▶ 0:23:42>> I want to say good afternoon to the administrator, I would come down to shake your hand, but we are running behind. In consideration, I will wave to you and thank you for being here. Appreciate your willingness to appear before the committee. Over the last year, we have sent a clear change -- we have seen a clear change in the direction of epa. One grounded in epa's authorizing statutes and recognizes the importance of reliable, affordable energy.
▶ 0:24:12That change matters, no matter where you live, in what state, no different from my state of west virginia. During your visit to west virginia, you were -- you learn firsthand the economic benefits from the regulatory relief efforts in congress with the trump administration. Administrator eldon, thank you for taking the time to talk to my constituents and understand how the policies and actions that occur here in washington directly impact the livelihoods of those in the mountain state.
▶ 0:24:41For too long, epa policies impose unnecessary and costly burdens on american workers, farmers, manufacturers, producers, and communities. We sell rules that drew power plants and coal mines toward closure, and ignored the plain realities of our electric grid. Epa buried the economy in red tape and killed economic growth. That is changing.
▶ 0:25:06The epa is working hard to undo point by point the biden administration's war on coal and other matters. The epa proposal to repeal the biden administration clean power plan to point or rule, an unworkable and unlawful rule that would have forced the shutdown of coal plants and prohibited new gas plants. It would have been -- devastated our electrical reliability, causing major electricity generation shortages.
▶ 0:25:35I encourage the epa to finalize that rule repeal. The agency extended to compliance deadlines for the limitations guidelines and repealed the biden era mets rule. These were unnecessary biden rules with unrealistic timelines that would have forced power plants to shut down rather than continue to operate efficiently and in compliance with our environmental laws. This year, the epa rescinded the 2000 nine endangerment finding.
▶ 0:26:01The finding was wrongfully used to justify sweeping rules that congress never authorized and impose hundreds of billions of dollars across our economy. Resending it is a momentous milestone and returning the epa to adhering to its statutory rule.
▶ 0:26:19The costly regulatory regime of the endangerment findings supported was inconsistent the requirement of clear, congressional authority that the supreme court found was necessary for such actions in the decision in west virginia versus the epa. The ep's work is not limited, just to the power sector. After administrators eldon set the biden era waiver to congress, we repealed. The democrats attempt to enact a nationwide electric vehicle mandate without a vote in congress.
▶ 0:26:49Congress preserved consumer choice and protected our constituents from government mandated higher vehicle costs. The administrator is bringing accountability for taxpayer dollars are being spent. In place the reduction I created a bunch of wasteful programs and epa that funded climate spending with little actual environmental benefit. Such as the projects and funded activists to sue the government to stop permits and projects.
▶ 0:27:21Two programs were a concern. $30 billion to the green bank, and environmental justice block program, billions of dollars went out the door with limited transparency and questionable oversight. The epa's action to cancel roughly $17 billion of those grants was an important first step for congress to build upon, which we did in the working family tax cut bill.
▶ 0:27:46The title of that bill took the final step to resend the canceled grant funds as well as millions of dollars for other ira programs, clawing them back on behalf of american taxpayers. The epa under the administrators leadership has results to benefit west virginia's on the american people, but there is much work to be done.
▶ 0:28:14We need to make sure the epa foundational programs like the drinking water and clean water state revolving funds are adequately funded. These programs are how communities, especially small and rural, replace aging pipes, and ensure safe, reliable service. We need to ensure the programs and processes are well established to strengthen economic competitiveness by approving new, innovative chemicals and cleaning up environmental brownfield sites.
▶ 0:28:44Administrators eldon, I appreciate the steps your agency has taken so far. I look forward to hearing how you plan to build on the progress, how you are prioritizing epa's core responsibilities and how we can continue working together to support american energy and american jobs. I now recognize ranking member white house for his statement. >> the point of science isn't to have an opinion, it is to make a prediction.
▶ 0:29:12Science is a society pothead lights, predicting what is ahead. What science has unequivocally shown for decades, epa's recent efforts to dismantle and distort science notwithstanding, is that fossil fuel emissions are disrupting earth's basic operating systems in increasingly dangerous ways.
