[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6346285,"mediaKeyId","2247146-6fc62efadbeb3d52316e663670e296d1","parentId",2247146,"title","EPW committee approves rules and committee funding resolution en bloc","audioSeconds",34,"startMs",1823000,"endMs",1857000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247146-6fc62efadbeb3d52316e663670e296d1&start=1823&end=1857","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247146-6fc62efadbeb3d52316e663670e296d1/thumbnail_1823000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346285/EPW-committee-approves-rules-and-committee-funding-resolution-en-bloc","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346285-10eed57372dd5e3ba09f8585d47cf2fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775262214&Signature=ai4yLEalaZ27QhUWnhyWYZNHdQ3UCS7TAk8H2w~3XcdM6FXxaTyKjRoTEeBLt8JR8Mg51SRlwOqD~QEuN8Cw2Auo7k-ITCbzsJfu6eKEVJmaV9Ri0v5Q9DmRnURnXqeYQTRaeKjEzGTJcT2ERzvgfIvYaC9QLQEVE50IYcyiyrIaD88dacip2EGNS~BXxt6D4gQ6FHHZxW7hDi-3zQzlveNplsd2k7kbWTknHrGRgUEQT2pE~gGmAEVSFZ~pLe6Q-6zET7VqAp315jnNeGE60Wl0lkX7zwypt3sIxjvMlpQdlBt84zvsoh6EZ8il3aHV9PbxaGCvwP4-rUfAOGkjIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works","date","2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved its committee rules package and a committee funding resolution en bloc, the chair announced, allowing the panel to proceed with its business and staffing for the new Congress.

Why it matters: Passage of committee rules and funding authorizes the panel to operate, set staffing levels and proceed with oversight and legislative drafting. Committee members said the funding resolution was necessary to support work on surface transportation reauthorization, permitting reform, Toxic Substances Control Act reauthorization and other priorities.

Chair Capito said staff and the ranking member’s office reviewed the previous rules and proposed updates. The three main changes described were: permitting sworn testimony from witnesses, keeping transcripts for business meetings, and establishing a clear subpoena process that would operate either by agreement of the chair and ranking member or by a majority committee vote. The substitute amendment to the committee funding resolution was described by the chair as a minor typographical correction and was treated as adopted.

The chair moved the rules package and funding resolution en bloc; a senator seconded and the chair announced that \"the ayes have it,\" noting for the record that a quorum was present at the vote.

Background and next steps: Committee members said the new budget will fund staff work on priority legislation and oversight. Members welcomed a new member from Ohio and expressed gratitude to a departing senator for temporary service to the committee. The committee adjourned after completing the voting portion of the business meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee Business Meeting: February 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a rules package and a committee funding resolution en bloc, including provisions for sworn testimony, maintaining transcripts of business meetings, and a process for issuing subpoenas.","taxTitle","Environment and Public Works: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1992,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6346290,"Committee reports Steward Act (S.351) to expand recycling infrastructure; members stress data and reuse efforts",1238,1198000,2436000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247146-6fc62efadbeb3d52316e663670e296d1&start=1198&end=2436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247146-6fc62efadbeb3d52316e663670e296d1/thumbnail_1198000.jpg","/articles/6346290/Committee-reports-Steward-Act-S351-to-expand-recycling-infrastructure-members-stress-data-and-reuse-efforts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346290-a323d291b4f99f97424b6bc83842fd29/orig.mp4?Expires=1775262214&Signature=lBi~Iz4uBkSi9EBsMBIA36xhxjS0Iftfe6eXaG28nve9VkcGKLMa~KnGvZXSEipK35k0pOVqvJVnNgnTgYb7Qwp54f1v9TnEuSoEmTmr9x7UGz2qLwnyc3dosnw~uvgJ-KVuE9SzviiodILhIpozBsfIPJduEO2y6I5dQGlj6kN2Wro2G-1tKxNwD56bbnxTeB--pUCPy6ZHunjKonnYbMT-iZckXZxj4kV90nMesWK~rNgw5-LgKa9a0bmixnmM3Ms3ipU0KPFTtrwWdVQrrCNosY6zuo70~BMgsD0~U9cGa4~xAmyvrfANF2hMMg2l1hytIYoZkDy9fSzzewTbyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee voted to favorably report S.351, the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act (the “Steward Act”), preserving bipartisan language negotiated last Congress and sending the measure to the full Senate.

Why it matters: Sponsors said the bill aims to expand access to recycling services and to create data provisions that help decisionmakers track progress and identify gaps in recycling infrastructure. Supporters portrayed the measure as a step toward closing disparities that leave some communities without feasible recycling options.

Chair Capito described the Steward Act as the result of years of bipartisan collaboration and said it preserves previously negotiated language. Ranking Member Whitehouse urged passage and used his remarks about plastics and microplastics to underline the scale of the waste issue, saying, \"We're still learning how plastics affect human health,\" and listing studies that have found microplastics in human tissues.

An unnamed senator offered an amendment focused on reuse and refill; the senator announced an intent to withdraw the amendment immediately and said they would work with the chair afterward to pursue that policy area. The chair confirmed that staff had conferred and that she would collaborate with members to pursue the reuse and refill element.

