SEEC Announces Task Forces for 118th Congress
Washington D.C. – Today, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) announced its task forces for the 118th Congress. Each task force is focused on a different aspect of the climate crisis that SEEC will push for congressional and executive action on this Congress.
The five task forces are:
Climate and Agriculture – Co-Chaired by Reps. Chellie Pingree (ME-1) and Kim Schrier (WA-8)
Clean Energy Deployment – Co-Chaired by Reps. Sean Casten (IL-6) and Mike Levin (CA-49)
Nature and Oceans – Co-Chaired by Reps. Doris Matsui (CA-7) and Joe Neguse (CO-2)
Climate Jobs – Co-Chaired by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), and Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10)
Climate and National Security – Co-Chaired by Reps. Katie Porter (CA-47) and Andy Kim (NJ-3)
Climate and Agriculture
This task force will build on the increasing engagement by American farmers on climate change issues in the lead up to the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, to ensure that bill is the most climate-friendly Farm Bill Congress has ever considered. The Inflation Reduction Act included historic investments targeting climate change via agriculture and forestry, and the Farm Bill is an opportunity to build upon these climate-smart successes. Additionally, the task force will also investigate other aspects of U.S. food policy and threats to U.S. agricultural and forest lands posed by climate change.
Members
Co-Chair Chellie Pingree (ME-1)
Co-Chair Kim Schrier (WA-8)
Don Beyer (VA-8)
Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)
Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL)
Julia Brownley (CA-26)
Sean Casten (IL-6)
Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7)
Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6)
Jared Huffman (CA-2)
Derek Kilmer (WA-6)
Doris Matsui (CA-7)
Jim McGovern (MA-2)
Jimmy Panetta (CA-19)
Brittany Pettersen (CO-7)
Abigail Spanberger (VA-7)
Melanie Stansbury (NM-1)
Paul Tonko (NY-20)
Clean Energy Deployment
This task force will lead SEEC's efforts regarding legislation and constructive oversight of administration actions intended to equitably deploy clean energy throughout our economy. Among other things, the Task Force plans to address: policies to promote innovation in and deployment of 100% carbon pollution-free electricity; implementation by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, the Department of the Interior, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of the relevant sections of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act; and improvements to the policies and process for the permitting of clean energy and transmission projects.
Members
Co-Chair Sean Casten (IL-6)
Co-Chair Mike Levin (CA-49)
Jake Auchincloss (MA-4)
Don Beyer (VA-8)
Julia Brownley (CA-26)
Yvette Clarke (NY-9)
Steve Cohen (TN-9)
Debbie Dingell (MI-6)
Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8)
Scott Peters (CA-50)
Brittany Pettersen (CO-7)
Deborah Ross (NC-2)
Jill Tokuda (HI-2)
Paul Tonko (NY-20)
Nature and Oceans
This task force will focus on actions that prioritize nature-based solutions (NBS) as a means to mitigate and adapt to the concurrent and intertwined climate and biodiversity polycrisis. The task force will advocate for executive actions, explore the potential for bipartisan legislation, and develop a forward-looking policy agenda to harness the power of public and private lands and waters to advance the goals of the America the Beautiful Initiative, the UN Convention on Biodiversity, and the United States' Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, as well as the Justice40 Initiative.
Members
Co-Chair Doris Matsui (CA-7)
Co-Chair Joe Neguse (CO-2)
Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1)
Jared Huffman (CA-2)
Derek Kilmer (WA-6)
Ted Lieu (CA-36)
Scott Peters (CA-50)
Chellie Pingree (ME-1)
John Sarbanes (MD-3)
Darren Soto (FL-9)
Jill Tokuda (HI-2)
Climate Jobs
This task force will focus on advocating for pro-worker, pro-climate policies and bringing labor and environmental groups to the table to focus on a just and economically advantageous transition. Topics will include encouraging clean energy workforce development, advancing registered apprenticeship programs and tax credits, improving job quality and density in the clean energy industry, promoting stronger workplace protections for heat illness and other climate-fueled events, and ensuring energy transition communities are given the proper resources and attention. There is also a need to focus on pro-manufacturing policy to ensure the clean energy supply chain is robust, both to decarbonize our nation and to provide further job opportunities.
Members
Co-Chair Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1)
Co-Chair Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
Co-Chair Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10)
Jake Auchincloss (MA-4)
Bobby Scott (VA-3)
Chris Deluzio (PA-17)
Debbie Dingell (MI-6)
Seth Magaziner (RI-2)
Paul Tonko (NY-20)
Climate and National Security
This task force will focus on the need to make the military more climate resilient, ensure that our existing and future energy infrastructure is secured from foreign threats, and that our foreign policy is focused on the clear and present danger the climate crisis poses to countries around the globe. Like last Congress, our priorities will be working on climate provisions in both the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Defense Appropriations bills but also working on standalone legislation - such as the promotion of climate resiliency on installations, both domestic and abroad, for our military and our allies and partners.
Members
Co-Chair Katie Porter (CA-47)
Co-Chair Andy Kim (NJ-3)
Salud Carbajal (CA-24)
Jason Crow (OR-6)
Ted Lieu (CA-36)
Wiley Nickel (NC-13)
Brad Schneider (IL-10)
Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)