▶ 0:19:09right, the subcommittee will come to order. And uh let me first say I apologize for the late start. It drives me crazy. But um the president uh was speaking with the conference this morning, very engaging. Uh, I did leave a few minutes. I don't know how long before he finished, but I felt I needed to get here at least with some semblance, but I do apologize to you, Mr. Administrator, and to all the members who were here on time. Please forgive me.
▶ 0:19:39I will try not to let it happen again, but it is rare that the president comes to talk to the conference. All right, I now recognize myself for five minutes for an opening statement. And I am glad to have the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldon, a friend and former colleague back in the house today. Welcome back, Mr. Administrator. Is that the proper way to refer to you? Call me Lee. All right.
▶ 0:20:02Uh Lee, uh it's glad to have you back to testify before the subcommittee on environment on President Trump's fiscal year 2026 budget request. This is certainly an important time for the EPA. After four years of economically disastrous, legally questionable, and expensive policies of the Biden Harris administration, it is a welcome sight to see President Trump and administrator Zeldon focused on the rebuilding of the American economy and fixing the problems of the previous administration.
▶ 0:20:28I remember when administrator Zeldon was in the House representing the eastern part of Long Island. He was willing to work across the aisle in pragmatic in a pragmatic way to try and address environmental issues like protecting the Long Island Sound or addressing emerging contaminants like PAS. It is great to see him bringing these same problem-solving skills to the EPA and there are a lot of problems there to solve as we all know.
▶ 0:20:52I am pleased to see that the administrator recognizes that there is a middle ground to tread where environmental protection does not need to come at the expense of good jobs and a strong economy. I know that the administrator is already working to closely examine the previous EPA spending spree on green new deal style programs that provided unprecedented levels of taxpayer funds to environmental groups and consultants and to undo burdensome regulations that increased energy costs and made it more difficult to make things in America.
▶ 0:21:22The reconciliation bill passed out of this committee last week is an important step in saving taxpayers money and redirecting EPA the EPA to focus on its core mission of cleaning up the environment and protecting human health. In February, Administrator Zeldon announced the broad pillars that the agency will focus on under his plan powering the great American comeback.
▶ 0:21:46In March, Administrator Zeldon announced 31 regulatory actions to support greater energy production, a more robust auto manufacturing se sector, a more predictable permitting process, and a more state-based enforcement system.
▶ 0:22:00I'm glad to see that the EPA is taking another look at a lot of the rulemakings from the last administration, particularly those regarding air pollution, as many of those rulemakings didn't take into account industry's ability to meet compliance timelines on which pollution mitigation technologies would be able to be installed. EPA has a duty to enforce the statutes that Congress passed.
▶ 0:22:25Though I do believe encouraging cooperative compliance with industry will lead to better environmental outcomes and less economic disruption. And as I've often said, one of the problems we have is if we if we push beyond what industry can do, they just pick up and move to another country. And many of those pollutants, according to a NASA study, come right back to us.
▶ 0:22:45because the NASA study showed a number of years ago following a sandstorm that it takes about 10 days for the air to get from the middle of the Gobi Desert in China to the Eastern Shore of Virginia. As many of those rulemakings uh that the EPA did previously didn't take into account industry's ability to meet compliance timelines, that's what we're talking about, of which pollution mitigation technologies were able to be installed. In recent years, the EPA's budget has been about 10 billion per year.
▶ 0:23:11However, under the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, the EPA received an astounding 41.5 billion or more than four times its historical budget to spend on electric vehicles, environmental justice, and renewable energy programs. From its founding and up until the past few years, EPA mostly operated as a scientific investigator and regulatory agency.
▶ 0:23:35And with the exception of the water infrastructure and super fund programs, it did not administer lots of large grants. President Trump's propos proposed budget would reduce EPA spending to a more sustainable level after years of outofc control spending on programs and rules that bore little relation to the EPA's traditional mission of regulating pollution, setting science-based standards for potentially hazardous substances, and cleaning up waste sites.
▶ 0:24:00It seems the goal of EPA in the last few years was an attempt to force change that Americans are not willing to buy. I look forward to hearing more details from Administrator Zeldon about the reorganization reform efforts he's making. The environment subcommittee stands ready to work with you, Administrator Zeldon, to help get the EPA back on track.
▶ 0:24:19As at this subcommittee's first hearing of Congress, we examined the implementation of the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substance Control Act, often referred to as TUSCa, we heard how the process reviewing new and existing chemicals are in need of reform, particularly the ways in which the EPA evaluates potential chemical risks. We also held a hearing in March on ways to maximize brownfield cleanups. As we work on brownfield reauthorization, I hope to collaborate with the EPA on ways to possibly set up some sort of pre-clarance permitting pilot program.
▶ 0:24:49Our national security, uh, our economic competitiveness, the health of our families, and the strength of our communities all depend on an EPA led by you that is working hard and efficiently for the American people. So, I thank you again for appearing before us today and forgiving me for being late, and I look forward to your testimony. I now yield five minutes to ranking member, Mr. Tonko of New York. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Administrator Zeldum.
▶ 0:25:17Welcome to the committee, to the subcommittee, and uh I have to acknowledge that as a former student, you were a constituent of New York's 20th congressional district, and so we welcome you back in that capacity. President Trump's fiscal year 2026 budget request for EPA has been called problematic and unserious proposal and maybe a bridge too far to be achievable.
▶ 0:25:40These were the reactions of Republican appropriators last week and I expect you will hear even less charitable reviews from Democrats on this subcommittee today. This proposal includes a 55% reduction from fiscal year 25 levels resulting in agency funding levels not seen since the mid 1980s. If enacted, this would fundamentally dismantle the EPA as we know it and the AY's ability to carry out its core mission of protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink.
▶ 0:26:09The request includes devastating cuts that will undermine states efforts to protect public health and carry out their obligations, including the $2.46 46 billion reduction to the state revolving funds for water infrastructure and a $1 billion reduction for categorical grants which are critical to supporting staffing of state environmental agencies.
▶ 0:26:29I do believe this is a part of a disturbing trend we are seeing to force more costs onto state governments as is being done with the proposed cuts to Medicaid in the majority's reconciliation bill. Similar to these funding cuts earlier this year, the administration expressed the desire to reduce EPA staffing levels by 65% which would return the agency to 1971 personnel levels, the agency's second year in existence.
▶ 0:26:56It is not credible to suggest that the agency can fulfill its statutory requirements, including all of the major environmental laws and amendments to those laws that have been enacted since the 1970s with these proposed staffing levels. Cuts of this magnitude would not only hollow out the AY's expertise and capacity, they are insensitive to the public servants who have dedicated their lives to supporting this agency's mission.
▶ 0:27:21And it is worth reminding everyone of what that mission is to protect human health and the environment. In just a few short months, I believe the agency under Administrator Zeldon's leadership has lost sight of this mission. Mr. Zelden launched the powering the great American comeback initiative focused on American energy, automanufacturing and artificial intelligence dominance. Broadly speaking, I'm not necessarily opposed to aspects of that agenda.
▶ 0:27:47But I also do not believe it is the appropriate role for our nation's environmental regulator to be leading this effort because EPA's contributions to those goals more or less translate to how we can reduce environmental protections and enforcements of those protections for the benefit of energy producers. the auto industry and big tech.
▶ 0:28:06Even if ordinary Americans will pay the price by breathing harmful air pollution, drinking contaminated water, and being exposed to dangerous chemicals, we have already seen a slew of agency actions that will result in greater pollution and reduce our scientific capacity to understand just how that pollution will impact Americans health and their well-being.
▶ 0:28:26This includes reconsidering rules that protect Americans from pollution, from power plants, from vehicles, and from industrial facilities, and weakening standards to keep PAS out of our drinking water. Each of these public health protections up for reconsideration went through robust rulemaking processes and economic analyses which found that every one of these rules delivers greater benefits to the American people in public health and in economic benefit terms than they cost.
▶ 0:28:56I am also concerned by EPA's efforts to terminate previously awarded grants without producing any evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse. For each of these awards, the previous administration carried out competitive selection processes based upon requirements enacted by Congress. And with that, Mr. Chair, I yield back. Gentleman yields back. I'm now going to recognize the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Palone, for his five minute opening statement. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 0:29:26President's President Trump's budget is a blueprint for disaster. Trump doesn't believe in government and his budget continues his relentless assault on the federal agencies whose mission it is to protect the health and well-being of the American people. This budget would cut funding for the EPA by 55%, the largest cut in EPA's history. The proposed cut would seriously threaten public health and the environment.
▶ 0:29:50It also fails to deliver on many of the promises the Trump administration has made to deal with dangerous toxins like lead and PAS and prioritize polluters over public health and the environment. While we only have the skinny budget to review at this stage, it does not give me confidence that anything more comprehensive will tell a different story.
▶ 0:30:09The budget calls categorical grants to states a crutch, flying in the face of the cooperative federalism that has made EPA so successful in cleaning up toxic pollution and providing healthier futures for Americans. EPA is deserting the states to deal with serious climate and pollution issues on their own. While EPA focuses on giving polluters free passes to poison our communities with reckless abandon.
▶ 0:30:32And the skinny budget outlines major cuts to historically bipartisan programs that provide a lifeline to communities across the nation. It cuts $250 million from the super fund program, undermining our ability to clean up toxic waste sites throughout the nation. It seeks to decimate the drinking water and clean water state revolving funds, which are the primary funding sources for water infrastructure projects. These state revolving funds are critical to ensuring communities have safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services.
▶ 0:31:01This comes after EPA recently announced plans to resend and delay the historic PAS drinking water standard, raising serious questions about the Trump administration's commitment to safe, clean, and affordable water for all. EPA is also walking away from its commitments by cancelling competitively awarded grants where work is already underway in communities across the country with little or no explanation.
▶ 0:31:24And I have to say to the administrator, I am outraged by administrators Zeldon's illegal freeze of obligated funds under the greenhouse gas reduction fund. This fund is meant to make energy more affordable, foster economic development, boost supply chains, and create good paying jobs. All the things that the Trump administration says it supports. Yet, the administrator has engaged in a smear campaign where he's spreading false and misleading statements about the program in an attempt to undermine it and strip away these funds.
▶ 0:31:53and I firmly believe the administrator's actions are a violation of the law and I'm hopeful that these funds will be released soon so that our communities can benefit from these investments. It's clear to me that under administrator Zelden's leadership, EPA is becoming an unreliable partner and illegally withholding congressionally directed funds. I'm also concerned about troubling activities that will endanger the health and safety of American families, children, and workers.
▶ 0:32:19The Trump administration has made it clear that EPA cares more about polluters bottom line than the communities and American children who will bear the brunt of these foolhardy decisions. What is potentially most egregious is the attempt to roll back EPA's landmark endangerment finding. It's absolutely shocking that anyone in the year 2025 could look around and honestly say that climate change is not already harming Americans. It is. And I'm also troubled by EPA's recent reorganization plan.
▶ 0:32:47The effectiveness of the agency hinges on EPA having the career staff necessary to fulfill its mission. They are the backbone of the agency. Unfortunately, Administrator Zeldon's actions to indiscriminately fire hundreds of employees with plans to relieve thousands more shows a blatant disregard for the critical work career staff conduct on behalf of the American people every day.
▶ 0:33:08He continues to disingenuously claim to be fighting government waste while simultaneously eviscerating EPA's ability to appropriately manage programs and oversee issue grants. Finally, Administrator Zeldon is thumbming his nose at Congress's ability to conduct important oversight of this administration. Committee Democrats have sent several letters to the administrator demanding answers about certain actions he's taken. We've received very few answers, some coming just late yesterday, and this is unacceptable.
▶ 0:33:36The Energy and Commerce Committee is your authorizer and we are tasked with conducting oversight. As administrator of EPA, you don't just owe Congress an explanation, but you also the owe the American people an explanation. You know, I I I my Republicans on this committee constantly talk about how great this committee is and how they want to continue the great work of this committee, but we're not going to be a great committee if we can't actually conduct oversight over the EPA, which is one of the major uh agencies
▶ 0:34:06that we have uh oversight or jurisdiction over. We're not going to be a great committee if we can't have effective oversight. And Administrator Zelden has made that impossible. And with that, I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Chairman. Gentleman yields back. I thank the gentleman. We now conclude with member opening statements, the chair would like to remind members that pursuant to the committee rules, all members opening statements will be made a part of the record.
▶ 0:34:30Although it is not the practice of this subcommittee to swear in witnesses, I would remind our witness that knowingly and willfully making material false statements to the legislative branch is against the law under title 18 section 10001 of the United States code. We will give you an opportunity to give an opening statement followed by questions. Today's witness, I think, is known to all of us, a former member of the House, the Honorable Lee Zeldon, administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Zelden, you are now recognized for five minute opening statement.
▶ 0:34:57Thank you, Chairman Griffith, Ranking Member Tonko, and members of the subcommittee. Chairman Griffith, thank you for uh being such a great partner and ensuring that this uh this committee uh is able to work closely with the EPA. Uh that's very important. Thank you for the great work and leadership. Uh, it is an honor to appear before you today to discuss the president's fiscal year 2026 budget request for the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
▶ 0:35:22Since day one, EPA has swiftly moved to advance President Trump's directive to deliver clean air, land, and water for all Americans while restoring common sense, accountability, and cooperative federalism to environmental policy. We're fulfilling our core mission of protecting human health and the environment while powering the great American comeback and removing unnecessary barriers that have burdened American families and businesses for far too long.
▶ 0:35:50Since being sworn in as administrator, my team has hit the ground running. I've now traveled to 17 states across the country, engaging with our dedicated regional staff and scientists, visiting super fund sites and brownfields, and listening to farmers, business owners, and community residents who have had fantastic ideas on how the EPA can better work on their behalf.
▶ 0:36:14Immediately upon President Trump's inauguration, EPA completed the largest wildfire cleanup in agency history in less than 30 days after the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires. We have taken bold steps to combat PAS contamination and have advanced redevelopment at 21 super fund sites across 13 states, delisting all or parts of four sites from the national priorities list.
▶ 0:36:39We've also completed 25 state implementation plans, 16 of which were backlogged from the prior administration. With this renewed focus and commitment, EPA is working for the American people. We are revising the definition of waters of the United States to align with the Supreme Court decision in sack and have issued immediate action items for Mexico to permanently and urgently end the Tijana River sewage crisis that has plagued Southern California for decades.
▶ 0:37:10Following my trip to St. Louis, we cut nearly two years from the cleanup timeline at the West Lake Super Fund site, which has been contaminated by nuclear waste from the Manhattan project. In fact, to mark the 100th day of the Trump presidency, EPA released a list of 100 environmental actions we took during those first 100 days. A pace that motivates us to keep up each and every day.
▶ 0:37:36Together, these actions reflect the administration's commitment to environmental stewardship, cooperative federalism, and delivering results that make a real difference in people's lives. In lock step with the president's agenda, EPA is also helping to unleash American energy, pursue permitting reform, make America the AI capital of the world, and bring back American auto jobs.
▶ 0:38:00We've eliminated waste and abuse in areas like the greenhouse gas reduction fund, reversed unlawful overreach like the so-called good neighbor rule, and begun reconsidering many overreaching rules, including power plant and EV related regulation that threatened grid reliability, energy affordability, and consumer choice. I'm proud of the monumental steps we took earlier this year towards energy dominance and expanding cooperative federalism.
▶ 0:38:28We are giving West Virginia and Arizona the primacy authority they have sought to protect groundwater and regulate themselves as other states have had for years. It is no secret that the best innovative solutions are often found by working with those most familiar with the challenges faced.