▶ 0:29:34As ocean and weather systems go haywire, all the fossil fuel funded science will count for naught. Indeed, it will inevitably be exposed as a fraud. Climate change is moving from the science department to the economics department.
▶ 0:29:56So the first hits coming are economic hits from industries that must truthfully predict how climate change will affect their businesses. One industry that have to predict well is the insurance industry for fiduciary and business reasons. Climate risk is blasting insurance markets. And melting down homeowners insurance.
▶ 0:30:28Florida is first and worse. 64% of voters in florida understand their home insurance crisis relates to climate change. Even 44% of the trump voters in florida understand that. Home insurance costs are exploding, insurers are leaving customers. In some cases, they are leaving whole states and regions.
▶ 0:30:57Predictions are the cascade goes from climate risk to insurance collapse. To mortgage collapse, to property values collapsing, to full on recession. Already, florida leads the nation in property value decline.
▶ 0:31:19Every increased premium, every notice on renewal, every customer dumped into estate plan ties back to the fossil fuel industry's operations of climate denial fraud and dark money collection. Operating through dozens of front groups which have blockaded efforts to reduce the underlying climate risk driving the whole cascade.
▶ 0:31:45Even though they knew, they deployed fraud and corruption blockade. Another cost going up for consumers is electricity bills. Driven in part by the fossil fuel industry's plot to subvert the powers of government to keep inexpensive clean energy off the grid.
▶ 0:32:07Ask any grant operator, inexpensive clean energy runs first on the grid because it is inexpensive. As demand crimes, grid then goes to more and more expensive fossil fuel plants. Which raise and raise the grid price and consumer costs go up and up.
▶ 0:32:34The point of the industry plan is to raise consumer costs by reducing clean energy, sending those extra billions consumers must spend towards fossil fuel plants and fossil fuel producers. It is a money pump deliberately expect -- extracting money from consumers and sending it to trump's big, corrupt fossil fuel donors.
▶ 0:33:01The trump administration persistently lies about the avid -- added costs. That is part of what the fossil fuel industry paid for. The administrator has said the wind and solar industries would not exist without government subsidies. But that is simply not true.
▶ 0:33:20Coal and gas are more expensive per megawatt hour than wind and solar, even with their 700 plus billion dollars of free to pollute subsidy that fossil fuel gas from the U.S. government. $700 billion of subsidy every year. Grid operators don't lie, they run grades based on costs. You can see who is less expensive. Or you can take a look at the contracts.
▶ 0:33:49Offshore wind will cost nine cents per kilowatt hour in our $.18 per kilowatt average grade. Do the math. Nine is less than 18. Four-year-olds know that. And yet the administration lies. Administrators eldon has played a huge part in delivering the state actor sums fossil fuel donors.
▶ 0:34:15Payback in the form of policies driving dirty air and water, worsening climate change, and extreme weather, and driving higher costs for consumers in the form of ever higher property insurance premiums and electricity bills.
▶ 0:34:30From attempting to kill clean energy programs and handing out pollute for free passes to fossil fuel power plants, to saddling americans with increasingly unaffordable gas guzzlers, zeldin has executed the fossil fuel industry's agenda. A massive reckoning is coming.
▶ 0:34:51Those who sold out for position and power, and presumably to be taken care of afterwards by the big polluters, those who lied to the public, those who support the industry interests rather than the public. Those who drove consumer costs up on purpose to reward a big political trump donors. All that will be exposed.
▶ 0:35:19It is inevitable, it is nature's way. Indeed it has already begun. All of the climate denial, fraud that you helped propagate, all of the corrupt dark money that goes through this building, none of that will stand against nature's reckoning. A reckoning that is inevitable. As inevitable as the sunrise.
▶ 0:35:48We ignore at our own peril the fact that these natural systems, nature's own economy, provide the foundation for our prosperity in our national security. Thank you, chairman. This afternoon, we are joined by lee zeldin, administrator of the U.S. environmental protection agency.
