Federal Legislation
Recent or Proposed Federal Legislation that ties to KCC’s state legislative focus
Federal Funding Initiatives
Recent laws such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and other initiatives have improved the landscape of opportunities as these communities seek to transform their economies and recover from the loss of key economic drivers. We must continue to build upon these investments and support essential programs so this momentum isn’t lost. Key laws include:
Executive Branch Initiatives
Farm Bill
Earth Act to Stop Climate Pollution by 2030 [H.R. 598, 118th Congress]
The Earth Act requires an industry-led transition to 100% renewable energy, zero-emission vehicles, and regenerative agriculture by 2030.
Clean Future Act of 2021 [H.R. 1512, 117th Congress]
The bill sets a national climate target of net-zero greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The bill includes a mix of incentives for renewable energy and provisions increasing regulation of non-renewable energy and other emitting industries. More info here.
Clean Economy and Jobs Innovation Act [H.R. 4447, 116th Congress, 2019-2020]
This bill addresses provisions related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon pollution reduction, nuclear energy, electric grid modernization and cybersecurity, and otherwise makes changes to provisions related to the Department of Energy (DOE), and other federal agencies.
Climate Equity Act [H.R. 8019, 116th Congress, 2019-2020]
The bill establishes a Climate and Environmental Equity Office within the Congressional Budget Office. The former must prepare an analysis for each bill or resolution with an environmental or climate change nexus that is reported by any congressional committee. The analysis must include the bill's impacts on frontline communities.
Environmental Justice for All Act [H.R. 5986 and S. 4401, 116th Congress, 2019-2020]
To restore, reaffirm, and reconcile environmental justice and civil rights, provide for the establishment of the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice Compliance and Enforcement, and for other purposes. Links: H.R. 5986 and S. 4401.
Great American Outdoors Act
S.3422 Great American Outdoors Act, 116th Congress (2019-2020)
This bill establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to support deferred maintenance projects on federal lands. Additionally, the bill makes funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) permanent. The President shall annually report to Congress specified details regarding the allocation of funds to the LWCF. Congress may provide for alternate allocations using specified procedures.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
H.R.2773 – Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2021
S. 2372 [117th Congress, 2021-2022]
To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make supplemental funds available for management of fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife agencies, and for other purposes.
This bill provides funding for (1) the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need; (2) the wildlife conservation strategies of states, territories, or the District of Columbia; and (3) wildlife conservation education and recreation projects.
The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding for a grant program. The grants must be used for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species.
“Green New Deal”
H. Res. 109 and S. Res. 59 116th Congress (2019-2020)
The Green New Deal (GND) is a proposed stimulus program that aims to address climate change and economic inequality. The name refers to the New Deal, a set of social and economic reforms and public works projects undertaken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression. The Green New Deal combines Roosevelt’s economic approach with modern ideas such as renewable energyand resource efficiency.
The resolution calls for a “10-year national mobilization” whose primary goals include (but not limited to):
Providing all people of the United States with – (i) high-quality health care; (ii) affordable, safe, and adequate housing; (iii) economic security; and (iv) access to clean water, clean air, healthy and affordable food, and nature.
Meeting 100 percent of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources.
Overhauling transportation systems in the United States to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as much as is technologically feasible.
Working collaboratively with farmers and ranchers in the United States to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible.
Transit to Trails
S.1440 - Transit to Trails Act 118th Congress (2023-2024)
Transit to Trails is a phrase commonly used to describe public transportation services and provisions that provide access to green spaces and public recreational amenities. Those amenities include hiking trails, parks, conservation areas, recreation areas, ski areas, waterways, and more. This proposed bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the Transit to Trails Grant Program to award grants to certain entities (e.g., states, local governments, and metropolitan planning organizations) for projects that increase transportation access and mobility to public lands, waters, parkland, monuments, or recreational opportunities for critically underserved communities.
Environmental Justice for All Act
S.919- Environmental Justice for All Act, 118th Congress (2023-2024)
Congress has introduced the Environmental Justice for All Act, sweeping environmental justice legislation that would address environmental racism and ensure that communities bearing the brunt of climate change and pollution are central to the development of policy solutions.
“Hive” Act
[118th Congress] H.R. 4764, the Honey Identification Verification and Enforcement (HIVE) Act, which would require the creation of a standard of identity for honey and update the labeling requirements for honey. North Dakota is the No.1 honey state, producing approximately $31.2 million pounds in 2022. The HIVE Act would:
Require the Food and Drug Administration to finally establish a standard of identity for honey and subsequently report to Congress on enforcement actions taken with respect to adulterated or misbranded honey.
Reorganize the existing US Department of Agriculture country of origin labeling requirements by utilizing the consumer-familiar ingredient labeling criteria.
Countries of origin would be listed in order of predominance, allowing the consumer to discern the origin of blended honey. Full text of the bill can be found here.