▶ 0:38:45These historic actions will reduce regulatory costs which act as invisible taxes on Americans, making it more affordable to own a car, heat homes, operate a business, and bring manufacturing back to local communities. By reducing the EPA's budget by billions of dollars, the president's FY 2026 budget demands maximum efficiency from the EPA while we continue to fulfill all of our statutory obligations.
▶ 0:39:14Also included in the president's proposal is an additional 9 million above FY2025 enacted levels to equip EPA with funds to respond to drinking water disasters. There is also a $27 million increase in funding for tribes to address drinking water and wastewater infrastructure on their lands. At the Trump EPA, we will not view the status quo as a sacred cow that is untouchable.
▶ 0:39:40We will not consider the Biden era regulations we inherited to be etched in stone. And we absolutely refuse to waste even a penny of tax dollars. With President Trump, President Trump's leadership and the partnership of Congress, we will deliver measurable and real results, greater accountability, and a stronger environmental return on investment per dollar spent. I look forward to answering your questions. Thank you.
▶ 0:40:07Thank you, Administrator Zelden aka Lee. Uh, we will now begin questioning. I would ask that members not begin a new question to our witness as their five expire because we have a number of members who wish to wave on and that is the practice in this uh subcommittee and in this committee. Uh, I am going to be fairly aggressive on the fivem minute deadline on both sides of the aisle. And so I would encourage you all to be ready to submit.
▶ 0:40:36If if you see you only have 10 seconds left, don't ask the question. Just submit it uh for uh questions asked after the hearing, which we are permitted to do. With that said, I will now recognize myself for five minutes of questioning. Administrator Zeldon, I understand why the agency terminated all environmental justice grants to align with President Trump's executive order. I I recognize those in many cases were spurious.
▶ 0:41:01But as often happens when when you do this, there's some things in there that you think, "Wait a minute, that was pretty good." And so in my district, we had some flood mitigation, and these are not huge dollars. 50,000 in flood mitigation uh planning for the town of Clinchco, 50,000 in engineering for a former bank building demolition. The building is going to collapse into the road and it's it's a problem.
▶ 0:41:25and riverwalk design in the town of Pound and 70,000 demolition of a building in Pennington Gap which flooded again in February. All of these are issues that that are significant and I don't know what they did to to be put into an environmental justice. This is just something right to do. And I'm just asking you if you would be willing to help uh us work to see if we can't find some other ways to take care of some of those important projects that um actually are meritorious.
▶ 0:41:55Love to uh work with you, chairman. Uh have my team work with yours and uh the same message goes to other members of this committee. Uh there are some cases of grants where the the entire grant uh had major issues uh and there are other grants where there were uh smaller issues and uh there's appropriated funding that is going to continue to go out the door. We're having this conversation the middle of a fiscal year.
▶ 0:42:22Uh so while we are going from one administration to the next, we might go from one administration's priorities to the current administration's priorities. uh we I think have plenty of opportunities to be able to to work together to get uh this funding out responsibly. All right. Now, I'm going to turn to uh the greenhouse gas reduction fund awards. Um I know that that's all tied up in litigation, but it's interesting to me and I talked about it uh last week as well.
▶ 0:42:51One of the awardees is technically headquartered in my district in Southwest Virginia, actually in Christiansburg, the Appalachin Community Capital. And I understand it's a bank and a financial institution and it's a pass through. The problem is is that this organization received underscore Previously in 2023 their entire budget was $4.3
▶ 0:43:21million of which 2.8 was from a federal grant. In 2024, they suddenly received $500 million. Now, when I found out about this and I went and looked at their legal address where they're supposed to be headquartered in Christiansburg, Virginia, I went up to the building. It was after hours. There's no sign.
▶ 0:43:50There is a financial institution there, but it's not the Appalachin Community Capital. Now, whether they have a person assigned in there, whether or not they have a uh cubicle, I don't know. Not saying they don't, not saying they're not functioning out of that building, but there's no indication to the public that this institution, which received $500 million to hand out from the EPA, is doing anything there. Now, again, they very well could have a cubicle inside.
▶ 0:44:17They could have somebody in there working, but the sign on the door was for a different financial institution. the CEO has an address in Washington DC. So, if we're trying to get these these monies out, even if you accept that they're trying to get these monies out into the various communities, it raises all kinds of questions in my mind. I'm assuming that raised questions in your mind as well. Am I correct? That type of thing. Uh yes, chairman.
▶ 0:44:44And and to that point, uh it's important to point out Appalachian asked for a billion, uh and they ended up receiving 500 million even though the year that they asked for the funding in 2023, they spent less than 4.5 million. uh one of of many issues.
▶ 0:44:59And one more thing to point out, chairman, uh the a reviewer noted that Appalachian planned to use $215 million to finance 600 zero emission vehicles and 105 million to finance 700 charging stations. This is $358,333 per EV $150,000 per charging station.
▶ 0:45:25So, it's important to get into the weeds and understand and I think the example that you brought up is one of many fantastic ones to talk about. Well, and I'd love to know where the charging stations are if they exist. That being said, in my time running out, I will yield back and now recognize the ranking member from New York, Mr. Tonko. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and again, welcome, Mr. Zelden. Um, you previously committed to following the law and stated your belief that science should be left to the scientists.
▶ 0:45:54So, I would like to focus on just how well you have been fulfilling those commitments. To start, you initiated an effort to reconsider the um endangerment finding that greenhouse gas emissions threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.
▶ 0:46:12Now, I have no doubt we may disagree about just how to appropriately um regulate sources of climate pollution, but I'm frankly shocked that there is a question of whether or not climate pollution harms the Americans health and welfare. The endangerment finding is based on science and scientists both within and without the federal government have continually reaffirmed that climate pollution does in fact harm our health and our welfare.
▶ 0:46:39So, can you cite any peer-reviewed research that calls into question the science used to make the initial 2009 endangerment finding? Well, first off, um, Ranking Member uh, Tonko, it's important to note to follow the law, to follow obligations under the law. I'm not allowed to prejudge outcomes. We're going to go through a rulemaking process. We'll follow the Administrative Procedures Act. There will be a public comment period.
▶ 0:47:04Um to to your point more specifically, it's important to note that in when the 2009 endangerment finding was done, uh they didn't review carbon dioxide alone. It's carbon dioxide when mixed with five other well-mixed gases, which was called the greenhouse gases, even though they were supposed to do it specifically on mobile sources. Some of those greenhouse gases, some of those other well-mixed gases aren't even emitted uh from motor vehicles, but they didn't study each of these six individually.
▶ 0:47:34They studied all six collectively. Uh they had multiple other mental leaps that were done. They didn't say that carbon dioxide endangers public health. They say that carbon dioxide when mixed with five other well-mixed gases contribute to climate change. How much, you might ask? They don't say, but the numbers north and zero. They said contribute not causes. And then they say climate change endangers public health. So uh it's it's just important to follow the multiple mental leaps.
▶ 0:48:02But as far as peer-reviewed studies, it's important when that to note when that 2009 endangerment finding uh was reached, they didn't study any of these six gases individually. Reclaiming my time. I I hear the prejudge statement, but I don't think major regulatory processes are launched on a whim. So, can you not point to any scientific evidence to warrant a reconsideration in the first place?
▶ 0:48:25Well, uh, in addition to what I just stated, they also didn't factor in, uh, any of the obviously the scientific development since over the last 16 years. There has not been any public comment period over the course of the last 16 years. They haven't factored in innovation. Uh, emissions have been down over the course of the last 20 years.
▶ 0:48:46Um, but getting back to the heart of your initial question that not even when they did the 2009 endangerment finding did they ever conduct uh reviews of each uh emission individually. Well, in addition to the elimination of atmospheric research, I'm very concerned by the public reporting around the future of the office of research and development.
▶ 0:49:09OD conducts independent research and this independence is critical to both informing regulatory decisionmaking and ensuring high levels of scientific integrity at the agency. The Office of Inspector General identified and I quote promoting ethical conduct and protecting scientific integrity close quote as a top management challenge in fiscal year 2024. How do you plan to address this challenge if OARD is significantly reorganized or in fact eliminated?
▶ 0:49:38Well, for one, we will fulfill all statutory obligations. Two, it's important to note that inside of program offices, science and research is done. Additionally, as part of the re uh or that was announced a couple weeks back, uh science and research are being elevated inside of all different program offices, uh there's a new uh office inside of the office of air and radiation, focusing on state air partnerships, advancing cooperative federalism, and working on state implementation plans.
▶ 0:50:06There's a new office of applied sciences and environmental solutions. Uh the scientific work that we do in fulfilling our statutory obligations is important. Okay, let me reclaim my time here. Has EPA evaluated how closing or significantly reducing OAD would affect its ability to fulfill statutory obligations while ensuring scientific integrity across the agency? Absolutely. And will you share that evaluation with members of the subcommittee? Sure. We could talk about it here today. Okay.
▶ 0:50:34Um well my time is expired so I will yield back but um thank you for your response. The ranking member yields back. The chair recognizes a gentleman from Ohio Mr. Lada for his five minutes. Well thank you Mr. Chairman and minister administrator. Welcome back to the house. Good to see you today. Uh you know for far too long the EPA has ballooned well beyond its original scope.
▶ 0:50:58Over time, the agency has amassed sweeping regulatory powers that increasingly bypass legislative oversight. What does that leave us with? High costs for the taxpayer, burdensome unworkable regulatory conditions for industry, stifled innovation and manufacturing and energy insecurity with decreased domestic production, high costs and federal overreach for our energy mix. We heard extensive testimony from industry leaders across the board that the Biden administration's EPA standards were technologically unfeasible.
▶ 0:51:29President Trump proposed discretionary budget decreases the EPA budget by over half of last year's uh budget, making many common sense reforms to spend American taxpayer dollars in thoughtful ways to effectively improve our environment. And one one of the things that we've heard so many times is, you know, what are your thoughts? Especially when we heard from the industry that the EPA would come up with some kind of a standard that there was no existing technology to even meet it, but they were demanding that it be done.
▶ 0:51:58In a lot of cases, it was going to put businesses out of business because they couldn't meet the standard. So, how do you see the EPA dealing in the future on issues like that? We inherited a lot of regulations that were enacted uh in 2023 2024 uh seeking to strangulate the economy, choosing to suffocate the economy as if it's a binary choice between protecting the environment and growing the economy. The Trump EPA chooses both.
▶ 0:52:28We want to protect the environment and grow the economy. This isn't a binary choice. these regulations uh were would cause all sorts of companies and entire industries uh to have to go out uh the concerns uh end up impacting the American economy, the American national security and our environment as it's important to point out uh that we tap into our own uh supply safer uh than so many other countries do elsewhere around the world.
▶ 0:52:57And it is important to look at the ability uh of American companies to be able to uh hit the compliance uh with these regulations that are put into place. Oh, thank you. You know, I read with your powering the great American comeback and you know, in this committee, we've been talking about two things in particular.
▶ 0:53:14We have to have more energy produced in this country and at the same time we have to really make sure that when we're looking at permitting we got to get the permitting reform done to be able to move forward because especially when we look at our data centers that are coming online that the amount of more energy that's going to have to be produced in this country. So could you share how the powering the great American comeback initiative is going to help especially in these two areas that you talk about on the energy side and also on the permitting?
▶ 0:53:46Sure. This five pillars. Number one uh clean air, land and water for all Americans. Number two is unleash energy dominance. Pillar three advanced cooperative federalism and permitting reform. Four making America the AI capital of the world. Five bringing back American auto jobs. Why are we doing this? because the American public is demanding it. The core mission of EPA is protecting human health and the environment. So, one might ask, well, why would you be working on helping to unleash energy dominance?
▶ 0:54:16Well, because we were paying attention to the American public last fall when they were demanding that we heeded their concerns as it relates to their struggle to be able to afford to make ends meet. Because we heard from Americans who had to choose between whether or not to put groceries in their refrigerator, heat their home, or get prescription drugs they need to survive. They had to choose between the three. So, we could say, you know, listen, we're not going to do anything to help with this other stuff.
▶ 0:54:45It's not part of the core mission of EPA and we could thumb our nose to the American public. But instead, the Trump EPA chooses to heed the call of the American public. That's what we're going to do. We're going to do it proudly. Now, as it relates to uh the two that that you might be referencing as far as unleashing energy dominance, make America the AI capital of the world, this is a partnership and working with other agencies. The president created the National Energy Dominance Council. These agencies are going to work together.
▶ 0:55:15And when you talk about permitting reform, here's an idea. those who want to invest in America that they don't have to go through 15 months of a permitting process before some other agency comes in and tells them here's an issue that's going to stop your project. The person who's making the investment scratching their head said well why didn't you tell us that 15 months ago? Well, that's because the government was being its normal self and not working efficiently, not collaboratively.
▶ 0:55:43And as a result, the permitting process might require more time, more cost, less certainty. So, EPA is going to do our part and one of the ways that we can help with permitting reform actually doesn't even require an act of Congress. we could just stop gumming up of the works with all sorts of different processes that we inherited where we realized the EPA was just trying to slow things down to slow things down.
▶ 0:56:08Well, we don't feel good about taking away stripping away that investment in this country and I'm glad that that you're asking, Congressman, and I look forward to working with you on it. Well, thank you much, Mr. Chairman. My time has expired and I yield back and I'll submit my other questions to the administrator in writing. Thank you. The gentleman yields. The chair recognizes the ranking member of the committee, Mr. Palone, for his five minutes of questioning. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I have to disagree with the administrator's vision.
▶ 0:56:37I don't think anyone in America voted last November to harm to ask the government to harm their health and safety. And if you're talking about grocery prices, they're not lower, they're higher. And if you talk about our energy dominance, that has to be linked to clean energy, which you and the Trump administration just are completely getting rid of.
▶ 0:56:57Um, and if you talk about getting a permit, well, under the reconciliation bill, which is the reason I think most of our colleagues aren't here on the other side of the aisle is because the president is here trying to convince them to vote for that garbage.
▶ 0:57:11And um under that bill, if you just pay a million dollars, I guess that's for the LG permit or you pay 10 million for a pipeline permit, then you automatically get the permit and you don't have to go through any kind of EPA review whatsoever because the permit and the payment of the check is deemed uh in the public interest. So, you know, you've undertaken multiple waves of utterly arbitrary and harmful cuts to important programs and grants.
▶ 0:57:40Thankfully, courts have recognized that your actions are illegal and have ordered a hold on these mass terminations and withholding of funds unless you could show that grants were only terminated after an individual review. And EPA officials have attempted to exploit that loophole by asserting that grants have been individually reviewed without offering evidence to support such claims. Fortunately, the courts have not been falling for it.
▶ 0:58:04One judge recently wrote that even after reviewing thousands of pages of documents produced by the EPA, there was not a single document demonstrating an individual review of any individual grantee. In another case, an EPA official submitted a sworn declaration stating that, and I'm quoting now, EPA leadership conducting an individualized grant bygrant review to determine which grants should continue, which should be modified, and which should be terminated.
▶ 0:58:29But a declaration in a separate case indicates that another Trump appointee in a single day conducted a review and determined that nine entire programs constituting hundreds of grants should be terminated and I'd ask unanimous consent to enter the declarations of Daniel Kugan and Travis Boles into the record. Mr. Chairman, these are actually court records. There are two EPA Trump employees that have contradicted each other in my opinion on individual review issue.
▶ 0:58:56In any case, if I I'll I I'll hold them so I can reference them if necessary and then give them to you, Mr. Chairman. And um is it the complete transcript of their testimony or just an affidavit? Transcript of their testimony. If it's a complete transcript, then then All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. But I want to clear this up with a question of the administrator. Please explain what if any process EPA has undertaken to individually review grants prior to their termination.
▶ 0:59:22Who was involved in that process and what records exist documenting the supposed process of this review for each individual terminated grant? If you could, that's been an a an extensive process. First, it's important to point out uh that one of the two employees you mentioned are actually a career EPA employee. It's not a Trump political uh political appointee. Um when we came in uh we started working with the career staff that was here previously.
