The big action this week will occur in the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee where Chairman Boxer will hold a series of hearings on the Kerry-Boxer climate change bill. Late Friday evening, Senator Boxer released a revised version that fills a number of the blanks, such as the credit allocation levels.  Simultaneously, EPA released its analysis of the bill, concluding that the bill would cost the average household $100 per year.  Senators in both parties continue to express their intent to alter the bill.  EPW will hold three days of hearings, with Administration officials, scientists, former members of Congress, think tank executives and others holding forth.  As with many other climate change hearings before the committee, the debate and questions are expected to break down along party lines.  Ranking Member Inhofe (R-OK) has suggested that Republicans might not attend a future mark up if their concerns about the EPA analysis of the legislation are not met.  A Republican boycott would stop a mark-up by denying the committee of its necessary quorum.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

At 9:30 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will conduct a hearing entitled “Legislative Hearing on S. 1733, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” in Room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.  Panelists include Senator John Kerry (D-MA), The Honorable Steven Chu, The Honorable Ray LaHood, The Honorable Ken Salazar, The Honorable Lisa Jackson and The Honorable Jon Wellinghoff.

The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold a hearing on “Water Management and Climate Variability” at 10 a.m. in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

At 9:30 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will conduct a hearing entitled “Legislative Hearing on S. 1733, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” in Room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. 

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold two hearings.  At 10 a.m. the committee will receive testimony on the role of natural gas in mitigating climate change and at 2 p.m. they will  receive testimony on the current and expected impacts of climate change on units of the National Park System.  Both hearings will take place in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. 

Thursday, October 29, 2009

At 9:30 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will conduct a hearing entitled “Legislative Hearing on S. 1733, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” in Room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. 

The House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on next-generation biofuels at 9:30 a.m. in Room 1300 of the Longworth House Office Building.

For further information about this topic, please contact Akin Gump.