▶ 0:36:11I look forward to hearing about the agency's proposed multibillion-dollar budget for the fiscal year 20 27 and how he plans to build upon the programs and policies to ensure the core mission of the epa is executed. Thank you for being here. Before we administer your testimony, I will administer the both. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear the testimony you are about to give to this committee is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god?
▶ 0:36:43Thank you. Let the record show the witness answered in the affirmative, so we will now proceed. You are recognized for your opening statement. >> think you, ranking member white house, and members of the committee. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the president's fiscal year 2027 budget request for the environmental agency.
▶ 0:37:09I would like to take a moment to think many of you for supporting the confirmation of epa's leadership team who have wasted no time on president trump's agenda and helping to power the grape up -- great american comeback. Marking one year of president jumping back in office, epa announced over 500 environmental winds in that first year. We made strides to tackle the decades long tijuana river sewage crisis that has affected san diego area communities.
▶ 0:37:40We are getting let out of drinking water across the country. And we are proving you don't have to choose between a strong economy and a clean environment. The great work is a fraction of what epa accomplishes on a daily basis. As we continue to fulfill our core mission of protecting human health and the environment. There are democrats on this dais who want the epa to govern in left-wing fantasy. Pursuing the agenda to destroy sectors of our economy.
▶ 0:38:09The trump epa we govern in reality. We are committed to supporting more baseload power sources in this country to meet this moment and unleash energy dominance. I fulfill the commitment I made during my confirmation to visit all 50 states as epa administrator. I completed that effort in nine and a half months.
▶ 0:38:30During the visits, I learned how epa policies, rules, and regulations impacted farmers, small business owners, and are energy providers. It was exciting to often witness the groundbreaking after groundbreaking, seeing firsthand the projects to unleash energy dominance, grow our economy, and power the artificial intelligence revolution.
▶ 0:38:56During my visits, I asked how can we help, and where do we need to get out of the way. Everywhere I heard, we need certainty and consistency. The trump epa is committed to bringing down costs for american families by ending the whiplash of the radical climate agenda. The supreme court overturning of the chevron doctrine made it clear agencies like epa no longer have the freedom to creatively bend the law to fulfill the demands of unelected bureaucrats.
▶ 0:39:26It paved the way to our greatest deregulatory achievement yet, the rescission of the 2009 endangerment finding. For 16 years, the endangerment finding has been the source of consumer choice restrictions and trillions of dollars of costs piled onto americans. This single decision lessens the federal government's harmful grip over our economy, saving over one trillion dollars and bringing down the costs of new vehicles.
▶ 0:39:55November epa rolled out a proposed rule that would establish a clear, durable, commonsense definition of waters of the united states, abiding by the supreme court decision in second. Democrat administrations have weaponized the definition of waters to see more power from american farmers, landowners, entrepreneurs, and families. We heard from americans across the country who want to clean water and a clear rule.
▶ 0:40:22No longer should america's landowners be forced to spend precious money hiring an attorney or consultant just to tell them whether the united states is on their property. Has we were to protect human health and the environment, grow our economy, and restore america's energy dominance, epa is taking several actions to most of mystic energy production . In february, we took steps to end democrat wars on coal by repealing the biden administration overly burdensome 20 24 near toxic standards.
▶ 0:40:53The rule opposed costs and redtape. Coal and oil fired plants. Driving up the cost of living for american families, jeopardizing our grid reliability and national security, and eliminating american energy and manufacturing dominance. Having reliable energy production not only provides lower cost for american families, but it national security.
▶ 0:41:17The president's fy 2027 budget will continue to make epa efficient and effective stewards of americans hard earned tax dollars and fulfill our statutory obligations and our core mission. This budget proposal captures significant efficiencies to return focus to -- demonstrating our commitment to a leader focused on environmental work that benefits the american people.
▶ 0:41:46The budget supports and aligns with president trump's goal of rightsizing the federal workforce with a staff not one more or less than is necessary. We will continue working each and every to deliver an epa that works to empower the american people I look forward to answering all of your questions. >> I will start the questioning. Thank you for being here.