▶ 0:59:51That includes uh career staff involved with uh oversight uh or lack thereof of the greenhouse gas reduction fund. But Mr. Zelden, I know because I I'm going to be cut off by the chairman uh not that he's, you know, trying to do it, but the time is there. I would like what records exist documenting the supposed process of this review for each individual terminated grant.
▶ 1:00:15If you can't give that to me today, then I would ask that you submit it through the chairman in the future as soon as possible. Would that be okay? Uh it whatever explanation uh that you're you're looking for. Again, we we we have a process. Let me ask you one more question and then I'll close. Do you think that one EPA official deciding in a single day that nine separate programs with hundreds of grants should be terminated constitutes an individualized review?
▶ 1:00:45That's what one of the one of the employees said in to the court. Do you think that that I I was the one who made the decision and I made the decision after doing an individual review of every grant specifically. I personally did not reviewed every single grant that I canceled. Okay. Now, in the time, in my opinion, you know, in the time that you've led this agency, you've decimated the critical work the EPA does. You've left communities across the country scrambling with few answers.
▶ 1:01:14Your polluter first agenda will have a damaging impact on American workers, families, and children for years to come. And if this is the great American comeback, then I pray for the country. And with that, I yield back, Mr. Chairman. Gentleman yields back and now recognizes gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Joyce, for five minutes. Thank you, Chairman Griffith and Ranking Member Tonko for holding this important hearing. And thank you, Administrator Zelen for testifying here today.
▶ 1:01:40The Biden administration's EPA championed the worst tendencies of bureaucracy, unleashing a slew of burdensome rules that were often unrealistic or impossible for US businesses, US farmers, or US communities to address.
▶ 1:01:58Now, with the Trump administration and your leadership, we have seen a return to a more common sense approach that seeks to realize our shared goal of a cleaner and a healthier environment by prioritizing engagement with all stakeholders and leveraging something that we recognize to be so important and that is American innovation.
▶ 1:02:20We have also seen the benefits of this approach as the relief provided from these burdensome regulations has been accompanied by a multitude of environmental winds. I would ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a release detailing these clean actions. Without objection. So ordered.
▶ 1:02:41Administrator Zelden, how has streamlining the EPA's workforce and creating a more efficient agency helped you better accomplish your mission of protecting human health and the environment simultaneously?
▶ 1:02:57One of the beauties of how we've approached this process is that we solicited feedback from people who had been inside of the agency for a very long time inside of each of the program offices and we asked them what do you need in order to be able to do your job better with regards to all statutory obligations. We inherited so many backlogs. The pesticides review was something like 14,000.
▶ 1:03:22new chemical review, several hundred, state implementation plan backlog, um small refinery exemption backlog, and the list goes on. All these backlogs we inherited. We show up on day one. It's like, hey, here you go. That's okay. We don't mind getting a big mess to fix. We're happy to do it. So, what what happens when we have this 14,000 pesticide review backlog or a 500 or so new chemical backlog? How do we fix it? So, we go to the Office of Chemicals. I speak not just to the political staff.
▶ 1:03:52Speak to the career staff. What do you need? There's primarily two needs. One is they need they could use more scientists. Great. That's part of the reorg. We get them more scientists. And two, they need help in updating their infrastructure. Now, Congress helped with that. It was part of an anomaly in a SCR $17 million to update the infrastructure. Thank you.
▶ 1:04:18and we're putting it to good use and we're going to be able to get get down that backlog with with the pesticide review. We've already gotten it down over 2300 coming into this and we're going to keep going. Thank you for that hard work. I appreciate the EPA providing a path to regulatory relief for companies impacted by the EPA's H role which imposed new regulations on ethylene oxide.
▶ 1:04:42As you know, ethylene oxide is critical in many sectors, including the use of sterilization of medical equipment. Over 50% of medical devices in United States utilize ethylene oxide for that sterilization.
▶ 1:04:59When can we expect decisions on the requests made under the relief pathway to ensure companies are not spending millions of dollars in an effort to comply with the flawed Biden Uh thank you, Congressman, for raising this and uh we're we're working to get it done this year. Um we we're we're doing a lot at once and that's okay. I know that it's a lot that's on our plate, but we're going to get it done. Uh we've received a lot of concerns.
▶ 1:05:26Uh and you know, for sake of time, I you know, I could either go through some of them or not. It's up to you, Congressman. Well, thank you. I look forward to that answer. represent or administrator Zelden at the start of this month the House passed my CRA which would overturn the EPA's role that granted a California waiver allowing them to more effectively utilize what consumers want. You talked about that in your statement listening to what the consumer what American wants.
▶ 1:05:56American wants to be able to choose what type of engine is under the hood of their car. Can you speak on the importance of consumer choice and how free market innovation, not unattainable government mandates are the most effective way to lower emissions in the auto industry. Congressman, the Trump EPA believes that if you want to go out and purchase a gas powered vehicle, you should be able to go out and purchase a gas powered vehicle. If you want to go out and purchase an electric vehicle, you should go out and be able to purchase an electric vehicle.
▶ 1:06:27Consumer choice is very important. uh the the ranking uh member of the full committee uh made a reference uh to clean energy without referencing base load power and the need for it as if wind an intermittent source is going to be a substitute for all these forms of base load power. Uh so consumer choice is important uh and being realistic is incredibly important.
▶ 1:06:55Common sense is something the American public demands. Thank you. My time is expired. Thank you for the realistic common sense approach you're directing the EPA. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Now recognize the gentle lady from Illinois, Miss Shakowski. Thank you, Mr.
▶ 1:07:12Chairman, and thank you, Um, Illinois has about 1 million lead pipes and um these are very uh dangerous for our communities. It's the second highest number of lead pipes um in the in the nation.
▶ 1:07:38And it presents a real threat to our children, our children at school, our families, our businesses, and we need help.
▶ 1:07:54And it seems to me that the EPA, who has um cut a lot of money out of things that could go to addressing the lead pipe issue, and I would hope that when you think about what that really means, we're we're talking about very dangerous chemicals that then get in the water that get in our children.
▶ 1:08:22And I am asking you if you think this is a issue and if there is a way that the Environmental Protection Agency would take a U responsibility and help us in our state, the second highest in the country of lead pipes to Help
▶ 1:08:52us create more safety for our community, for all aspects of communities. We need you to take some responsibility with us. We're not asking uh just for a a handout. We're doing work ourselves, but isn't there some way that this would be a priority for the Environmental Protection Agency?
▶ 1:09:20Yeah, Congresswoman, that's it's an important issue and uh EPA uh fulfills all of our statutory obligations. If there's a desire of Congress to create a new statutory obligation uh from EPA, we'll make sure that we get it done.
▶ 1:09:36We do offer technical uh assistance to states on this and we also are working with states as it relates to uh lead um Well, with that then I'm going to keep your word, I know, and uh come back to you and talk about what you can do to make sure that all the families and the children and the businesses that are suffering now. I look forward to working with you on that.
▶ 1:10:06I yield back. Gentle lady yields back now. Recognizing gentle lady of Florida, Miss Lee, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. chairman and welcome to you, sir. We appreciate you being with us today. Uh I would like to start by acknowledging that we appreciate your commitment to returning the EPA to its intended and appropriate mission.
▶ 1:10:28Uh you touched on something just a few moments ago that is so important and that is that we can both protect the environment and grow the economy simultaneously. So your commitment and your vision that the EPA needs to get back to that function and focus on finding efficiencies whether it relates to permitting application review or any of the other compliance standards that have operated as an inhibition to
▶ 1:10:59productivity and economic growth. Uh that you're committed to doing that responsibly is very important. Among other things, you have emphasized a return to the EPA's core statutory responsibilities. Basing regulatory decisions on sound science is essential, whether the issue is air, water, or chemicals.
▶ 1:11:18Um, we have seen repeated reliance on the integrated risk information system or Iris, a program that was not authorized uh by Congress and has long been criticized for a lack of transparency and scientific rigor. Um, can you speak to how you intend to restore confidence in EPA chemical assessments and ensure greater transparency for those who are engaging with the agency?
▶ 1:11:44For number one, number one, it's important uh to follow the science, to follow sound science, to consider all science in making uh to making the best decision possible. Now, one thing you touched on a moment ago that I think is uh really important on the subject of powering the great American comeback and the five pillars uh the American energy dominance.
▶ 1:12:12You referenced not just permitting reform, but that one essential component of that was inter agency coordination so that people who are engaged in that process don't go through years of review only to then get to the end and encounter a different government agency.
▶ 1:12:31Share with us a little bit more about how you're working on that and why you think it's There are equities that different agencies have in a permitting process and it would be a much better idea going forward when Congress is considering possible ways to do it legislatively or agencies are figuring out ways to do it in the meantime to work with those who are applying for the permit in a simultaneous efficient process.
▶ 1:13:02Uh, I I've heard from members of Congress where there's a company over in Europe that does 70% of their business in China and they want to bring a multi-billion dollar investment into the United States, but the reason why they're not going into that state in here in the US is because they feel like it'll take too much time that years down the road and after they spend a fortune, they may still not get an approval at the end of the process.
▶ 1:13:28and they if there's a more certainty, less time, less cost that that decision for that business in Europe will be to come to bring their dollars here. It doesn't make sense to that 20 months down the road out of nowhere, Fish and Wildlife might be giving them a a complaint of something that they need to deal with that you could have just told them a year and a half earlier. And the same thing on e on EPA's front.
▶ 1:13:57If there's any EPA equity in a permitting reform where we need an applicant to do something, we don't want to wait two years down the road and then gum up the works. Just be forthcoming with those applying for the permit out of the gate uh and let them know what EPA is going to need so that they can address it. And that's what we have been doing with permit applicants all across the country since I was confirmed.
▶ 1:14:21Similarly, one of the things that is of great interest to many of us here in Congress is ensuring that the United States does remain the artificial intelligence capital of the world. I would love to hear more about your perspective on how the EPA can be part of ensuring that we achieve that objective. For one, it's going to require more base load power. It's going.
▶ 1:14:46What's interesting when I was going through the confirmation process, meeting with Senate EPW Republicans and Democrats, everyone was agreeing that we need to make America the AI capital of the world. And at least privately, everybody was agreeing that we're going to need more power in order to be able to do that.
▶ 1:15:06And I think that there is a room there is room here for for Congress and for the administration to heed the call of the American public uh to help get that investment to win this race. And there are some people who are might be your constituents might be a bit spooked by how powerful AI is and what it might become. But if we don't lean into it, we're going to lose and China will eat our lunch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. Gentle lady yields back. now recognize a gentleman from California, Mr.
▶ 1:15:36Peters, for 5 minutes of questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Ministry, for being here. I'm going to begin with thank you because I represent San Diego and I want to just thank you for your recent visit to the South Bay and for your work uh your tour of the Tijuana Valley inter international water wastewater treatment plant. Um that contamination issue remains what I believe is one of the catastrophes environmentally of the hemisphere. Um and we we were so encouraged by your commitment to working on a 100% solution.
▶ 1:16:03Even today, I got your release as if it was written for me that uh you're advancing the timeline from to get to 35 MGD mill million gallons a day within 100 days. And I can't say anything but thank you to that. That's really a welcome thing. We've all worked really hard to get resources here, Republicans and Democrats. Uh Democrats were all committed, but I'll tell you some of my best advocates were the seven Republican Navy Seals who had to train in that water. So again, thank you very much. You have a partner here and we're happy to have a partner with you.
▶ 1:16:32Um, I will say, you know, I do appreciate the need for energy here and I know that that's maybe Secretary Wright more than you, but um, I would just say I think that's all of the above energy. I don't think it's just oil and gas uh, to to achieve American energy do dominance. And to the extent we do permit reform, which I'm very interested in, I hope we're talking about all kinds of energy and we're not selecting out some things for fasttracking and other things for slow tracking. I don't think that's what industry wants. I don't think that serves the country.
▶ 1:17:00But I want to talk to you about something along those lines that I hope we can agree on, and that's methane. Um, you know, we had um in in 2016, President Obama issued administrative rules to limit fugitive methane emissions. The Trump administration repealed them. The first Trump administration, the Biden administration issued new rules to limit methane emissions, and now we're looking at a repeal or partial repeal or a total reook. And I would just suggest to you that that's not good for the environment, and it's not good for business.
▶ 1:17:29What we're hearing from industry actually is um they wanted a partial reconsideration of the methane rules that would preserve the majority of the rule structure and and either places like Exxon, Total Energy, uh Shener, AXPC, which represents 60% of US production of oil and gas or gas. Um they want strong rules on methane. They want bipartisan and durable regulation.
▶ 1:17:57I think we have to do that with Congress because when the Trump administration leaves, you're going to have uh potentially another administration that takes a whole different tack. And what we're hearing again and again is the these producers need certainty. Uh and I know you worked here. I know how frustrated you must have been from time to time when you couldn't get engagement from the administration on working out a rule.
▶ 1:18:18So I would suggest to you that um if we could come up with a rule that regulated emissions, it could be emission specific, not technology directive, which the last two Democratic administrations have put out there. Let industry figure out how to achieve an emissions target. Give them emissions target. Give folks who have a hard time to comply assistance. We tried to do that in the IRA. Give enough time to do it, but put enforcability in so that everybody's in the tent.
▶ 1:18:44I think we could come up with something that both protects the environment to the extent we're using oil and oil and gas but also helps business achieve what you say unleash energy uh unleash um energy abundance or dominance uh because they can't do that without certainty. Is that something that you think we could work together on? Um and I I would just hope that we could do that together.
▶ 1:19:06Yeah, Congressman, I I would be happy to uh sit down with you and uh to be able to to hear your uh your your concerns and and requests. We're at an early stage of the process that will include a public comment period as we're going through the rulem. I I have not prejudged uh outcomes of that rule making. Uh if you'd like to to sit down at this early part of that reconsideration, I'd love to do it. Well, here's the advantage of legislation is we don't have to go through that.
▶ 1:19:33we could we could come up with a deal uh within 30 days and put into legislation and not have to go through the rulemaking process that takes so long. And I would just say too that to the extent you're going to I think you suggested you're going to wholly reconsider the methane rules quad and subart W industry has no idea what that entails and then there's even more uncertainty and they've invested billions of dollars in compliance and when Exxon tells you you know hey leave the rules in place we'd rather have the rules than have you repeal the rules and and you know jerk
▶ 1:20:03us back and forth again and this is you know this is on both parties. um maybe it's better for us to do that here without the without the incredible drag of the regulatory process which again could be reversed by the next administration. So, I'd suggest we we if you want to do the rule making, that's fine. But simultaneously, why don't we see if we can't come up with a deal that this committee could put uh before the full committee and then on the president's desk. Are we willing to work on that?
▶ 1:20:32As far as the legislation uh piece, I happy to to work with the committee to the extent that they're asking for uh any any technical assistance or answers uh from the regulatory standpoint. That's where the agency has the lead as far as legislation uh crafting. That's something for you all to let me know if there's any way I can assist. We'd love your help. Thank you. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Now recognize the vice chairman of this subcommittee, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Krenshaw.
▶ 1:21:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for holding this important hearing. And most of all, thank thank you to you, Administrator Zelden. It's good to see you in this position. Um, I I I can't express my appreciation for I think bringing this uh agency back to a sense of pragmatism and away from ideological uh endeavors and uh because I think we all want clean air. We want clean water and we we care about the environment. We care about being good stewards of the environment and I I look forward to working with you more on getting us back on track.