Crypto-Asset Environmental Transparency Act
The Crypto-Asset Environmental Transparency Act of 2022 is legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a comprehensive impact study of U.S. cryptomining activity and require the reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cryptomining operations that consume more than 5 megawatts of power. Media release here.
“30x30” Conservation Initiative Bills
H. Res. 835- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should establish a national goal of conserving at least 30 percent of the land and ocean of the United States by 2030. [116th Congress 2019-2020]
There is an opportunity for states to take the lead and push forward the 30×30 movement. They can do so by introducing and passing state-level 30×30 legislation and by supporting the passage of the 30×30 bills in Congress.
South Carolina legislation proposed a 30x30 Interagency Task Force to achieve 30x30 goals during their 2019-2020 session. Other state legislation includes California A.B.3030: (Requires working with the federal government, local communities, Native American tribes, and private landowners to conserve at least 30% of the land and 30% of the ocean within the state by 2030) and Hawaii H.B. 2591: Funds stakeholder engagement and outreach as the State Division of Aquatic Resources helps achieve the Governor’s 30×30 marine initiative.
Ky Wildlands
National Heritage Area
Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area Study Act [H.R. 5305 and S. 2985]
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land as the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act
116th Congress, [H.R. 2795 and S. 1499]
To establish a National Wildlife Corridors Program to provide for the protection and restoration of certain native fish, wildlife, and plant species, and for other purposes.
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Passed!)
S.47 – John D. Dingell, Jr. 116th Congress (2019-2020)
On March 12, 2019, President Donald Trump signed into law a sweeping, bipartisan public lands bill that permanently protects nearly 2.4 million acres of public lands and water. The John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act creates five national monuments, protects more than 1.3 million acres of wilderness, expands two national parks, and blocks more than 370,000 acres of public lands from mining.
The bill permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program that uses revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling to protect parks, rivers, and forests across the country.
Driving America Forward Act
(S.1094, 116th Congress 2019-2020)
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Susan Collins (R-ME) along with Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) introduced the Driving America Forward Act in April 2018, bipartisan legislation to expand the electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell tax credits. Under current law, consumers may receive a tax credit of up to $7,500 if they purchase an eligible electric vehicle. However, the tax credits begin to phase out permanently once automakers sell over 200,000 units. The Driving America Forward Act raises the cap and allows purchasers of an additional 400,000 vehicles per manufacturer to be eligible for the tax credit.
Renew Act
RENEW Act- 117th Congress [H.R. 3220] 2021-2022. Link.
The Revitalize, Enhance, and Nurture in Expanded Ways Our Abandoned Mine Lands (RENEW) Act – new legislation to set aside millions of dollars to clean up abandoned coal mine sites in Appalachia. The bill would close a gap in funding since the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted last fall – that bill provides $11.3 billion over the next fifteen years to clean up coal mine sites that were abandoned prior to 1977. Those funds will go to the “Abandoned Mine Lands” program created in 1977 to clean up thousands of existing orphaned sites. The RENEW Act would address coal mines abandoned after 1977.
Reclaim Act
RECLAIM Act of 2019 [H.R. 2156, S. 1232]
The RECLAIM Act (Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act) was simultaneously introduced in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on March 27, 2017 by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY-5).The Act is now back in the 2019 Congress. This year’s version includes Hal Rogers and John Yarmuth as co-sponsors. The bill authorizes the use of funds generated by Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) to be invested in communities adversely affected by the cessation of mining operations in the area.
The RECLAIM Act’s stated goal is to help communities across the United States, but much of the targeted area of support lies in the Appalachian Mountains region (such as the U.S. states of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee). The RECLAIM Act was preceded by and amends the SMCRA, which was enacted in 1977 to decrease the amount of coal dust in downstream water resources and other mining operations that are harmful to wildlife. Shortly after SMCRA was established, the United States Department of Interior created the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) agency to enforce the law. OSMRE’s purview includes protecting wildlife, restoring abandoned mines, and making sure the regulations for surface coal mining are complied with. In addition, the agency has been charged with the administration of Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Fund. Under the RECLAIM Act, AML funds will be disbursed over the next five years, giving up to $1 billion to help clean up and restore abandoned mines.
Polling in Eastern Kentucky suggests that Appalachian support for the bill is not limited to lobbying groups, approximately 89% of voters support this bill.
Industry groups have lobbied against the bill, arguing that the Abandoned Mines Lands (AML) funds should not be diverted from their original purpose.[13][14] The National Mining Association has stated broader opposition to the administration of AML funds.
Carbon Tax Proposals (various)
See Summaries here.
Other:
Environmental Justice Legacy Pollution Act, [H.R. 8271, 116th Cong.]
Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Act [H.R. 516, S.101, 117th Congress]
Rural Electric Cooperative Transition Act