Endorsed Legislation

SEEC Members actively work to build support for legislation that advances a clean energy economy; protects our natural environment; and curbs the threat of climate change.  Endorsing legislation is one way that the Coalition assists in calling attention to and strengthening support for the work of our members.

Below is a list of legislation endorsed by SEEC in the 114th Congress.  Endorsed legislation must have a SEEC Member as the original sponsor. 

H.R.781: Complete America's Great Trails Act (Connolly)

The Complete America’s Great Trails Act would provide private property owners with tax incentives to dedicate public access and conservation easements in order to close gaps in our National Scenic Trails and protect them from development.  Endorsed on March 24, 2015.

H.R. 1548: Bringing Reductions to Energy's Airborne Toxic Health Effects (BREATHE) Act (Polis)

The BREATHE Act would repeal prohibitions under the Clean Air Act that prevent the aggregation of oil and gas emissions. It would also list oil and gas production wells as sources of toxic air pollutants and adds hydrogen sulfide to the list of hazardous air pollutants. Endorsed on March 24, 2015.

H.R. 4215: Closing Loopholes and Ending Arbitrary and Needless Evasion of Regulations (CLEANER) Act (Cartwright)

The CLEANER Act would close a loophole in the Solid Waste Disposal Act that exempts oil, natural gas, and geothermal energy producers from treating byproducts of production activities (drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes) as hazardous waste. Endorsed (prior to introduction) on March 24, 2015. Bill number will be updated once introduced.

H.R. 1460: Focused Reduction of Effluence and Stormwater runoff through Hydrofracking Environmental Regulation (FRESHER) Act (Cartwright)

The FRESHER Act amends the Clean Water Act to close a loophole that exempts oil and gas companies from having to obtain a stormwater runoff discharge permit. The bill also requires a study and report on how stormwater runoff from oil and gas operations impacts water resources and the environment. Endorsed on March 24, 2015.

H.R. 756: Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act (Cartwright)

The Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act would establish a centralized clearinghouse to disseminate information on federal programs, incentives, and mechanisms for financing energy-efficient retrofits and upgrades at schools. Endorsed on March 24, 2015.

H.R. 508: The SUPER (Super Pollutant Emissions Reduction) Act of 2015 (Peters)

The SUPER Act seeks to coordinate and optimize the federal government’s efforts to address the harmful effects of super pollutants, and encourage further reductions through coordination with state, local, tribal, and industry initiatives. Defines "short-lived climate pollutant" as black carbon, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, tropospheric ozone and its precursors, or emissions from banks of ozone-depleting substances. Endorsed on March 24, 2015.

H.R. 2227: The STRONG (Strengthening the Resiliency of Our Nation on the Ground) Act (Peters)

The STRONG Act would help maximize government resources by promoting coordination among existing federal disaster preparedness efforts. It creates a working group to identify disaster relief resources to provide state and local planners with the tools and information they need to develop and improve their extreme weather resiliency efforts. Endorsed (prior to introduction) on March 24, 2015. 

H.R. 20: Government By the People Act of 2015 (Sarbanes)

The Government by the People Act would break the dependence on big money so that Congress can focus on the people’s priorities. Recent analysis by Oil Change International indicates the energy industry receives $59 in federal subsidies for every $1 they spend on campaign contributions and lobbying. Endorsed on March 24, 2015.

H.R. 1275: Climate Change and Health Protection Act (Capps)

Climate Change and Health Protection Act would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a National Strategic Action Plan to assist health professionals in preparing for and responding to the public health effects of climate change. Endorsed on April 30, 2015.

H.R. 1276: Coastal State Climate Change Planning Act (Capps)

The Coastal State Climate Change Planning Act would amend the Coastal Zone Management Act to establish a voluntary coastal climate change adaptation planning and response grant program. The program would allow Climate Change Adaptation Planning Grants and Coastal Adaptation Project Grants to support efforts to prepare for and reduce the negative consequences that may result from climate change in coastal states. Endorsed on April 30, 2015.

H.R. 1278: Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2015 (Capps)

The Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act would provide competitive funding assistance through a grant program to help the nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems plan and implement projects to adapt their infrastructure to changing hydrological conditions across the nation. Grants will be awarded to water system owners or operators for eligible projects for the purpose of increasing resiliency or adaptability. Endorsed on April 30, 2015.

H.R. 1971: Climate Solutions Act of 2015 (Lieu)

The Climate Solutions Act empowers the Department of Energy to increase our energy efficiency standards and to set a renewable energy portfolio goal of 40% of all electric energy to come from renewable sources by 2030 and 80% by 2050.  The bill further instructs the Environmental Protection Agency to set historic targets for reducing carbon pollution to 40% below 1990 levels by 2035 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.  Endorsed on June 25, 2015.

H.R. 2296, Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act, (Cartwright)

The Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act would establish a Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing Program at the Department of Energy to provide competitive grants to states to establish or expand efficiency programs for industrial businesses. Endorsed on June 25, 2015.

H.R. 2132, Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act (Cartwright)

The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act would establish a new pilot program at the Department of Energy to provide financial grants to non-profit organizations to help make buildings they own and operate more energy efficient. Endorsed on June 25, 2015.

H.R. 2804, Safeguard America’s Future and Environment (SAFE) Act of 2015 (Cartwright)

The SAFE Act helps protect our natural resources from extreme weather by improving coordination between federal, state, local, and tribal governments to create and develop adaption plans. Endorsed on June 25, 2015.

H.Res. 637, 50x30 Clean Energy Resolution (Delaney)

The 50x30 Resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representative that the United States should establish a national goal of more than 50% clean and carbon-free electricty by 2030 for the purpose of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, growing our economy, increasing our shared prosperity, improving public health, and preserving our national security.  Endorsed on February 25, 2015 prior to the resolutions offical introduction. 

H.Res. 540, Renewable Energy and Green Jobs Resolution (Grijalva)

The Renewable Energy and Green Jobs Resolution  expresses the sense of the House of Representative that the policies of the United States should support a transition to near zero greenhouse gas emissions, 100% clean renewable energy, infrastructure modernization, green jobs, full employment, a sustainable economy, fair wages, affordable energy, expanding the middle class, and ending poverty to promote national economic competitiveness and and national security and for the purpose of avoiding adverse impacts of a changing climate.  Endorsed on February 25, 2015.

Please note that SEEC endorsement does not equate to individual SEEC member support.

For a list of SEEC Endorsed Legislation from the 113th Congress, click here