▶ 1:21:32Um, one question that's I have for you important important to my district. um you know being a my district being the hub of many uh many energy companies but also many uh chemical companies and chemicals the word chemical even seems to have a bad connotation to it these days but it's vital for our modern way of life um and uh we're coming up on review of the toxic substance control act tusca what actions is the agency taking to address this backlog uh for reviewing new
▶ 1:22:02uh for reviewing um sorry the backlog that we're reviewing under section five of TUSCO. What actions is the agency taking to address that backlog and fulfill the obligations to review new chemical applications within 90 days? This is something that hasn't happened under the administration. Congressman, there are two uh two key aspects of how we've attacked this.
▶ 1:22:25One, on the personnel side, we want to and are adding more scientists towards this effort. uh there is a uh there's an ability to get through more of the backlog if we can increase the bandwidth uh inside of that office and the second piece of it is with technology uh it is outdated technology there's a lot of new technology uh including AI that we are able to successfully tap into you add those pieces the expanded
▶ 1:22:55bandwidth of personnel plus uh the advancements in technology and we're confident that we are going to be able to tackle the the backlogs that we inherited. I'm glad to hear it's a priority. Again, the these companies need some um uh some consistency and um some understanding of what they what kind of timelines they can adhere to. Um related to that question, I think uh in the past we've seen some unreasonable assumptions while conducting risk evaluations under section six of TUSCa.
▶ 1:23:26So that includes failing to differentiate between different conditions of use for chemicals, assuming workers don't have appropriate personal protective equipment, making very very outlandish assumptions in order to deny uh certain chemicals and you know despite existing regulations from the Occupational Safety and Hazards Administration, OSHA that that require PPE. So they they would assume that you know this chemical is unsafe because well what if somebody just drank it?
▶ 1:23:55I mean that's an unreasonable assumption. So what you know what what steps is the EPA now taking um to ensure that these risk evaluations for existing chemicals follow the best available science properly evaluate risks and and I think just take common sense into account.
▶ 1:24:11We have to make sure that the decisions are tethered to actual science uh to be considering the best available science and making sure that that process uh is is also more efficient inside of the agency uh rather than having uh the agency in conflict with each other where there's different opinions and different programming offices. uh to have more consistency with that process is uh is also key.
▶ 1:24:41Yeah, we'll we'll send you some of those strange stories that we've heard too or just common sense was thrown out the window and I I think you'd be be surprised by it. Um thank you for for taking that on. Um again, as we work through the reauthorization of user fees under TUSCa, are are there additional implementation and challenges for the agency with TUSCa and in the 2016 Lenberg amendment that the committee should should address?
▶ 1:25:08Well, I would say as far as durability goes, any type of challenges, lessons learned that you lived through in the administration while we're addressing it now, pendulums swing, and you you can write legislation thinking about where where you want this process to be, where things look five years down the road or 10 years down the road if you have an to
▶ 1:25:38legislate a fixed based off of a lesson learned. We shouldn't be inheriting backlogs when we come in. We should be using the best available science. It should be tethered to actual science. So, we're fixing it right now on our own at the agency. Uh there could be an opportunity through legislation to make sure that it's more durable with whoever would be in charge of the agency in the future. Yeah, your your feedback on that would be great. Um, and I'm out of time. I yield back. Thank you. Gentleman yields back.
▶ 1:26:08Now recognizes gentle lady from California, Miss Baragon, for five minutes. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. The greenhouse gas reduction fund is a transformative uh program that will leverage private capital to support community-led projects that reduce pollution, create good paying jobs, and lower energy costs. Several organizations applied and were competitively awarded funding to deploy uh to these economic development projects just to have their money frozen. Um, you, Mr.
▶ 1:26:34Administrator, have made several accusations at awardees of the fund and former employees at EPA, but EPA's attorneys have not presented these accusations in court. A judge in a case brought by an award recipient asked EPA's lawyer from DOJ, and I'm quoting, "Can you pro offer to me the evidence of commission of a violation of federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuitity
▶ 1:27:05violations and any one of those things?" and and the EPA lawyer responded, and I'm quoting, "I cannot, your honor, just last week, the New York Times reported that the Department of Justice's investigation into the program is coming up empty as well." Stating that the investigation has quote, "So far failed to find meaningful evidence of criminality by government officials." End quote. Mr. Mr.
▶ 1:27:32Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to enter a recent New York Times article entitled, "Investigators see no criminality by EPA officials in case on Biden error grants as well as a transcript from the Climate United versus City Bank hearing into the record." And is that the full It is. All right. Without objection, so ordered. Okay. So, I want to know what actual evidence you have of any fraud or wrongdoing.
▶ 1:28:01And I'm talking about actual evidence of fraud or criminality, you know, documents or statements, hard proof, not just theories or hunches or or policy disagreements. So, administrators, what evidence is there of any fraud or criminality um if it if it exists and why have you not provided it to us or to the Department of Justice? That's a great question, Congresswoman.
▶ 1:28:26So, I'll start with uh a Biden political appointee uh saying, quote, "Now it's how to get the money out as fast as possible before the Trump administration comes in. It's like we're on the Titanic and we're throwing gold bars off the edge." We're a watchdog organization. Second, I'm going to stop you for a second. I'm going to reclaim my time. You mentioned gold bars. You want me to go to gold bars?
▶ 1:28:50that structure uh uh one former employee that was secretly recorded and it was not even talking about the greenhouse gas reduction fund is not evidence of fraud or wrongdoing. So do you have something else something better than that that's actual fraud or criminality? So Congresswoman, I don't know if you're going to allow me to go through the list. That's the first. I'm talking about the greenhouse.
▶ 1:29:15Second is in June 2024, a watchdog organization revealed that David Hayes, a Biden administration climate adviser, previously on the board of the Coalition for Green Capital, rejoined the board, Mr. Administrator, did you say the name? Hold on. I want to clarify the name. Did you say the Jane the name Jai Weiss? Is that who we're talking about? I did not. What's the name you said? David Hayes. David Hayes. Okay. Can Can you repeat that? I was trying to get the name. Okay.
▶ 1:29:42I I wish you had about 30 minutes for me to go through the list, but in June 2024, a watchdog organization, revealed that David Hayes, a Biden administration climate adviser, previously on the board of Coalition for Green Capital, rejoined the board in 2023 while the organization was applying for greenhouse gas reduction fund, which it ultimately received. March 4th, 2025, media article identified a number of potential conflicts of interest regarding personnel at several grantees. Beth Baffford, climate united fun. Mr.
▶ 1:30:12Zelden, I'm gonna I'm going to reclaim my time because I want to make sure that we can have a meaningful exchange about some of the things that you are are citing to. Um, you just mentioned two examples. Have you or EPA lawyers actually given that to the core or used that cited that as fraud or criminality? Well, first off, the uh the standard it's a yes or no. Have you your lawyer? Yes, they have mentioned this. Which hearing was it at? because I don't see it in the transcript.
▶ 1:30:41Oh Um uh that happened in the United Climate uh conversation. As a matter of fact, I'm going to read to you the court transcript. Can you offer any evidence that there was illegal or evidence of abuse or fraud that any of this was improper, unlawful? EPA lawyer. I'm certainly not suggesting any of that was illegal or improper. Okay.
▶ 1:31:01Just yesterday, an EPA lawyer at the hearing uh suggested, "We're not accusing anybody of fraud." Did you understand that the evidence for EPA is not to establish criminality at the agency? Well, you're you're alleging criminality. You did so in a Fox News interview. You said that's what this reduction fund was in order to turn You shouldn't be doing that if you cannot pro offer the evidence. But Congresswoman, this is this is not Fox News. We're not going to just allow you to just allegations here without that evidence.
▶ 1:31:28Well, if this isn't if this isn't a media interview, you should allow me to go through the entire list rather than just going through. Well, unfortunately, I only have 5 minutes and I don't have time for you to filibuster interested in the entire list of all the specific fraud cutting me off and allow me to get through the list. Gentle lady's time has expired. Gentle lady yields back. Now recognize the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Carter, for five minutes. Thank you, administrator, for being here.
▶ 1:31:54We are really glad to see you and thank you and we just delighted to have you in the position you're in, my friend. I want to briefly mention um a company in my district, Carbonade USA, a company I've met with that is on the cutting edge of turning carbon waste and PFAS into usable products, getting them out of our environment and into products such as sustainable aviation fuel.
▶ 1:32:19Administrator, I I personally delivered a letter to you and and from this company and with some questions surrounding EPA policies on PFAS, coach, Can you commit please that um that you'll take a look at this letter? Yes, Congressman. Thank you very much. And thank you. And now moving on.
▶ 1:32:39Under the Biden administration, the EPA received over a hundred billion dollars in new supplemental funding through the IGA and the IRA, the largest investment in the AY's history. The funding created or greatly expanded, one or the other. programs such as environmental justice grants under the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, an office that was immediately tasked with managing over $3 billion grant portfolio.
▶ 1:33:06In 2023, EPA Inspector General Sean O'Donnell testified here that the newly created office could be at particular risk for misspent funds and that the IRA did not allocate sufficient oversight funding. Thankfully, President Trump and yourself are hard at work clawing back funding and exposing waste, fraud, and abuse in the system. We cannot thank you enough for this, and the American people cannot thank you enough for this. We're all taxpayers, regardless of which side of the aisle you're on.
▶ 1:33:36Clawing back this waste, fraud, and abuse is important to all of us. We've received push back regarding EPA's right to terminate many of the grants awarded under the previous administration, particularly under environmental justice programs funded by the IRA. Again, I know that litigation about these decisions is ongoing, but is there anything you'd like to clarify or share with Congress at this point on your understanding of EPA's authority to terminate these awards?
▶ 1:34:04We refuse to waste a penny of tax we are going to ensure that the zero tolerance policy is implemented uh for some of the the grants that have been terminated. It's important to note as I stated earlier that we're in the middle of a fiscal year.
▶ 1:34:22So, as Congress has appropriated topline numbers for different programs, EPA will fulfill our obligations under the law in making sure that money goes out that has to go out unless we hear otherwise from Congress as we're going through that fiscal year. But one thing that we have zero tolerance for is that there will be zero waste and abuse of even a penny of your constituents tax dollars.
▶ 1:34:48Not only do I applaud you for that, administrator, but I commit to you that we will back you up in every way we can in that effort. So, thank you for that. As you know, members of this committee have expressed serious concerns about the previous administration's attempts to stand up the greenhouse gas reduction fund, such as giving billions of dollars to organizations led by Democratic political allies to further hand out as they see fit.
▶ 1:35:14Initially, the previous administration also decided to use a a financial agent to hold these funds, something that EPA's never done before. To your knowledge, has that been done before? EPA has never done that before. Has the way the greenhouse gas reduction fund programs been executed or structured made it more difficult to investigate these programs or to monitor the use of the funds in these programs? Absolutely.
▶ 1:35:41$20 billion uh sent to the bank to give to eight pass through entities. Many of those entities were brand new. In one case, Power Forward Communities, for example, received $100 in 2023. They got $2 billion in 2024. Uh the in fact EPA decided to put into the grant agreement that they would have 90 days to complete a training called how to develop a budget.
▶ 1:36:08EPA, the Biden EPA felt like the recipient needed to complete a training on how to develop a budget. 90 days to complete the training, yet they could start spending the$2 billion dollars uh as that timeline was going on, even before they've learned how to develop a budget. Intentionally reduced oversight in the way that the financial agent agreement was drafted, the grant agreement, the account control agreement, and when the money goes through the first pass through, in many respects, it goes through other passroughs.
▶ 1:36:37And EPA isn't even a party to any of those subgrantees. So, we're just starting to scratch the surface. There was a congresswoman who just asked the question said, "What evidence do you have?" So, we start going through the list and they don't they didn't want I guess the other side of the aisle doesn't want me to go into into any real list. One, two, three, four. Do you want me I mean, how much time do you have?
▶ 1:37:03because if you want to yield a full 20 minutes, I'm happy to go through all of the specifics and we're right here going through more and I appreciate you asking, Congressman. Well, thank you again, administrator, for being here today and thank you for your work and know that the American people support you and appreciate all of your efforts at the EPA. Thank you, my friend. And I yield back. Gentleman yields back. And now recognize the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Sodto, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. secretary for being here today.
▶ 1:37:33You know, the Energy Star program is a popular program. It's there to make sure that we have energy efficiency certifications for dishwashers, for refrigerators, uh dryers, and home appliances. It's been around since 1992. You and I are in our mid-40s, so you were probably an early teenager when in Long Island when this was coming out. And a lot of our parents over the years were able to buy those appliances. And then now we get to do that.
▶ 1:38:01Uh it it saved about 5 trillion in kilowatt hours of electricity, about 500 billion in energy costs and achieved 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. The this is merely providing info for consumers and encourages innovation, but it's not a mandate, right? And uh we've I've read some articles from the New York Times and others that the EPA plans to shut down this program. Is this true? Do do you is it your intention to ask Congress to shut down this program?
▶ 1:38:32Well, Congress never created the program. Um, so it as far as the future of the program, uh, you know, I start thinking of a program like leads and there's other examples of programs that are run outside of government.
▶ 1:38:47Uh this program is an example of one uh that can be run outside of the government and I've actually had multiple entities reach out to EPA over the course of the last few weeks because they want to take over Energy Star, which is a program uh that that requires a big staff, a big taxpayer funded staff and a whole lot of tax dollars, a lot of tax dollars. Mr.
▶ 1:39:12Secretary, have you proposed any rule making to try to adjust this program yet or do you have any drafts of that of of what your proposal would look like? It it it doesn't require rulemaking. Okay. So, you believe you could do it just by an administrative order then? Yeah. Again, Congress, this is not a statutory obligation set by Congress. And then, you know, you served here for eight years in Congress, a lawyer. You know this place really well.
▶ 1:39:41So, when we're talking about funds like the greenhouse gas reduction fund, let's take at your word. Let's say there are programs and funds that you want to claw back to examine and look at to make sure uh that it tax dollars are being spent well. U there's a distinct possibility those programs are going to be around for the next couple years and not actually pulled out under this reconciliation package.
▶ 1:40:03So I'm trying to understand what do you think the full extent of your power is to pull these back before it becomes impoundment before it becomes unlawful. Um can you give this committee some idea of of what you intend over this next couple months to a year? When does it become impalment and unlawful versus reviewing programs that have already been funded by Congress? There are programs appropriated by Congress.
▶ 1:40:30We're in the middle of the fiscal year and we are going to get money out that we were required to get out. And so, and you understand you have the power to be able to propose a budget, right? And if you want to cut programs, isn't that the proper way to do that to to in your skinny budget and then in other budgets like you had proposed initially a 55% cut in the EPA budget? Isn't that the proper way to try to cut programs as you're reviewing to make sure money is being spent?
▶ 1:40:58Well, well, if we're in here, we're here talking about the FY 2026 budget, uh, if it's something with regards to the current fiscal year, it wouldn't be part of, uh, the skinny budget for next year. I understand, but we're talking about I'm trying to understand you your role as you see it as secretary of where you can work with Congress on this rather than doing things unilaterally, which you know from being here for many years is not the way we're supposed to do things.
▶ 1:41:27You're a member of the climate solutions caucus when you were here in Congress and that was a bipartisan group that came together to try to u try to develop bipartisan ways to deal with climate change. So I just want to make sure we're we're still on the same page here.
▶ 1:41:43Do you believe that climate change exists and that it's human cause and that we have some obligation to do some things about it in a bipartisan Humans have contributed to it, but h humans are not the uh only cause of it. Climate change has been around for a very long time, including pre-industrialization.
▶ 1:42:07Uh you could go back looking thousands, tens of thousands of years, and you'll have the earth at different temperatures. I understand, Mr. Secretary. So, do we have an obligation to do something about the human caused parts of it that you just recognized occurs? I think that there are individual responsibilities and collective responsibilities to be good stewards of the environment. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Now recognize gentleman from Texas, Mr. Weber, for five minutes.