Committee action: The chair moved that the committee report S.351 favorably; the motion was seconded and the chair announced, \"the ayes have it.\" The committee recorded a quorum at the time of the vote.

Background: Sponsors said the Steward Act combines two recycling bills passed unanimously by the committee and carried bipartisan Senate support last Congress. The bill includes provisions to measure recycling performance and identify areas that need investment to make recycling economically feasible across communities.

Next steps: Committee members said they will continue to work on implementation details for reuse and refill policies and on data collection provisions as the bill proceeds to the Senate floor.","The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee favorably reported S.351, the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (Steward Act), after members emphasized data collection, expanding recycling access and an amendment on reuse and refill that was offered and withdrawn.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6346293,"EPW committee favorably reports Brownfield Reauthorization Act (S.347) after debate over funding freeze and Alaska provisions",1263,1121000,2384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247146-6fc62efadbeb3d52316e663670e296d1&start=1121&end=2384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247146-6fc62efadbeb3d52316e663670e296d1/thumbnail_1121000.jpg","/articles/6346293/EPW-committee-favorably-reports-Brownfield-Reauthorization-Act-S347-after-debate-over-funding-freeze-and-Alaska-provisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346293-86aab3c04345c2fb2049a074fa7987e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775262214&Signature=cBALzCGiYuQWgksxXkD7kjBQ2eMz2XxC18DDfyAKj~KrlFkBGRxUfdzl8wtf8K7j~wzXXQb0w8AfagEOyNw4r~qUlZEg8cCQm1pMPgyCLNnZsd-Fl~p4qxUhEj4BdbdtcXVfnIYJnniD0OUZoWpUW3VqA4RZsdMx~M-OflusSAm1rKX1llkTbPnav81urPNQignU6ayVVn9il~yt9eXKNjDsRvkS4~11CrHWmma-mGeUOatEP7C~~ogVhqAm4RYrjftrE4nnIiXrFNKVDseY8spBaH~05fiCzIymOXDJthRqi8U30mOwAuKo5G1QGQWOsj9v5CAX6V27u22WZWBDgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday voted to favorably report S.347, the Brownfield Reauthorization Act of 2025, the panel’s chair said, moving the bill toward consideration by the full Senate.

The bill would reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program, streamline the grant application process, and update grant amounts to reflect current construction costs, Chair Capito said. Supporters argued the program advances economic redevelopment in rural and underserved communities by funding cleanup of contaminated parcels.

Why it matters: The Brownfields Program funds remediation of contaminated and abandoned properties, which proponents say can unlock economic development, new jobs and tax revenue for communities. Committee members also linked the bill to a wider concern about an administration pause on disbursements of previously appropriated funds, which several senators said is already delaying projects funded under EPA programs.

Chair Capito, speaking at the start of the business meeting, said the bill “streamlines the application process to level that playing field” and modernizes grant amounts to match current construction costs and project sizes. Ranking Member Whitehouse and other Democrats urged support but raised alarm about an administration funding freeze that has affected EPA programs. \"In Massachusetts, grant money awarded under an EPA brownfields program... remains frozen,\" Ranking Member Whitehouse said, noting courts have issued orders in some cases but uncertainty remains.

Senator Markey offered a “sense of Congress” amendment that would state the president must fully follow the law and that funding cannot be withheld once authorized and appropriated by Congress; he later withdrew the amendment. Markey said the amendment was a response to what he described as “chaos in the executive branch” and cited recent court orders and the effect on local cleanups and workers' pay. \"Brownfields money was shut off unilaterally by the Trump administration last week,\" Markey said during his remarks, and he pressed the committee on whether congressional laws will be executed.

Senator Sullivan pressed for two amendments focused on Alaska Native lands, saying that federal transfers had left some Native-owned lands contaminated and that those lands should be eligible to receive brownfields funds, including for petroleum contamination. Sullivan also proposed a change to allow cleanup to proceed without a separate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process in certain circumstances. Chair Capito said she would work with Sullivan and Ranking Member Whitehouse to address the issues.

Committee action: Chair Capito moved that the committee report the bill; the motion was seconded and the chair announced, \"the ayes have it.\" The committee’s public record shows the bill was favorably reported to the Senate. The committee also noted for the record that a quorum was present at the time of the vote.

Background and context: The Brownfields Program was first authorized in 2002. Committee discussion during the business meeting focused on application complexity for smaller and rural applicants and on aligning grant amounts with present-day costs. Members from both parties emphasized bipartisan support for the program but expressed frustration that execution of appropriations can be delayed by actions from the executive branch.

Looking ahead: Committee members said they will continue to work with EPA and administration officials to ensure obligations are disbursed and to refine statutory language addressing Alaska Native lands and potential industry liability where appropriate.","The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to favorably report S.347, the Brownfield Reauthorization Act of 2025, after members discussed streamlining grants, the federal funding freeze affecting EPA programs, and proposed amendments addressing Alaska Native lands.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

EPW committee approves rules and committee funding resolution en bloc

Committee reports Steward Act (S.351) to expand recycling infrastructure; members stress data and reuse efforts

EPW committee favorably reports Brownfield Reauthorization Act (S.347) after debate over funding freeze and Alaska provisions