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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement following Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Zeldin’s announcement that the agency proposed amending a Biden-Harris Administration regulation that weaponized air emissions standards to halt the production and use of ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize medical equipment. “Today’s EPA announcement is a victory for commonsense policies that safeguard patients and put an end to the overreach of the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Chairman Guthrie. “ The burdensome ethylene oxide rule threatened to shutter sterilization facilities and disrupt American medical supply chains that hospitals and providers rely on every day to safely treat patients. By proposing an amendment to this misguided regulation, EPA Administrator Zeldin is working under the authority that Congress provided under the Clean Air Act to help ensure the medical community maintains access to a safe and reliable domestic supply of sterilized medical devices used in millions of procedures each year, while continuing to protect human health and the environment.”   BACKGROUND: Ethylene oxide (EtO) is used to sterilize approximately half of all medical devices sold in the United States, including surgical instruments, syringes, and implants. For many heat- and moisture-sensitive devices, there is currently no viable alternative sterilization method. The emission standards put in place by the Biden-Harris Administration threatens the ability for facilities to fully and safely sterilize essential medical equipment. In 2023, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, & Critical Materials held a hearing on the Biden-Harris Administration’s proposed rulemaking, where witnesses testified to how the proposal would significantly disrupt patient access to emergency care and threaten patient safety from hospital-born infections.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  Ready for Reuse: Legislative Proposals to Unleash the Potential of America’s Brownfields Sites. Subcommittee Chairman Palmer’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Our country is facing a novel set of challenges, and the global economic and security landscape is shifting. Having to rely on adversaries such as China for critical materials jeopardizes our national security and economy. In order to address these challenges, strengthen our economy, and deliver jobs to communities back home, we need to increase our domestic capacity to manufacture crucial products, produce a reliable supply of energy, and secure our position in the global artificial infrastructure race.    “As we heard at a Subcommittee hearing a year ago, our country is home to thousands of sites known as brownfields, which are underutilized, idled, or abandoned property where redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. These sites can be environmental hazards and a nuisance to local communities, but they can also be opportunities.    “While not All Brownfields Sites are appropriate for ALL uses, we should be looking for opportunities to accomplish the compatible goals of siting crucial infrastructure that is a good fit for a particular location, and encouraging remediation and reuse of idle or underutilized properties.    “To that end, we plan to discuss four bills.    “The Brownfields Revitalization for a Better Tomorrow Act reauthorizes both the EPA Brownfields Grants Program and the state response program through Fiscal Year 2031. It also builds on a previous discussion draft of reauthorization legislation considered at a hearing last Congress. This draft again includes expanding eligibility for brownfields grants to certain private entities, as well as a program to assist rural communities with developing competitive grant applications. It incorporates requests from brownfields stakeholders, such as increased award amount limits and expanded eligible uses for funding. It also updates the criteria EPA shall consider when ranking applications to support reuse for nationally significant infrastructure projects, such as critical mineral and semiconductor facilities, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and energy generation from all power resources. The existing criteria only supports renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.    “The second bill, the Brownfields Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, creates a new loan program, similar to the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act ‘WIFIA’ and Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act ‘TIFIA’ programs used to finance water and transportation infrastructure projects.    “The third bill is the Brownfields Inventory and Permitting Efficiency Act, which directs the EPA and states to work together to compile a list of sites suitable for nationally significant infrastructure projects. It also streamlines permitting for projects on certain brownfields sites, and requires EPA to provide guidance to other federal agencies on how to conduct more efficient reviews of these previously disturbed and often previously studied sites. Finally, it directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a review of impediments to timely and efficient removal of Superfund sites from the National Priorities List.    “Lastly, we have the Brownfields Reauthorization for an Affordable and Revitalized America Act offered by the minority. While this bill increases some grant award limits and directs the EPA to waive cost share requirements in certain circumstances, it also significantly increases the authorization of appropriations for both the Brownfields Grant Program and the state response programs.    “We have four witnesses here today to help us analyze these proposals.    “First, we have Mr. Chris Wells, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the current President of the Environmental Council of the States to provide the state perspective.    “We also welcome Mr. Gerald Pouncey, Jr., Senior Counsel at Taft Stettinius & Hollister. Mr. Pouncey has led numerous efforts to permit and finance redevelopment of industrial sites, ports, and former military facilities.    “Also joining us is the Honorable Alan Tomson, Mayor of Davis, West Virginia, and representing the National Brownfields Coalition, who will speak to the impact of the Brownfields Program in local communities.    “Finally, we have Mr. David Robinson, Executive Vice President of Strategic Development, for Aligned Data Centers, whose testimony will address his company’s work on brownfields sites.    “I’d like to reiterate that these bills are all discussion drafts, so I look forward to hearing robust discussion on these proposals, both today and on future occasions.    “Thank you.”   ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding two Subcommittee Hearings and one Full Committee Markup. Read more below.  SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING:  The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy is holding a hearing to discuss legislation to reauthorize the PHMSA pipeline safety program.  DATE:  Wednesday, March 4, 2026   TIME:  10:15 AM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building  SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING:  The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment is holding a hearing to examine legislative proposals supporting the remediation and redevelopment of America’s Brownfields Sites.   DATE:  Wednesday, March 4, 2026  TIME:  2:00 PM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building  FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP:  The Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a markup of nine bills.   DATE:  Thursday, March 5, 2026  TIME:  10:00 AM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building   ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, led a hearing titled  Ready for Reuse: Legislative Proposals to Unleash the Potential of America’s Brownfields Sites.   “In order to address the challenges our country is facing, strengthen our economy, and deliver jobs to communities back home, we need to increase our domestic capacity to manufacture crucial products, produce a reliable supply of energy, and secure our position in the global artificial infrastructure race,”  said Chairman Palmer.  “While not all Brownfields Sites are appropriate for ALL uses, we should be looking for opportunities to accomplish the compatible goals of siting crucial infrastructure that is a good fit for a particular location, and encouraging remediation and reuse of idle or underutilized properties.”    Watch the full hearing  here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13):   “As we’ve held hearings this Congress to examine how policy can help spur economic growth while balancing environmental protection needs, it is becoming incredibly clear that federal investment works best when used to leverage local resources and development interests. Development of brownfields is a prime example of this dynamic. These sites would be ripe for redevelopment if not for the additional challenges represented by the use of these brownfields. They are more difficult and resource intensive, an additional burden to development that is especially challenging for under-resourced areas like those that I represent. When a community is interested in turning a brownfield site from an abandoned or underutilized property into a viable economic engine, the EPA’s brownfields program can help lessen that burden and provide the initial push needed for private investment to take interest.”   Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15):  “In my own community, I am deeply committed to working with my constituents, the EPA, and our state and local government partners to address significant brownfield issues. I have visited homes in my district adjacent to heavily contaminated areas and have seen firsthand the damage it causes to families. Cleaning up these areas and making them safe and habitable is a priority, and I look forward to working with the EPA to achieve that.” Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (ND-AL): “Step back a little bit. I think there’s an awful lot of demonizing that’s going on everywhere in our country right now as it relates to data centers and their development. These facilities are manufacturing intelligence for us for the betterment of human beings. We need to do this in our country. This isn’t a choice between one or the other. We can do both. We can develop this industry. We can protect local communities, and we can protect our national security and create more opportunities for the future.”   ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a hearing titled  Ready for Reuse: Legislative Proposals to Unleash the Potential of America’s Brownfields Sites. “For years, the Brownfields Program has been a vital tool to support the cleanup of contaminated sites, putting many locations back into productive use and creating jobs to revitalize communities across the country. As demand grows to redevelop these sites for advanced manufacturing, and other critical infrastructure, it is essential that the program continues to serve the needs of our communities,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer. “This hearing will provide the opportunity to discuss legislation that would strengthen and modernize the Brownfields Program to cut red tape, protect our environment, and support the innovative use of these sites.”   Subcommittee on Environment hearing titled  Ready for Reuse: Legislative Proposals to Unleash the Potential of America’s Brownfields Sites.   WHAT:  Subcommittee on Environment hearing to examine legislative proposals supporting the remediation and redevelopment of America’s Brownfields Sites.  DATE:  Wednesday, March 4, 2026 TIME:  2:00 PM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building This hearing will focus on the following bills:   H.R. ____ , Brownfields Revitalization for a Better Tomorrow Act  H.R. ____ , Brownfields Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act  H.R. ____ , Brownfields Inventory and Permitting Efficiency Act H.R. ____ , Brownfields Reauthorization for an Affordable and Revitalized America Act  This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Seth Ricketts with the Committee staff at  Seth.Ricketts@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov . ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued a statement following President Trump’s State of the Union Address to a Joint Session of Congress: “Tonight, President Trump laid out a bold vision for the American people as we celebrate the 250th anniversary since our founding. By unleashing American energy dominance, we can lower energy costs, strengthen our national security, and power innovation. As the President discussed in his speech, we must rely on baseload power from coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, and hydropower that can provide the on-demand electricity we need. Our Committee will remain focused on cutting red tape and lowering prices for hard-working families.   “ House Republicans stand with President Trump tonight, with a strong focus on making life more affordable for everyday Americans—not only when it comes to energy prices, but when it comes to the cost of health care, too. Previous Democrat administrations effectively broke our American health care system, and I applaud President Trump in his steadfast efforts to fix it. Through programs like TrumpRx, Americans now have access to the lowest cost prescription drugs. Through commitments like Making America Healthy Again, Americans see the promise of health improvements for generations to come. Our country’s milestone of 250 years signifies an opportunity to put the wellbeing of Americans back at the forefront of our health care system.    “ As we look to the future, adversaries are challenging our standing as the world’s greatest innovator. Americans have the creativity and the skills to compete on the world stage, but we need the regulatory environment to match our aspirations. The President and I share a vision for a future where the United States can lead the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies and Americans enjoy the benefits of these advances.   “ Tonight, the President outlined a vision of prosperity shared widely across the Republican Party. By unleashing American energy, lowering health care prices, and supporting U.S. innovators, President Trump and Committee Republicans are in lockstep fighting to address the issues that matter most to American families.”   ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, led a hearing titled  From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water. “Congress first enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act more than 50 years ago and amended it several times since,”  said Chairman Palmer.  “Many Americans receive their drinking water from publicly owned water utilities who have to navigate the law’s complicated regulatory requirements, manage both aging infrastructure and an aging workforce, and provide safe and affordable water to their customers.” Watch the full hearing  here .    Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05):   “Mr. Hill, I go around my district all the time. I mean, a lot of my water treatment plants. The number one issue we're hearing out there today is what happens when our operators are retiring and we don't have that certification. And I know you said you had a situation where you had somebody be able to step in, but a lot of places they're getting concerned because they don't have these people. […] It also comes down to we can't force people to do a job. We have to make sure we get these people out there and trained because as they retire, we can't just say, you know, these people are going to do this.” Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13):   “Often, rural communities rely on small teams with limited resources to run both the sewer and the clean water facilities. A disruption in either can put a strain on both systems, and place extreme burdens on operators and the communities that they serve. For these communities, federal support like what is provided by the state revolving funds represents a much-needed lifeline, allowing rural Americans to receive uninterrupted drinking and wastewater services in under-resourced areas.” Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11):  “Are small and rural water systems facing unique challenges in accessing federal infrastructure funds? And if so, can you kind of go into detail about that?”  Ms. Murley:  “Yes, I would point you to a series of work that we have done on, state capacity to handle the influx of IIJA funds, both drinking water and clean water. We've looked at the state of New Mexico, we looked at South Carolina, and we looked at the U.S. Virgin Islands. I would say that each state has different demographics and different challenges, either human capacity, technical capacity, or organizational challenges to receive those funds. And we've done work and made recommendations to the agency for improving those areas.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water. Subcommittee Chairman Palmer’s opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning and welcome to Ranking Members Pallone and Tonko, my colleagues, and to our witnesses for this hearing of the Subcommittee on the Environment. “Today’s hearing provides a timely and important opportunity to examine the safety, reliability and affordability of our nation’s drinking water system. “For those you have been following the news in recent weeks, a sewer line in suburban Maryland ruptured in January and released more than 200 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Potomac River, which separates Maryland and D.C. from Virginia and is the main source of drinking water for millions of Americans and visitors to the national capital region. “The D.C. government just last week declared a state of emergency as a result of the sewage spill, and President Trump has directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to take a lead role in coordinating the cleanup and response to this unfortunate incident.  “Given the significance of the spill and its potential impact on public health, interstate commerce, and drinking water and the environment in the nation’s capital region, this Committee has begun an investigation into what was known about the risks of this rupture and if it could have been avoided. “Local authorities say the drinking water supply has not been affected, and that the intakes at Great Falls are located upriver from the sewage spill and that the intakes at Little Falls have been closed. “DC Water was contacted but declined to testify at today’s hearing. “Congress first enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act more than 50 years ago and amended it several times since. One of the goals of this hearing is to hear how the law is working and what if anything needs to be modernized to address current challenges. “Many Americans receive their drinking water from publicly owned water utilities who have to navigate the law’s complicated regulatory requirements, manage both aging infrastructure and an aging workforce, and provide safe and affordable water to their customers.  “We will hear from two of these utilities today: Eric Hill, General Manager of the Russellville, Alabama Water & Sewer Board and Lindsey Rechtin, President & CEO of the Northern Kentucky Water District. “In recent years, Congress has appropriated EPA more than $1 billion annually for the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, an important source of infrastructure funding for states and local utilities. “However, as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, EPA received a supplemental appropriation of more than $50 billion for water infrastructure. I look forward to hearing from “EPA’s Deputy Inspector General about how EPA has been using that money and whether taxpayers have gotten what they paid for, or if these precious taxpayer funds are at risk. “We will also hear from a witness from the Natural Resources Defense Council with a background on water issues. “I thank the witnesses for their input and look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee to identify commonsense solutions to protecting and modernizing our drinking water system . ”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding one Subcommittee Hearing. Read more below.  SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment is holding a hearing on safe drinking water. DATE: Tuesday, February 24, 2026  TIME: 10:15 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building     ###