▶ 1:42:41Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Administrators. It's nice to see you again. Glad to hear you got accolades for being a a very well-versed lawyer and having spent eight years here. I'm surprised you would even set foot on this place again. But listen, um if you'd like, Mr. Administrator, I can give you time to go back through that list where she was asking actually for some of those. Would you like to reiterate those for us? Sure. Uh thank you, Congressman.
▶ 1:43:10And this is uh one of the things that might not come as a shocker to you, but not everything the New York Times says is always true. Say it and so. So, uh, you know, we've seen from New York Times, Washington Post, political, they'll write a story and they'll say that there's no evidence of any wrongdoing, anything wrong with the greenhouse gas reduction fund. No evidence.
▶ 1:43:37We have expressed concern with regards to self-deing and conflicts of interest, unqualified recipients, and reduced oversight. I started to get into some of the examples of the self-deing and conflicts of interest, which by the way, the list is long of the leadership of a lot of these NOS's as former Biden and Obama officials, including prominent Democratic donors.
▶ 1:44:01Uh we we have individuals who are serving in leadership capacities helping to create these programs giving it to their former employers. In some of the examples, a government reviewer for Justice Climate Fund awarded $940 million noted that only three of the nonprofits 12 board members are independent from the organization and its coalition members.
▶ 1:44:25No mention of conflict of interest, like if a family member benefited from an entity receiving greenhouse gas reduction funding through the JCF. Unqualified recipients, Power Forward communities had reported a total of $100 even and in 2023 they get two billion in 2024. CGC expended only 1.42 million in 2023 before receiving a $5 billion award.
▶ 1:44:51earlier were talking to the chairman about Appalachian Community Capital receiving $500 million and they never managed anywhere near that much money. Concerns about the lack of oversight. You could ask me all sorts of basic questions about where the money goes once it goes to those eight prime recipients that I should have an answer but we don't.
▶ 1:45:10As was pointed out with uh with one of your colleagues, this is the first time that EPA is using a f financial agent agreement in connection with one of these in connection uh w with one of these uh programs. The first time actually that it was ever used as a non-exchange grant program administered by the federal government across all agencies.
▶ 1:45:34Lastminute modifications to the grant agreement in ACA appeared intentional to reduce oversight, including amending the account control agreement January 13th of 2025, just one week before the inaug inauguration. Those amendments limited EPA's contractual rights to terminate for misconduct short of a federal crime, and limited EPA's contractual rights to assert exclusive control over funds in the city bank accounts.
▶ 1:45:59EPA determined that the amendments left EPA with with insufficient authority to retain control of funds short of outright termination. Former EPA IG testifying to this subcommittee says the EPA's quote pace of spending GR GGRF funds escalates not only the risk for fraud but also the urgency for oversight.
▶ 1:46:23He said that the EPA's OIG would need to hire oversight professionals with specialized expertise to conduct sufficient oversight regarding the NCIF grants in particular, not only to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, but also to ensure that the IRA funds deliver the real environmental and human health benefits the public is paying for. EPA's acting IG, Nicole Merley, testified to the House Subcommittee of Oversight and Investigations.
▶ 1:46:49The EPA was particularly concerned that GGRF program including because the grant structure makes providing effective oversight challenging and that EPA is concerned that there will be critical gaps in monitoring accountability and compliance in the GGRF. Now, here's the thing. We're just scratching the surface and I see your time is is now running short and I appreciate you allowing me to spend many minutes, but here's the catch.
▶ 1:47:15If you had 20 minutes that you were yielding to me right now, I would just keep going through the list. And no matter how much further down that list we get, the New York Times and the Washington Post and congressional Democrats will dig in even deeper saying there's no evidence of anything. The more time that you all give me to go further down the list, the more dug in Democrats will say with their with their hands in their ears saying there is no evidence of any misconduct.
▶ 1:47:42There's no evidence of any way that there's anything wrong with any of this, but we have a zero tolerance policy for any waste and abuse and we're not going to apologize. Gentleman's time. Thank you, Mr. Mer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And so, the sky is falling. So, we appreciate you, administrator. Gentleman yields back. Now recognize the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Augen Claus, for five minutes. Thank you, chairman. Uh, welcome back, administrator. I want to talk about PAS. Uh when you were a member here, you were on the PAZ action force.
▶ 1:48:12Yes. And I believe you voted for PAS legislation. Yes. Yes. Uh my inclination is to think that's because you represent you represented New York and like Massachusetts which I represent both states have a pretty significant PAS challenge. Contaminated soil, contaminated water. You have a contaminated DoD site in Calverton, right? former uh in in your former district which I know you advocated for and advocated to reduce PAS levels there.
▶ 1:48:43Uh so I was hopeful and remain hopeful that you can be a partner on PAS remediation as administrator. Uh last week you announced that the EPA would resend the drinking water standard for four PAS chemicals and extend the compliance deadline for POA and POS by an additional two years giving water systems seven years to comply. I know you had indicated in previous testimony that for those two that for PO and POS you may actually consider lowering it from four to two parts per trillion.
▶ 1:49:10Yes, for PO and POS we're maintaining the four M the four parts per trillion MCL. So you won't consider lowering it to two. With regards to the other four, we're going to be going through a rule making where at the end of that process that number will be determined. It could be it could be four, it could be it could be two, it could be something else. Not the other four. I'm talking about the two P F P F P F P F P F P F P F P F P F P F PO and P I'm I'm just asking because you had said in previous testimony you could you could potentially bring it down to two, but it sounds like you're going to keep it at four. Okay.
▶ 1:49:40Extending the timeline to seven years. So now let's talk about the other four PAS chemicals. Uh PFHXS, PFNA, HFO, DA, and then the hazard index mixture. Um, so the EPA has its own science as well as up-to-date peer-reviewed science that says that these four PAS have been linked to serious human health harms even at very low levels.
▶ 1:50:05Why instead of just retaining the MCLs for those four PAS in accordance with the with the no backsliding provision, why why would you just rescend it? One of the uh one of the things that I understand as administrator of EPA is that every single decision that I will ever make I'll probably get sued for whether I say yes or no on anything.
▶ 1:50:29Uh I have inherited some litigation as well including litigation on that rule that was uh finalized before I got there. There was a procedural error in the way in which uh they moved through the process on those four. I inherited that procedural error and I'm going to fix it. All right. Right. So just reclaiming my time then. So you're not contesting that there is good science that those four PAS that you rescended the rule for have been linked to serious human health harms.
▶ 1:50:55What you are asserting is that there are procedural error under the Uh yes under the APA that means that you have to resend but you are committing that you are going to reissue a rule for those four PAS. We are going to go through the rule making process on those four. I see. Okay. Uh moving towards the budgeting aspect of this, the skddy budget proposal has a 90% reduction for the drinking water state revolving fund. Is that accurate?
▶ 1:51:26Yes. H how is New York and the 1.3 million New Yorkers who have PAS in their water above the MCL's by the former rule? H how are they going to get water treatment plants with a 90% cut? That's the primary funding mechanism for water infrastructure. So, uh, great news and it's something that members of Congress who cares care care about this issue, uh, would be very happy to to hear.
▶ 1:51:51I would say, uh, the the right word would be inundated of how many, uh, how much outreach I've received over the course of the last few months from companies, uh, that have acquired new technology that they're very proud of in ways to far far more efficiently than ever before be able to uh, remove PAS. Can you name those new technologies? Because I've been doing this this research as well and all of it costs money.
▶ 1:52:16So you're talking about like carbon filters, you talking about the names of the companies and I'm happy to share with this committee the names of whoever has reached out uh to give me a broad sense just like the technology broadly like give me an example of a technology that's going to be cheaper, faster, better not going to require money to update the water treatment facilities. It's going to cause a it would it would require a small fraction but we are in the process. I'm not going to start you technology though. What's that?
▶ 1:52:46Just just the technology broadly. Yeah. So I'm I these are ideas that are being pitched that we're vetting right now and I'm not going to endorse any of it. But I would say that it's the agency. Just name a technology that you've heard about. It is it is a a a treatment that that breaks down the forever chemical so that it's no longer a forever chemical. It is a it is a treatment of the water that breaks down the chemical.
▶ 1:53:13If you're talking about electrochemical oxidation, you can do that for for the very very condensed landfill, but you can't do that at the scale of municipal water treatment facilities. It's way too diffuse. If that's what you're talking about, that is not the answer, which is why I'm asking about other technologies which you don't seem to be able to name. I'm going to yield back my time. Now recognize the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Guthrie. Five minutes question. Thank you. Thank you, Administrator Zelden. Thanks for being back here amongst your colleagues.
▶ 1:53:41We welcome you back here to the to Capitol Hill and and so happy you're in the position you are. Um I last night you talk about new technologies moving forward. We we had last night we had a rule see our congressional review act defended before rules and and it was if you're a major source and you had new technology or new operational procedures that lowered your standard your your your emissions then you could go into the area source and we were accused of doing everything of giving kids asthma and things like that which is which
▶ 1:54:11is unfortunate because what we want to do is we see new technology coming and we we we see the opportunities for people to uh to improve and That's what we want. And I went to college in your home state and right down the river from the ranking member. And when I was in in the Hudson River in the 1980s, you couldn't swim in it. At least even around 50 miles up from Manhattan at West Point because it was contaminated.
▶ 1:54:35And the first time I remember hearing of the HHS secretary, of course I'd heard of his family, was he was a he was the leader of clean up the Hudson River, the River Keepers, which was a group that I kind of follow because I was dismayed that such a beautiful piece of our country was was in the position it was in because of industry. And we all agree and there's nobody saying anywhere on our side of the aisle and you and the administration that those those types of things absolutely cannot happen. And so we're all there.
▶ 1:55:04Well, so now we're getting on to things you're trying to fix where the the small regulatory, it seems like small regulatory, they cost a fortune that you were talked about with PAS and some other things we're seeing with our water plants. But getting back to the greenhouse gas fund, could you kind of walk us through again?
▶ 1:55:19there was a at least one if not many uh agents nonprofit that essentially was formed after the after the IRA had $100 in his checking account got $2,000 I mean $2 billion grant so it seems like it here's the money go form your thing and get it instead of trying to invest they talk about investing in known technologies to improve the environment people were creating businesses who were politically connected to chase the money could you talk you said a if you had
▶ 1:55:4920 minutes. You have like 245 if you want to talk more about it. Great. I chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to uh be able to continue to go through the uh the list and I would um encourage anyone at home who doesn't want to hear it to uh to put their finger in their ear because we'll keep going through specific um that uh that the New York Times says doesn't exist. an EPA panel. This is the Biden EPA. The Biden EPA panel reviewing the application for Power Forward Communities.
▶ 1:56:19That's the one that you referenced. They received $100 in 2023 and then they get two billion in 2024. The Biden EPA panel was questioning the salaries it planned to pay its executives. The salary structure for top officers, this is a quote from the Biden EPA, the salary structure for top officers seems high for a nonprofit. wondering if this could be a problem with public perception. The reviewer noted another comment on a part of power forward communities.
▶ 1:56:47Hey to interrupt you secretary I mean administrator do you know what the top salary was? Thank you for asking another comment which was part of the application. A reviewer writes quote for such an important section it was pathy though not always in a good way. Many of the costs were just presented, but little or no explanation as to why they are reasonable.
▶ 1:57:09I would have preferred they omitted the travel discussion explained why they need to pay the CEO $800,000 growing to $948,000 in year 7 and chief operate operations officer $455,000 per year. The it was reported that 22 of Power Forward Communities employees were slated to earn more than $150,000.
▶ 1:57:35Reviewers also criticized Power Forward Communities for by the EPA. Biden EPA criticized Powerol Communities for its lack of planning for quote proactive oversight. So, the Biden EPA is giving this entity that made a $100 in 2023, $2 billion in 2024, and the Biden EPA is concerned that this entity isn't going to be able to conduct proper oversight.
▶ 1:58:03That's just an example of going down the list a bit more on one of the eight NOS's. So, the uh the group didn't exist. They came into being in 2023, had $100 in their checking account, gets a $2 billion grant, and the CEO gets almost $900,000, and over a year will get over $900,000. Yes, chairman. That's what your testimony is today. Yes, chairman. Thank you. Well, only have about six seconds left, so I will yield back. Gentleman yields back.
▶ 1:58:32Now recognize the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Carter. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Administrator, for being here. Um, I represent the state of Louisiana, a state that knows intimately the cost of inaction and indifference when it comes to environmental protection. In Louisiana, the environment is not some abstract policy issue. It's a matter of life and death, survival and displacement, uh, health and chronic illness.
▶ 1:59:01You mentioned in your opening statement or in one of your statements, and I really appreciate it. I want to zero in on the fact that you said that you believe in coexistence and ensuring that industry and healthy communities are able to work together. It's a message that I often send. Um but I also add to that the importance of making sure for industry to ever survive, you have to have healthy communities. Would you agree with that? Yes.
▶ 1:59:29We have to make sure that individuals have clean water, clean air, and they're being listened to because they're the ones who are frontline. Would you agree with that as well? In the uh past few years under the previous administration, the previous administrator took my invitation seriously and visited with me in Louisiana to meet with industry and individuals, to meet with people like Ry St.
▶ 1:59:53Jame to meet with people like the bucket brigade to meet with communities like the concerned citizens for a better St. John and industry as well. Sir, would you be willing to accept such an invitation to work closely to listen and to be a part of solutions? I love any good excuse to come to Louisiana. I'll take you up on it. We got lots more, too. So, thank you. Thank you very much.
▶ 2:00:16Uh that's important because we need to demonstrate not just in word but also in deed that coexistence begins with and is paramount with having safe communities because industry can't survive if it doesn't have people to work in these in these facilities. So I I I thank you for that.
▶ 2:00:34I want to jump to just let's talk a little bit about resilience and disaster prepare preparedness specifically the granter agency council that were designed to increase in my district's resiliency flooding and extreme heat. One such was the community organization stay ready NOLA for creating a solar power resilience facility in New Orleans to house linemen and other first responders in the aftermath of hurricanes.
▶ 2:01:00It would also provide the surrounding communities with a safe place to cool off, uh, charge their phones, and receive supplies. This project is direct response to lessons learned from Hurricane Ida in 2021, where parts of my district lost power for several weeks. The deaths that occurred from Hurricane Ida were not just because of flooding or storm surge, but the elderly and sick residents overheating without power, without air conditioning during these scorching summer days.
▶ 2:01:29uh in following the storm. Stay ready. Nola executive director Neil Morris is here today. Uh I want to take a moment to recognize him and the incredible work that that he does in our community um to build this vital facility. When these grants were pulled, uh you didn't just cancel paperwork.
▶ 2:01:49You undermine life-saving mitigation efforts in vulnerable Um, Dillard University is another one of those perfect examples of a of an HBCU that had funding um to retrofit his facilities to serve as community resilience hubs during emergencies was terminated. Mr.
▶ 2:02:11Administrator, do you commit to restoring these grants after Uh, so well I I that commitment I'm not uh I'm not going to make. However, I'm happy to to work with you to be able to identify any portion uh of the grant where there would be alignment uh with the administration. We can work together, our teams can work together.
▶ 2:02:33Um, as far as the entire grant, one of the uh differences of opinion uh in administration uh priorities and policies uh from the Biden administration to the Trump administration is that we believe that uh money should get spent if there's a dollar to get spent in the name of remediating an environmental issue, the dollar should get spent on directly remediating the environmental issue, not giving money to I I hate to cut you off. We got 36 seconds.
▶ 2:03:03I want to ask you one final question. Your office's termination letter to Stay Ready NOLA in their project to build a hub first responders stated the objectives of the wards are no longer consistent with EPA funding priorities. How is assisting linemen and other providing others providing life-saving services in the aftermath of a natural disaster no longer consistent with your agency's priority?
