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W E E K L Y  U P D A T E  September 21st, 2020
 
In this Week's Issue:
House Hearing on Climate Change Last Wednesday
House to Consider Bill to Fund Government Through December 11th
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House Hearing on Climate Change Last Wednesday Being Followed by House Vote This Week on HR 4447
 
The Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a remote hearing via webcast on Wednesday, September 16, 2020. The hearing, "Building a 100 Percent Clean Economy: Opportunities for an Equitable, Low-Carbon Recovery," urged Congress to invest in a major clean transportation stimulus package to rebuild from the current economic crisis and to create a more equitable and just economy.
 
Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D, NJ-6) stated, "The importance for the United States to move towards a 100 percent clean economy by no later than 2050 is critical to combat the current climate crisis affecting our nation." Testimony focused on the economic benefits and opportunities for investments in low-carbon infrastructure, stimulus programs to boost clean transportation manufacturing, and other clean energy efforts to accelerate America's economy during COVID-19.
 
The House is currently set to vote on a clean energy policy package, Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019 H.R. 4447, that addresses clean energy policy, climate change, and the economic recession. The bill would require the Department of Energy to award grants to assist rural electric cooperatives to evaluate and design energy storage and microgrid projects from renewable energy sources. The House Rules Committee met regarding the legislation today at 1:00 p.m. The hearing can be viewed at rules.house.gov.
House to Consider Bill to Fund Government Through December 11th

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a continuing resolution (CR) this week, to keep the federal government funded beyond the end of the FY 2020, which is set to expire on September 30. The CR would keep the government open through Dec. 11 and avert a pre-election government shutdown, while also extending federal surface transportation programs and the federal flood insurance program for an additional year. 

The bill is expected to pass the House, but it remains unclear if the Senate will accept the House bill, or make changes when it takes up the "must-pass" legislation. It's possible that the Senate could try and incorporate additional funding for farm aid payments through the Commodity Credit Corporation, which is a priority for the Administration, among other things.
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This Week in Washington

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