerns over a recent FERC order that would change the market structure for the nation’s largest electricity market, PJM Interconnection (PJM). In their letter, the Members argued the order will… Read more »

Today, the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act (H.R. 2795) passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee markup, advancing the legislation one step closer to a vote on the House floor. The markup is another significant procedural step for the bipartisan, bicameral legislation inspired by the work of Dr. E.O. Wilson, which was reintroduced by Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA)… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) released the following statement today after the Trump Administration finalized its rule to eliminate protections for wetlands, streams and other bodies of water: “This reckless attack by the Trump Administration represents a generational setback in the country’s battle to safeguard clean water that will harm Virginians and the Chesapeake Bay. It sacrifices the… Read more »