▶ 2:03:26So the the difference is that the at the Trump EPA uh we do not agree with spending the money by giving it a pass through grant to an entity where even a portion of the the funding is used to prop up an NGO as opposed to spending it on directly remediating an environmental issue. So again, happy to uh to sit down with you. I know that there are a number of grants. Yes, sir. Uh on top of just the two that you referenced inside of your district.
▶ 2:03:55Uh, I'd happy to go through the entire list with you. I would love to to visit with you. Thank you for being here today. And I I'm going to accept your offer to come to Louisiana to visit with these stakeholders to talk about these individual grants, whether it's Dylan University or any other that that's out there that have been so critically important to the people of Louisiana, both Republican, Democrat, and the like. Environmental issues, environmental justice, environmental concerns don't have color, don't have race, don't have party. They only have people.
▶ 2:04:26So, thank you very much. And my time is up and I yield. Mr. Gentleman yields back. Now recognize the gentle lady from Iowa, Miss Miller Meeks, for her five minutes. Thank you, Chairman Guff and Ranking Member Tonko for holding this important hearing today. And I also want to thank Administrator Zelden for appearing before this subcommittee. Wonderful to see you again, sir. The EPA under past uh administrations took a one-sizefits-all approach that buried farmers, energy producers, and small businesses in red tape.
▶ 2:04:53The result was not necessarily better environmental outcomes, but delayed projects, increased costs for consumers, and real harm to rural communities like those in Iowa. This administration has rightly set a new tone focused on cutting unnecessary regulations, streamlining permitting processes, and rolling back outofouch, impractical, unworkable, and expensive climate mandates that ignored energy demand and e local economic realities. As we consider the EPA's budget, I want to see a shift in focus.
▶ 2:05:23Fewer dollars spent on expanding federal control and more on empowering local solutions, science space policy, and regulatory certainty. That's how we deliver real environmental progress without sacrificing economic opportunity. Your powering the great American comeback initiative emphasizes permitting reform is a key pillar.
▶ 2:05:42Given the lengthy environmental reviews that have delayed critical infrastructure projects across the country, what specific steps is the EPA taking to streamline permitting processes while maintaining appropriate environmental There are some in government who are trying to get to the answer of no, looking for any excuse to to say no and to gum up the works. Uh we want to be able to get to yes.
▶ 2:06:09We want to be able to work with uh people and and companies out there want that want to invest in communities that want to invest in the American economy. Uh right now, for example, in Arizona, uh Taiwan semiconductors are trying to get a permit through to make a major investment inside of Maricopa County.
▶ 2:06:32uh when I meet with elected officials in Arizona, it ranging from the Democratic governor or the two Democratic senators or Republican members of the House, it doesn't matter what side of the aisle you're on. Their ask of EPA is that we work with them and TSMC to try to get that approval done as quickly as possible.
▶ 2:06:52And there are so many examples all across the entire map where there were applications that were stalled uh that we've been able to implement permitting reform without waiting for a bill from Congress to just do it ourselves. Gum where we were gumming up the works, we are no longer gumming up the works. Thank you.
▶ 2:07:12Bofuel production helps us meet our growing energy needs, supports our farmers, and it creates most importantly American jobs with Americanmade energy, uh, and supports our America first um, agenda, helping to create manufacturing jobs that can't be offshored. The proposed 2026 renewable volume obligation or RVO rule was due last November and just went to OM last week. Every day of delay creates unnecessary uncertainty for Iowa's farmers, bofuel producers, and workers.
▶ 2:07:42Industry and a leaders have asked for at least 5.25 billion gallons for biomassbased diesel and 15 billion gallons for ethanol. We can produce it. We can make it homegrown and it fits in with energy dominance. When do you expect the EPA to release the proposed RVO rule making? Very soon. Great. Thank you. We look forward to that. Iowa leads in E15 retail availability. Yet we still face unnecessary barriers each summer due to the outdated volatility rules.
▶ 2:08:11Consumers lose access to lowerc cost cleaner burning fuel just when gas prices rise. Can you provide a timeline for EPA's final action to ensure permanent yearround E15 access nationwide voluntary? And will you support this fix? Well, Congress almost uh passed this uh December. That is the most durable uh simplest way to uh answer your question and to to resolve it.
▶ 2:08:40To leave it to uh EPA, you have all sorts of different asks and steps in the process as you go throughout the entire year. Uh we have made a number of decisions since I was confirmed at the end of of January heeding the asks uh from from you and your colleagues in Congress as well as the governors.
▶ 2:09:00Um we are currently in we're in the middle of the summer driving season uh where the emergency waiver uh that was issued before May 1st uh is something that we have to revisit every 3 weeks or so. And I just did that again yesterday. uh and uh that process is not as simple, it's not as quick, and it's going to require more bandwidth for you.
▶ 2:09:25It's going to require more bandwidth for me at the agency uh until uh or and unless there is any type of statutory change. Okay. Uh Mr. Chair, I have some questions that I'm going to submit for the record on the clean uh uh power plan 2.0 and on uh WUS and small uh refinery exemptions that I'll be submitting for the record and I yield back. Thank you. Thank you very much. Gentle lady yields back. Now recognize uh the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Mendez, for 5 minutes. Thank you, Chairman.
▶ 2:09:54As many others have emphasized today, the EPA's main purpose, as established by Congress, is to protect the environment and public health. Today, I want to talk to you about the importance of managing contaminated sites. As you may know, New Jersey's industrial legacy presents environmental challenges in our communities. That is why the Brownfields program is particularly important in my district. Just a few weeks ago, this committee held a bipartisan hearing on its successes, and Mayor Bolage from the city of Elizabeth testified to the program's importance.
▶ 2:10:24Elizabeth leveraged Brownfield's funding to convert formally contaminated sites into affordable housing and other projects that enhance community well-being and economic development. And we heard from Republican witnesses at that hearing that this program has a significant return on investment. For every federal dollar spent, there's an average $20 return in economic activity.
▶ 2:10:47So, we're really proud of the work that Elizabeth has done and all my colleagues here have success stories from their districts as well. So, Mr. Zelden, yes or no, given the success of and biased partisan support for the Brownfields program, can you commit to this committee that it will not be impacted by budget cuts? Well, I ultimately the funding level is going to be uh something that's decided between Congress and the administration.
▶ 2:11:13The Brownfields program, as you point out, is a very uh amazing, great, successful program uh that should be a source of strong bipartisan support and pride and success stories all across America are overwhelming. Correct. And it is a bipartisan success story that as we heard in that hearing um so many good projects across the country. Um so funding's part one, part two again, yes or no.
▶ 2:11:39Can you commit to me that the program staff will be maintained as it is a bipartisan priority for this committee? The you said the program staff. That's correct. Yeah. the the pro uh it is important to make sure that the brownfields program is uh fully staffed to be able to uh extraordinarily accomplish its mission. Okay. And while I hope that's true, I'm concerned about some recent EPA actions.
▶ 2:12:05My office has heard from Groundwork Elizabeth, a nonprofit promoting environmental resilience, education, and youth leadership in Elizabeth, that a $500,000 Brownfields grant was paused without clarity on when it when that it might be reinstated. That was a job training grant to help students access stable, good paying environmental work while also giving back to their community.
▶ 2:12:28And we've heard numerous stories about grant cancellations at other EPA programs, in addition to the ongoing layoffs of staff at EPA who provide technical assistance across EPA programs. So, while we're addressing industrial pollution, I'd like to discuss a super fund program. There are over a hundred of those sites in New Jersey, including six in the district that I represent.
▶ 2:12:48My constituents in the Ironbound section of Newark live near a former factory that manufactured 700,000 gallons of Agent Orange and reportedly dumped bad batches directly into the Payic River. Ensuring that sites like this one are robustly monitored, managed, and remediated is integral to the well-being of families in my district and a priority for me and the people that I represent. That's why I'm profoundly concerned that you're proposing to cut Super Fund's budget by over $250 million.
▶ 2:13:17So my question to you is for a family that lives in the Ironbound section in in close proximity to a super fund site, what would you say to a mother who is concerned for her family's health and well-being um to justify why you are cutting funding that could protect her children from carcinogens and other health risk associated with contaminated sites? Uh well uh with regards to super fund which is another very successful important program.
▶ 2:13:45I've had the opportunity to visit super fund sites uh inside of New Jersey since becoming administrator and I look forward to uh coming back. Our goal is to be able to successfully uh delist all or parts of these sites. Um as as it relates to your question um Congress imposed uh large taxes in the IGA and the IRA to finance the super fund program.
▶ 2:14:08Um, as it says inside of the skinny budget, between these 1.6 billion in taxes estimated to be available in 2026 and litigation recoveries from responsible parties, that is why uh there is a need for an additional funding for the super fund cleanup as reflected in the skinny budget. Correct. And but that that those funds were intended to supplement and accelerate super fund remediation, right? Because what I always talk about is today there are families living near these super fund sites, right? and they don't have the luxury of waiting. And so we need to do this work as quickly as possible.
▶ 2:14:39But between the funding cuts and staffing cuts, we're concerned that the work is not going to get done in a timely manner or as fast as it could if we had a whole of government approach. And that's why I really hope that the EPA will continue to partner with Congress so we can make sure that all of our communities have the healthy outcomes that they deserve. With that, I yield back. Gentleman yields back. I thank him for being efficient with his time. We're running out of it. And I've now recognized the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Palmer for 5 minutes.
▶ 2:15:05I will remind everybody that the uh witness has to leave at approximately 12:30, so we're trying to hurry through. Mr. Palmer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Administrator Zeldon, for being here. Uh I am like some of my colleagues concerned about some of the decisions that the EPA has made. Uh and but I'm looking at it from a a little different perspective.
▶ 2:15:30Uh for instance, there was a a a rule on on lime dust emissions that was u put forward by the EPA last summer even though their own EPA's own scientific assessment said that emissions from lime manufacturing industry were already acceptable with an ample margin of safety.
▶ 2:15:51This rule would have uh would impose$ two billion dollars on on the industry which gets passed on um in multiple ways. Most people think of lime in the context of of the manufacturer of of cement products but it's also used uh to enhance soil quality. There are a number of other uses for it.
▶ 2:16:13Uh, Administrator Zelden, are is the EPA now taking a a look at some of these rules that I I think have gone outside of what's necessary and and imposing unnecessary cost on our economy and on people? Yes, Congressman.
▶ 2:16:31Yeah, we we uh we've research we've received uh various concerns uh regarding niche apps, including regulations not squarely grounded in the statutory authority, compliance costly to industry, deadlines for compliance with some requirements uh may be too short. Some of the rules may disproportionately impact small businesses. Questions exist regarding the science underlying certain standards. Test data used in calculating standards may not fully reflect variability and or real world operations.
▶ 2:17:02Questions exist regarding the appropriateness of setting certain technology based standards rather than health-based standards. And questions exist regarding the appropriateness of setting certain numeric admissions limits rather than work practice standards. I'm I'm glad you mentioned the technology based standards because it's also uh involves the particulate matter standards.
▶ 2:17:25Some of the things that EPA has imposed on people require what I I jokingly refer to as blackbox technology. And people say what's in the box? Nothing. It that technology doesn't exist yet. and um and it imposes uh enormous costs on the economy but also on city governments uh that gets passed on to consumers.
▶ 2:17:49So, I'm hoping that the EPA will will uh take a a more scientific approach uh to some of these rules and but also go back and look at the science behind some of the rules that that have been imposed by the p past administration and and possibly consider repealing those. There's something else that I want to talk with you about that that I think is really critical right now and that is our ability to um have access to rare earth elements.
▶ 2:18:20China controls 94% of the rare earth refining. Uh they have the largest deposit of rare earth elements in the world. The United States I think seventh on that list. And we're we're finding ourselves in a position where um there's there's not a single major refinery for rare earth elements in the Western Hemisphere. There's only nine in the world. Eight are in China, one's in Malaysia.
▶ 2:18:42Uh I I think that we're at a point where we're going to have to to look at permitting, look at the regulations in order for the United States to catch up to to secure the supply chain that we need. And there's multiple opportunities to do this. You can find rare earth elements in collash. Uh you can find them in in things like discarded hard drives.
▶ 2:19:07But but we need to be able to mine, process, and refine our own rare element supply because it is not just important for our economy. It's important for our national security. I like your comments on that. Congressman, this is one of the issues that uh are on the plate, the priority list for the National Energy Dominance Council. EPA has some equity equities. The Department of Interior has equities. The Department of Energy has equities. Department of Commerce.
▶ 2:19:36Uh there is an opportunity here uh for us to be able to um not just benefit economically, but I would also look at it as a matter of national security. uh for us not to have to rely on other nations uh at a moment where it would matter most in the future uh to make sure that we are prepared uh here domestically. So I think it's an important it is a very important priority for the National Energy Dominance Council and for the Trump administration at large.
▶ 2:20:06Well, I'm very grateful to have you in the position that you're in. Administrator Seldon. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Gentleman yields back and now recognize a gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Lansman, for five minutes of questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I want to jump into waste, fraud, and abuse. Uh, very important to you. Yes. Yes. Okay.
▶ 2:20:25The, uh, Government Accountability Office, uh, lays out a whole host of, of changes that would get at waste, fraud, and abuse, uh, and I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record, uh, the GAO reports for the EPA. Uh, do you have a date on it or for all of them? Yeah, I think we're submitting all of the reports. All right.
▶ 2:20:50If you can give me the specific reports because I think there's thousands of GAO reports over the years on the EVA. Just give me the date and we'll we'll get you the dates. We I we went back and forth, but I think it was it was Okay, that's fine. No problem. Get us the date so we can get that into the record properly without objection. To the chair's point, there are so many. So I'm going to mention a few uh strengthen controls over the EPA administrators and associates travel.
▶ 2:21:16Obviously there's there's the possibility in fact they found uh waste, fraud and abuse there. Implement controls to prevent unauthorized access to the EPA facilities. Uh implement comprehensive fraud risk management framework. Have all of the GAO report uh recommendations on waste, fraud, and abuse been implemented? the the ones that that you're referencing.
▶ 2:21:39I've I've had uh meetings on on all we've been addressing all um for example uh when we're doing the coer return to work inside of our headquarters here in DC it was easier to know who was coming into the building because they have to badge in but in regions there are regional offices where they didn't have to badge in or in some cases one person's badging in on an elevator and there's seven other people on the elevator.
▶ 2:22:05Uh so we have been working on addressing that with all the regional offices uh travel contracts, vending uh real estate consolidation but all the GAO report the recommendations you have implemented yes or no I I I as the chair pointed out pointed out that there's uh that there are a lot of reports uh I I would I we've been implementing a ton it just it's so important to me because the GAO reports focus entirely on waste fraud abuse and
▶ 2:22:35it's a huge issue for you. It's a huge issue for me and my frustration has been why the focus hasn't been at least uh significantly on the GAO reports. Um to that end, are you currently under investigation by the GAO? Is the EPA? I'm I'm not aware of an investigation by the GAO. The GAO is currently investigating the EPA. Yeah.
▶ 2:23:03I I I when when you say investigating I What are you referencing? The GAO has opened up an investigation on the EPA that was public. That's my understanding. But you're saying no. Well, no. No. I'm I'm not aware of uh an investigation. Okay. The the the $5 billion that you cut from the EPA, 55%. That is not included in GAO reporting. Going through the legislative process.
▶ 2:23:32Uh, I wouldn't anticipate that that would be something GAO would be looking at, but I can't speak for GAO. Yeah. So, again, the GAO focuses on waste, fraud, and abuse. The $5 billion cut in the EPA does not go under that category. We have in Southwest Ohio the second largest uh research and development facility. The administration has proposed cutting 75% of ORD uh putting at risk about 400 jobs in our district.
