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Climate Change and the Environment

Beyer Coastal Resilience Bills to Help Alexandria Flooding Get Natural Resources Hearing

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Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) returned via committee waiver to make a guest appearance today at a hearing of the House Committee on Natural Resources, on which he served from 2015-2019, as it considered an ocean climate legislation package which included two of Beyer’s bipartisan coastal resilience bills. The bills, the National Oceans and Coastal Security Improvements Act and the Strengthening…

Beyer Introduces Bipartisan Zero-Emission Transit Legislation

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Today, Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Rogers (R-AL), and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) introduced the Community Health and Clean Transit Act. The bipartisan bill would help accelerate the shift to battery electric and fuel cell electric buses in bus fleets across the country by providing zero-interest loans to help finance the purchase of zero-emission buses. “Our bipartisan legislation would help…

Beyer, Rooney Introduce Legislation To Boost NOAA Coastal Resiliency Program Amid Record-Breaking Hurricane Season

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Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Francis Rooney (R-FL) today introduced the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act, bipartisan legislation that would direct offshore wind revenues to NOAA’s Coastal Resilience Grants Program. The grant program “funds projects that are helping coastal communities and ecosystems prepare for and recover from extreme weather events, climate hazards, and changing…

ESA Caucus Co-Chairs Lead Over 100 Members of Congress in Opposing Trump Administration’s Proposal to Weaken the Endangered Species Act

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Today, the Co-Chairs of the Endangered Species Act Caucus Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Congressman Don Beyer led a letter with over 100 Members of Congress to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith opposing the Trump administration’s recent proposal to weaken the Endangered Species Act. The administration’s proposed rule would narrow the…

A.T. Caucus Co-Chair Beyer Hails Passage Of Great American Outdoors Act

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July 22, 2020 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today voted to pass H.R. 1957, the Great American Outdoors Act, which will provide permanent, full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and establish the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund upon being signed into law. Beyer, the only former NPS Park Ranger serving in Congress, is Co-Chair of the…

Beyer Statement On Trump Administration Decision To Weaken National Environmental Policy Act

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July 15, 2020 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) issued the following statement today on the Trump Administration’s announced changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which would weaken environmental safeguards and reduce community input for major federal actions:   “Despite their claims to the contrary, the Trump Administration’s weakening of NEPA standards…

House Passes Landmark Wildlife Protection Legislation In Infrastructure Package

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Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) hailed the passage of the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act, which was included in the text of in H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, broad infrastructure legislation which passed in the House of Representatives today. The landmark wildlife protection bill would authorize federal agencies to designate National Wildlife Corridors on federal…

House Passes Sweeping Infrastructure Investment Legislation

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Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today applauded the House’s bipartisan passage of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, broad transportation and infrastructure legislation. Beyer voted for the bill, which contained a number of provisions he authored. Beyer serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which helped develop the bill. Beyer’s contributions to the House-passed infrastructure bill…

Beyer Legislation Featured In Climate Crisis Action Plan

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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…

Beyer Introduces Climate Legislation To Reduce Emissions Using Federal Procurement Process

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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…