▶ 2:24:03Would you be willing to either come to the district or sit down uh with me and and let us make the argument to keep these jobs uh over the course of the next couple of I mean, it's just so it's so many people. Yeah, there there is. So I have been visiting all the regions, all of the labs. I've been to 17 states and we're going to keep going. So if if Are you saying that you have a lab in your district? Yes. H happy to come uh visit that lab.
▶ 2:24:34Yes or no? Did did the OD play an important role in determining that the air was okay to breathe in East Uh the EPA has multiple programmatic offices uh that would be involved. They played a huge role.
▶ 2:24:48Did the OARD play a big role in Deep Water Horizon, Flint, Michigan, water crisis, California water Again, the we have multiple programmatic offices and the the the scientific and research and the statutory obligations are all going to be they played a huge role. Cutting OAD so significantly will be devastating without a yield back. Gentleman yields back.
▶ 2:25:15Now recognize long-suffering gentleman from Texas, Mr. Flutter. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good to see you, administrator. Congratulations. What a breath of fresh air. And to my colleagueu's question, will you come visit? Thank you for saying yes to whether it's the gentleman from Louisiana or any other state. We couldn't get a single visit in West Texas from the previous administrator and we desperately needed it because of the overreach.
▶ 2:25:40And what you saw was the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the overreach of of agencies like the previously run EPA in their Loperbrite decision. Uh that was so important when you're talking about quad B and C and what the other side told me for four straight years is oh we're working with industry. No, there was no collaboration with industry. And uh I want to thank you for saying yes and agreeing to go visit a lab or or whatever it is.
▶ 2:26:11Um and by the way, the the moneyaundering scheme that we saw in the previous administration that that sent $2 billion to that company, who was the CEO of that company? Uh Power Forward Communities. I'll get that for you. Not not meant to be a trick question. I just thought it might have been a gentle lady from uh Georgia. Sure.
▶ 2:26:32Uh the CEO the CEO of Power Committee uh communities was Tim Myopoulos who was also CEO of Fanny May uh during the Obama administration. Okay. Um moving to what I want to talk about quad BNC and and the subpart W reporting uh included in your 31 points. Thank you for that. We have to compete with China. We want the EPA to make sure that our environment is protected. There is no argument whatsoever there.
▶ 2:27:00Can you give us a status on what the quad series for new and existing and also the subp part W will get to because this is not workable for for our producers that are especially small scale. Um both reconsiderations were announced on March 12th. Uh we will be following the administrative procedure act on both uh working to get uh this work finalized this year. Uh it will include a public comment period.
▶ 2:27:26Uh I will not prejudge outcomes of either rule making before uh and uh we will follow our obligations under the law and going through that rule making. Congressman, thank you. And and I'll uh advocate for reality. We we were um very pleased that uh Mr. Mason, the region six director came and visited the Peran Basin and just before your visit, I'd like to invite you again.
▶ 2:27:51But one of the things we talked about was um especially with regards to methane, the monitoring that is being done uh and to incentivize that good behavior, we have reduced the intensity of methane in the Peran basin by almost 30%. And that's happened in the last 10 to 15 years while also increasing the amount of barrels produced from 1 million barrels a day back in 2010 to 6 million barrels a day. And that that the complexity that goes on to reduce that intensity. Um we want to work with you. I encourage that work.
▶ 2:28:21Um, do you have any um any ideas on where uh the previous uh administrator was looking at the Perium Basin in general to place into a state of non-attainment uh with regards to the ozone reporting? Um any any updates on that for us? This was something that interjected a lot of chaos into that that region. It's a very important uh pillar. It's a very important pillar of the power in the great American comeback initiative to advance cooperative federalism.
▶ 2:28:51Part of that with the reorg is creating an office for state air partnerships inside of the office of air and radiation. Uh we have approved 25 state implementation um including 16 that were backlogged from the last administration. We um are working through these non-attainment requests and issues including inside the the Peran basin.
▶ 2:29:16Uh we we want to be a partner at EPA for for Texas and uh and the local community. Well, thank you. Um it was very apparent to my constituents um that the EPA had become weaponized. Um and working in partnership is exactly the key word. We appreciate that. Um, and again, I'll say it very clearly, not a single person in my district wants um, in fact, we are true conservationists. We've lived there for a long time. Uh, water is is something that's very important to us.
▶ 2:29:45I'll yield the last 30 seconds uh, to you for any uh, rebuttals or follow-ups that you needed to make from previous questioning. Well, a couple days after our regional administrator, Scott Mason, was with you uh in in your district, uh I was there uh and we I thought it was a very productive, helpful v visit meeting with the community.
▶ 2:30:04Uh I think it's important for whoever is an EPA administrator to come uh for them to include that as part of, you know, being familiar with how EPA regulations out of Washington DC uh end up impacting realities on the ground. So, it was an important early stop to make. I was happy to do it and I'm grateful for your invite and and Senator Cruz's invite for that trip. Well, thank you. We want to work in partnership. We have to compete with China. We have to compete around the world.
▶ 2:30:33Uh which means that we can't have a weapon weaponized agency. Thank you for your leadership and I yield back. Gentleman yields back now. Recognizing gentle lady of North Dakota, Miss Fedorch, for her five minutes of Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um and Mr. Zeldon, it's great to meet you and to have you here. I represent the entire state of North Dakota.
▶ 2:30:55Uh, and North Dakota feeds and fuels the world and uh, we so your agency has an a huge impact on the people of my state. So, first I want to say thank you for what you're doing already. One of the first actions I took in this role was to write the president and secretary Bergam uh to ask them to repeal 20 burdensome rules and regulations from the previous administration and uh and you're well on your way to doing that.
▶ 2:31:24You have outlined a number of grave abuses from the last administration and I would say one of the gravest abuses was the impact the past administration had on our power sector. I come from the regulatory side of things. I was the most recently the president of the National Utility Regulators Association. And in that role, I worked hard to get the last administration to be reasonable on their 111D rules. They completely ignored everything we said.
▶ 2:31:53They ignored the power um the grid operators and that rule was completely disconnected from reality. And even though it's being pulled back, it had grave consequences on our power grid. And today, we are short or dangerously short of having enough power to meet demand because of that agency's overreach in the last administration. So, thank you for your commitment to correcting that and getting us back on track.
▶ 2:32:20Congresswoman, uh first off, I want to congratulate you and uh the people of North Dakota for what was a massive upgrade in their representation here in the House. Congratulations uh on on your election. We inherited a lot. Uh I often get asked what the biggest surprise or what was most shocking uh once I was confirmed as administrator and I would say it's it was surprising how much we were able to do at once.
▶ 2:32:46uh and we've heard your calls uh for action at the agency uh and we want to tackle it all at the same time. We don't even want to pace ourselves. Good. Couple of things. There's about three things I wanted to mention that are really important to my state that you're already working on. Uh you announced last week that you proposed to approve my state's proposal to manage the coal combustion residuals permit program in lie of federal CCR. That's a huge uh uh decision.
▶ 2:33:16Thank you for that. When any sense of when uh that what the timeline will be to finalize that as as quickly as possible uh following the law. Uh as last week's letter indicated, the application uh that was submitted is is complete and we're moving through that process uh over the course of these next couple months. Excellent. Thank you for that. Um, the farmers across my state are really significantly impacted by waters of the US.
▶ 2:33:45In North Dakota, we have somethingwhat unique. It's called the prairie pothole region. And that area creates a lot of uncertainty for our farmers and producers. Um, particularly as it relates to the kind of whiplash of changing regulations. So, will you commit to working with North Dakota farmers and ranchers uh to make sure that your WUS rule rewrite accurately reflects the unique wetlands in my state? A absolutely, Congresswoman.
▶ 2:34:13It's imperative that we get it right and we don't believe it's going to be hard to get it right. We're going to follow the the simple, prescriptive, straightforward decision and sack it. Uh we want a definition that all 50 states are are able to get behind. Right now, that's not the case. And we want to make sure that everyone in your state knows whether or not what is on their land is a water of the United States subject to federal regulation or not.
▶ 2:34:40We want them to be able to know that without having to hire an attorney or a consultant, without having to pay somebody in order to tell that to them. Excellent. And let's hope it's not a trickle of water that is only there at certain parts of the year. Um, I hope uh I've heard from our electric utilities throughout the state about the negative impacts of the Biden Matts rule.
▶ 2:35:02This regulation targets critical coal units across the country, again threatening grid reliability, one of our most important issues that we must address. I was pleased to learn that EPA is considering a two-year compliance exemption while you write the MATS rule. This goes at something I'm working on legislatively that we can't be forcing generation offline at a time when demand is increasing.
▶ 2:35:28Um, as you work on that rule, will you work with me in this committee to get it right? Absolutely, Congresswoman. And it's important to note that there was a there were mercury near toxic standards before this most recent rule was put into place. Uh so some people try talking about it as if this recent Matt's rule if it went away that there's just no mercury and air toxic standards and that's just that's not accurate.
▶ 2:35:59As we go through the reconsideration, we want to get it right. We want to uh we will have a public comment period. We want to work with members of Congress. We want to reach the right decision. Excellent. Yeah, the rule had already been complied with and at great expense. So, thank you very much. Appreciate it. Hope you'll come visit North Dakota this summer. Gentle lady yields back. Now, we're at waveons. We may have a member of the of the committee come back.
▶ 2:36:26Uh, administrator Zelden has indicated he will give us some additional time, but what we're going to do by agreement is we're going to have three minutes per person. wave on both sides and we'll try to get through everybody with a three-minute rule for those who've waved on. We appreciate it. Miss Caster, Florida is now recognized for three minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, welcome uh, Mr. Administrator to our committee. Thank you for being here.
▶ 2:36:49um you know, working families and small business owners across the country are are really facing an affordability squeeze and I'm very concerned with actions out of EPA and others across the administration on um it's just you've added on to their their pain and they are really feeling it in their wallets. Utility companies in at least 19 states have hiked rates as much as $40 per month just over the past few months.
▶ 2:37:17Um, you know, one important way that, uh, families save money is energy efficient appliances. Uh, in my neck of the woods, families are rebuilding after Hurricanes Helina Milton. They are replacing a lot of their appliances. And it was just so painful to hear you announce that the Energy Star uh this popular program that certified energy efficiency of home appliances for more than three decades was coming to an end.
▶ 2:37:47Uh that distinct blue label that's recognized by Americans uh has just been a godsend to them. And the data shows that this voluntary program has saved $500 billion dollar in utility bills for Americans and prevented a whole lot of pollution. So this Energy Star was codified by Congress in 2005. It is the law.
▶ 2:38:13So how do you justify an announcement that how do you how do you how do you justify that you have the authority to end this and these important consumer savings? Well, for one, u we don't believe that this that that Energy Star would cease to exist if the government wasn't propping it up. Uh there are plenty of programs outside of government. As I referenced to one of your colleagues earlier, the leads program is another example.
▶ 2:38:40Over the course of the last couple weeks, uh we have had um all different kinds of outreach to EPA of different uh entities, nonprofits that want to run. Why take an anti-consumer bent that is in violation of the law at a time when people really need those uh dollars back in into their wallets? How can you Let me ask it this way.
▶ 2:39:04Who has pressed uh from outside the agency to end these consumer savings under Energy Star? Which organizations and interest groups and polluters have pushed for this? the uh as as you all know, Energy Star requires a lot of uh taxpayer uh funded salaried positions as well as a lot of tax dollars. Uh and the government What's the budget for Energy Star? Do you know?
▶ 2:39:33I believe about 19 million or so on top of that. But if you measure that against the $500 billion saved for American families, isn't that an important investment? especially when it is consistent with the law passed by Congress. Yeah, I would I I would happily and eagerly uh find out from inside of the agency how they had previously calculated that figure because I anticipate that they're taking credit for a heck of a lot more than they should.
▶ 2:40:04Back my time. Gentle lady yields back now. Recognize Mr. Evans of Colorado who is a member of the subcommittee. So I recognize him for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Administrator Zelden, for coming today. Um, my first question to you, you know, I come from Colorado, uh, actually, um, northeast part of the state, Denver Julesburg basin area, Weld County, and one of the issues that we're running into up there is we're in the front range ozone non-attainment area, uh, for Colorado along the front range.
▶ 2:40:31But when you look at the constellation of monitors in some of the major oil and gas producing areas, uh that county is actually in ozone attainment. But geographically, we're getting looped into the um non-attainment area, which has a really really negative impact on the uh over 80% of oil from Colorado that comes from my area and the 50% of natural gas that comes from my area.
▶ 2:40:53So curious on hearing your thoughts about how we can work together uh to make sure that we're promoting energy dominance and working in places like Colorado where uh a lot of our producers are facing some of those challenges from being geographically looped into the non-attainment area even though they themselves are in attainment. I think that the Colorado example highlights how there shouldn't be a one-sizefits-all federal answer.
▶ 2:41:19That uh we should be working closely uh with Colorado on their state implementation plan. That the state implementation plan shouldn't uh have uh any unnecessary uh pieces, asks demands from the federal government. It should be simple and straightforward to allow Colorado to be able to come into compliance and have that partnership uh with uh the EPA and the Trump administration. That's something I've communicated to uh to your governor.
▶ 2:41:45I also don't believe that Colorado should be a victim of its own success and that uh so many businesses and people want to move to Colorado. uh anyone who flies into uh Denver airport, it might look different than when you were there two weeks earlier because there's that much activity of people and businesses moving to the area and you all shouldn't be punished for that. Thank you. Kind of along those same lines, not being punished for some of those things.
▶ 2:42:11One of the other areas where it really feels like we're being punished is interstate transportation of a lot of these different uh pollutants. Uh for instance, you know, we have satellites, we can track this stuff. There is pollution in Colorado that originates from um China and if we took out just the contribution of Chinese uh pollutants along the Colorado front range, the entire front range would be an ozone attainment.
▶ 2:42:34And so, uh, talking about programs like the 179B waiver, uh, for international transport or exceptional events for things like wildfires, what are ways that we can work together to your point about making sure that places like Colorado aren't punished for events that are outside of their control and that are pushing us over that attainment limit? I agree with you, Congressman. We have taken down the 179B guidance. It's shouldn't be on our website anymore. This is an ask that has also come in from Arizona. It's come in from Utah.
▶ 2:43:04uh these international impacts are resulting in a situation where some are saying hey listen if we didn't have if we went zero emission if we took every car off the road that we still would not be able to come into attainment and obviously we're not doing something right in a pro as a process uh if a state can take every car off the road and and go zero emission and still not be in attainment and they there are serious consequences uh for EPA
▶ 2:43:34determining that that they are in that serious non-attainment. Uh so that is uh very important as far as exceptional events. That was part of our March 12th announcement uh to be reconsidering that rule. We need to understand that western states uh in in doing forest management need flexibility to be able to keep their people safe and shouldn't have fear that by doing responsible practices of forest management that they're going to be penalized for it. Thank you.
▶ 2:44:03And then one final question for you along those same lines, not being penalized for things outside of your control. State data from Colorado says 50% of the the ozone along our front range does not originate from things that are under Colorado's control. But one of the impacts that being in a nonattainment zone has on consumers in Colorado is we are mandated in the summer months to be uh to buy reformulated gas.
▶ 2:44:26I just sat down uh with all of my gas station um suppliers who said that that is a $300 million impact on consumers being forced to purchase a product that's 40 cents more per gallon that has a 0.1 part per billion impact on front range ozone. In the last 30 seconds, can you just talk about how we can work together to protect consumers from things like the reformulated gas mandate? Congressman, thank you for for raising it. uh you're not the the first uh but uh the first one since uh I've started these hearings.
▶ 2:44:56This is I had two last week. This is my third and I'll have another one tomorrow. Uh happy to make sure that that I'm connected with you. Our teams are connected uh to be able to work through your your asks, your concerns, your questions, uh to to be responsive. Thank you. Yield back. Gentlemen yields back. Now recognize the gentle lady of Michigan, Miss Dingle, for three minutes. Thank you. It's great to see you, my fellow classmate.
▶ 2:45:23I'm going to be um uh short, but I have a lot of questions on brownfield sites. T Southeast Michigan, like many places in the country, has communities that have been left behind for too long. They've got burned the brunt of toxic waste, industrial pollution, and contaminated sites.
▶ 2:45:41We've got a lot of legacy issues as you know not just in mine but other manufacturing states from fighting to get PAS and lead out of our water to implementing funding and strength the brownfield programs to working across all levels of government. So I'm going to hit three issues quickly and thank you for being here. I have to say that the announcement by EPA to roll back this roll back the PAS drinking water standard really worried me.
▶ 2:46:07uh rescending this standard means more Americans will be poisoned and have uh harmful PAS contamination that's been spreading. So too many people have already suffered the adverse impacts of PAS exposure. You know, it's a a forever chemical. It's in 98% of the people's blood and we got to do something. We got to do everything possible to combat this dangerous things. this dangerous.
▶ 2:46:32For too long, Michigan quite frankly had a drinking water standard that was more stringent under a Republican governor than the guideline. How do we make sure people have clean and safe drinking water? Congresswoman, uh we, as you you noted, we had an announcement last week. The four parts per trillion MCL on PFOA and PFOS are staying. there was a procedural error uh in the way that it uh the MCL was set on the other four. Uh we're going to fix that.
▶ 2:47:03Uh it's been inaccurately reported that this is a weakening of the the MCL for those four as I've noted since that reporting started. As a result of this process, the MCL might be lower than four. We'll see. That's good.
▶ 2:47:18I mean, just so we can continue to work on safe drinking water, let me uh yesterday it was announced that you taken Flint off um the uh lifted the emergency order uh which is good news for the people of Flint and they reacted positively to it. But we still have to make sure that people have access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water because it's not a luxury.
▶ 2:47:43Can will you work with us to defend last year's rule requiring all water systems remove lead from pipes within the next decade so we don't poison any more children? Uh, Congresswoman, I I would like to have a meeting with my uh staff, including the the talented, dedicated career staff inside the office of water on that topic and then huddle back up with you as we've spoken on the phone since I was confirmed.
▶ 2:48:11happy to stay in touch and and do it again on on with regards to this question. And I would just like to say as far as Flint, Michigan goes, it's a cause for celebration as they pointed out to me uh when I visited Flint after confirmation. They've worked very hard for it, but it's important for them to know that the state and the federal government isn't abandoning Flint by lifting an emergency order. And I still need to talk to you about the plume, but I'll put it on record because we have too many pollution problems in Michigan. So, thank you. yield back.
▶ 2:48:40Gentle lady yields back now. Recognize gentle lady of Texas, Miss Fletcher, for her three minutes. Thank you so much, Chairman Griffith, Ranking Member Tonko, and Administrator Zelden. Um, and uh, thank you for extending the time to um, hear from all of us who are waving on. With the limited time, I do uh, want to raise an issue for you, administrator.
▶ 2:49:00Um I represent the energy capital of the world in Houston and our region is home to uh the largest petrochemical complex in the United States, the second largest in the world and we have the benefit of having the EPA's region 6 lab located in Houston. This has been a particularly important issue for us in the Houston region. As I'm sure you know, uh we are right there on the Gulf and subject to um extreme weather events uh with with too much frequency.
▶ 2:49:29And so the region 6 lab plays a critical role in helping us um during these disasters. We had a hurricane last summer. We've had just record um hurricanes and flooding over the last decade. Um in 2019, EPA announced that it was going to close the region 6 lab in Houston and move the lab uh and all the employees to Ada Oklahoma. I believe you're familiar with that facility and testified about it last week in appropriations.
▶ 2:49:54But I've been fighting this move uh ever since I got here, ever since the announcement because it's bad for our region to have to send those samples of air and water in these um potentially in disasters, but all the time uh as we experience these things in our region. Uh it's also bad for EPA. I think the studies show that you'll lose a lot of really talented, experienced professionals who don't want to move from Houston to Ada, Oklahoma. Um, and uh, so I think those are huge challenges both for our region and for the agency.
▶ 2:50:25Um, I've gotten several um, responses over the years that people agree that we need to keep a region 6 lab in Houston and EPA leaders have confirmed multiple times that there will be a region 6 lab presence in Houston. So, can you confirm for me today that we can work together to make sure that EPA will keep a region 6 lab in the Houston region?
▶ 2:50:49I can tell you that at no point since I was confirmed have I had any conversation with anyone uh about uh closing uh the region six lab in Houston. It hasn't been broached to me. I'm not aware of conversations going on at the agency on the topic. happy to uh be in touch with you, work with you, uh and I'll look into it and let you know if anyone else has had any conversations that haven't been brought up to me.
▶ 2:51:15Well, and I can tell you it's being done pursuant to the 2015 law, um the federal asset sales transfer from, I guess, 2017. Um and so that's the idea of moving folks to ADA. It's critically important that we keep this lab in Houston, um both for the agency and for our region. So, I appreciate your um your willingness to engage on this.
▶ 2:51:39Many people have agreed at the agency that it is a problem that we need to keep um this lab in Houston and of course we want to make sure that we keep a qualified and talented workforce there too. So, I appreciate the opportunity to raise this and to work with you on this to ensure that we keep this lab in Houston. I'll look into it as soon as the hearing is over and uh and we'll get back in touch. Thank you. Gentle lady yields back. I now recognize the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Balderson, for three minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Administrator.
▶ 2:52:09Thank you for being here. And I know that you have a hard stop. And guess what? I forgot my cheater. So, I'm just going to ask you one question uh and hopefully get through this uh with being able to see. U first I want to thank you and the Trump administration for bringing back some much neededed common sense back to EPA. Mr. result. I'd like to discuss an issue specific to my home state of Ohio.
▶ 2:52:32Ohio's nuisance rule was originally instituted as part of the state's plan to enforce compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards after the passage of the Clean Air Act. In 2020, the EPA correctly removed this rule from the Ohio Ohio State implementation plan following considerable procedure and the removal of similar provisions in other states. However, in the final days of this of his term, President Biden moved to reinstate this rule.
▶ 2:53:02As a rule does nothing to enhance air quality protection and subjects Ohio businesses and manufacturers to weaponize litigation and lawsuits, I introduced a resolution under congressional review act to rescend this rule. Uh, Senator Hustead is also carrying it in the Senate. How will your administration work to roll back unnecessary federal interference and state air pollution policies?
▶ 2:53:26Congressman, I I have had many meetings uh internally with our team at the Office of Air and Radiation with regards to this request from the state of Ohio. I have been in touch with Ohio officials. I appreciate your advocacy on behalf of your state. uh those conversations and meetings between EPA and Ohio uh EPA will will continue and with uh with the state uh to go through this process with the state implementation plan.
▶ 2:53:56Uh the as you pointed out Senator Houston has also been advocating on this. He has spoken to me uh and our new regional five regional administrator comes to that position coming from being the head of the Ohio EPA. Uh so at the regional office they're they are very intimately familiar with this request. So region five the regional administrator uh is also a key asset in working through this ask from Ohio. All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate Mr. Administrator. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Now recognizes gentleman from California Mr.
▶ 2:54:26Mullen for three minutes. Thank you Mr. Chair and thank you Mr. Administrator for being here. East Palo Alto is a vibrant community in my district on the San Francisco Bay. Uh the people there have an incredible spirit and history of advocating for their community. It also happens to be down the street from the MetaT headquarters and Stanford University. Despite being so close to such wealth, East PaloAlto residents have struggled with a history of heavy industries being cited next to residential areas.
▶ 2:54:56There are over 62 toxic waste sites within the city's 2 and a half square miles. Not surprisingly, East Palo Alto faces challenges with air pollution. The biggest highway in the district, Highway 101, uh, runs right through the middle of that community. The impacts of this pollution are undeniable. The community experiences significantly higher rates of asthma and respiratory disease. They have an average lifespan that's 13 years lower than the rest of Sanonteo County.
▶ 2:55:25That's why it was such a big deal for this community when your agency last year awarded funding to a community organization to address air pollution. One local leader noted that he had quote residents calling me in tears saying how incredible it was to see their struggle finally recognized end quote. Pam Jones, a resident of East Palo Alto for over 45 years, remarked that the community had been quote hopeful for a moment end quote. As you know, it takes tremendous effort and organizing just to pull together a grant application.
▶ 2:55:56This money would have provided air purifiers to over 400 families for kids with asthma and seniors. Uh as well, this wasn't about ideology or some slogan. This was about helping children and seniors breathe easier. So, Administrator Zelden, you canled this grant, and I'm just wondering uh why you made that decision. Congressman, I I don't have the details of of that grant.
▶ 2:56:21I I had for all the subcommittee members of all the of all your colleagues um on this committee, all the grants in their district. Um I I would say that 10 times out of 10 or 100 times out of 100 when I look at the details of every single one of the grants that are canceled, uh there is something in it that uh conflicts with this administration's priorities.
▶ 2:56:42However, uh if you would like to uh work together on uh any aspects of the grant uh where it it is in alignment with the administration's priorities to uh to successfully resolve it for the community. Happy to work with you on that. Thank you, sir. And do you believe the EPA or the president can decide not to spend money that Congress has appropriated? Uh we have an obligation to uh spend money appropriated by Congress.
▶ 2:57:11Uh we're in the middle of a fiscal year. Uh we are not required to agree with the administration's priorities of the last uh presidential administration. Uh but we will continue to get funding out the door before the end of this fiscal year uh with those topline appropriations from Congress. Thank you. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Now you can bear with us. Mr. Administrator recognize Mr. from California for three minutes.
▶ 2:57:40Uh thank you very much uh Mr. Secretary. Thank you for your service and thank you for the work that you're doing to transform the EPA into an agency that instead of being an impediment is uh helping people comply with regulations and getting to a yes. I know that means a lot to me and to the different air quality management districts that I represent. Uh wanted to ask you specifically about a concern I have about the some of the reductions in force that have been occurring at the EPA. And I understand this is out of desire to rightsize the agency.
▶ 2:58:10That's something I certainly am very supportive of. However, uh many of my agencies rely on the EPA to do things like issue permits or issue approvals or review plans. And there has been concern expressed that the reductions in force, even though we're transforming the EPA into a a a more streamlined organization, will result in delays in those approvals and permits getting issued. Can you give us some assurances that that is not the intention?
▶ 2:58:38Congressman, yes, we are going to fulfill all of our statutory obligations and the way that the reorganization was proposed a couple weeks ago allows us to better focus on those statutory obligations and reduce the backlogs. So, for example, as I referenced uh earlier with a couple of your colleagues, we inherited a massive uh backlog with the pesticide review, a massive backlog with chemical review, with state implementation plans, with small refinery exemptions, and much more.
▶ 2:59:09We are putting resources into getting through those backlogs we inherited as quickly as possible. and and with the pesticide review backlog as one of the examples, we uh have already worked through over 2,300 of those backlog cases, we will continue uh at that pace and we are we are taking measures to increase the pace of working through the backlog we inherited. Thank you. And certainly we all support your efforts to do that.
▶ 2:59:36Um and uh let's work together to make sure that uh we're turning the EPA into the type of agency that's not an impediment to getting some of these projects accomplished that uh that we all prioritize. Uh one of those projects that's very near and dear to me is uh a project called the Barstow International Gateway uh that is going to shift uh some of our uh freight from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach onto rail instead of being on the highways.
▶ 3:00:03uh what can we do to uh at the EPA to assist in advancing freight infrastructure that makes some of those projects become a reality? Well, there's uh there's certain a aspects of uh permitting where an environmental assessment might be done or technical assistance may be We're we're here looking to help all members of this committee to help your
▶ 3:00:33constituents. If there's a specific request uh that you have on on how EPA can help you, uh please let us know so that we can work through it. Okay. Well, thanks. You've got a great regional administrator and uh Joshua Cook. He's he's an amazing man and uh we thank you for your service and his and let's work together on getting some of these projects across the finish line. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Now recognizes gentle lady from Virginia, Miss McClen. Thank you, Mr.
▶ 3:01:01Chairman, and thank you, Administrator Zelden, for staying three more minutes. Um, as you know, this hearing follows a 26 and a half hour markup of a bill that is still moving its way through Congress um that that sends a clear message to the states to do more with less. And if members of the Freedom Caucus get their way, states will have to do even more with even less uh depending on what the final cuts to Medicaid look like.
▶ 3:01:28But even though sometimes government governs in silos, people don't live in silos. And state governments are dealing with all of the impacts of the Trump administration. So you take a state like Virginia that has the second highest number of federal employees um has already been hit hard by mass layoffs as our labor market is cooling. Our unemployment rate is expected to reach its highest rate since 2021 bucking a national trend and our GDP growth is uh looking to slow down.
▶ 3:01:58And that's at the same time that the Commonwealth, like other states, is going to have to look to um fill severe budget gaps due to Medicaid cuts, uh funding cuts, um and and the shifting of more responsibility to the states. And so, um the proposed budget cuts more than $1 billion from categor categorical grants to the states.
▶ 3:02:27Uh, and these grants give states a baseline capacity that they need to carry out federallymandated environmental protections. So, slashing them handcuffs the state's ability uh to continue to address uh pollution.
▶ 3:02:40Um, and earlier this month, the Environmental Council of States sent the EPA a letter highlighting how states carry out more than 90% of the nation's federal environmental programs and states, state legislatores, and the business community depend on Congress to fund their efforts through grants and partnerships with the EPA.
▶ 3:03:00Um, this letter warned that if Congress were to adopt the White House recommendation for discretionary spending, states may be required to terminate primary delegation or authorization agreements and return full program implementation to the EPA, which would overwhelm the APA and have detrimental impacts to the economic development. So, Mr. Chair, I'd like to ask unanimous consent to enter this letter into the record. Uh, without objection.
▶ 3:03:27Um, and and I'll get this question out and I know you're going to have to answer it uh later, but I really want to know how states are supposed to implement critical environmental programs under the drastic cuts proposed in the budget and if the states can't and are forced to return those responsibilities to the EPA, how do you plan to carry them out with the severe staffing and funding cuts at the federal Well, Congresswoman, I know we only have eight seconds here, so we we are happy to uh to follow up, but uh we
▶ 3:03:57we at the EPA are going to fulfill all of our statutory obligations. Uh we are receiving uh many requests for additional privacy coming from states. I just uh signed off on moving forward with class 1 through six. Uh the primacy requests coming from Arizona. We're we're dealing with one right now. The request came in from Texas and elsewhere. and and we've signed off on 25 state implementation plans, 16 of which were backlogged from the last administration.
▶ 3:04:25We want to advance um cooperative partnership uh with states. Uh we want to hear their concerns and try to uh figure out how to help them deliver clean air, land, and water for their constituents uh which is an obligation with uh for all levels of government. Um, I appreciate your uh your your concern and your interest on this particular issue and welcome an opportunity to work with you on it. Thank you. I yield back. Gentle lady yields back.
▶ 3:04:52Seeing no more no additional members, I ask unanimous consent to the record any documents not previously admitted into the record included on the staff hearing documents list without objection. So ordered. I remind members they have 10 business days to submit questions for the record and I ask the witness to respond to the questions promptly. Without objection. Subcommittee is adjourned. Thank you very much, Lee, for being patient with me. Thank you both. Have a good day. Thank you, chair.