▶ 0:42:14All the comments have talked about the urgent need to generate more electricity. The past administration's power sector strategy was to shut down baseload energy of availabilities and our nation is facing an energy scarcity. People talk about it all the time. And know that it is a reality.
▶ 0:42:35This strategy consisted of a half-dozen rules and the power plant two plato that would be the agency press regulatory -- we discussed your efforts to repeal the epa power sector strategy that will lead to more affordable reliable while continuing to protect public health and welfare.
▶ 0:42:57>> what we saw, especially towards the end of the biden administration, was an attack with many rules seeking to string a late coal olive -- coal out of existence, that coal miners should learn to code. We understand how important coal is to your state and many other states, 2024 toxic standards you can -- the 2012 standards that significantly have reduced mercury and other emissions.
▶ 0:43:28We are working to repeal power plant 2.0 efforts with regards to steam, electric, coal, combustion, residuals to states on the handling of ccr's. I mentioned with our new waters of the united states rule, with our new water reuse action plan 2.0 and more, we are rolling back that attack on coal and other sources of power.
▶ 0:43:54>> if I could -- I think it is important to emphasize at this point the clean air act -- clean air act and the clean water act, all of which falls within the boundaries of what we have directed you to do. >> yes ma'am. >> in the working families tax cut we signed into law, we built section 134 of the clean air act to eliminate the greenhouse gas reduction fund. I think it was $17 billion.
▶ 0:44:25It is in litigation right now, and I was curious to know, and we supported the grand cancellations through the passage of the working families tax cut, a total waste of money, I understand there is legislation pending. If the courts affirmed congress rescinded the $17 billion, do you commit to returning these funds to the U.S. treasury >> enthusiastically. >> I want to talk about pfas.
▶ 0:45:00It is a concern around the country. We have not been able to reach a congressional appoint a witch -- at which we can agree to be helpful. Under strict guidance and the retroactive liabilities structure, we are not sure that the passive receivers, small water companies, ag people, it could be anyone else who is
▶ 0:45:31Sharing water resources, those on the foot to play any kind of cleanup. While we work for a solution, can yu han lee what epa has done. I know you have several authorities and existing settlement and allocation tools, are you using those authorities, how successful have they been? >> we believe strongly that the polluter should pay, and the ratepayers should be on the hook for cleaning up pfas contamination of their own water supply.
▶ 0:46:01We had a choice as whether or not to pursue, neither of these were written with pfas in mind. Unfortunately, the cost of cleanup is passed down from the water system, thousands across this country, who would be giving it to their ratepayers. We look forward to being able to work with congress to be able to address this issue.
▶ 0:46:29We have been in contact with stakeholders, there is a liability settlement compared to report on a congressional solution would certainly be ideal to receivers. >> safe drinking water, which involves the state revolving funds, all of our state -- those still small and remaining world communities that have satisfactory service, they are
▶ 0:46:59Limited in their financing options, it is difficult, a critical program for them. Will you commit to working with states to implement funding congress provides in future authorizations or operations? >> yes, chairman. >> thank you. >> I will let senator sanders proceed first, he has a scheduling issue.
▶ 0:47:21>> before we go to senator sanders, you see request for submission of the record an article written by the washington post, epa has a right to reverse obama overreach and other requests come in for the wall street journal article climate regulation liberation day. The trump epa moves to appeal obama biden endangerment finding, and consent in the record clear energy, coal and common sense. Thank you.
▶ 0:47:54>> thank you, madam chair. Mr. zeldin, thank you for being with us. I want to focus on one issue. I'm glad that you mentioned your desire to bring down costs in america. Unfortunately, you have not been succeeding, costs have gone up in many aspects of our economy. Especially in terms of electricity rates in the country. People are paying higher electric bills. A lot that.
▶ 0:48:26One of the possible solutions is to make certain low income and working-class people have solar panels on their rooftops. As you well know, when one has solar panels on a rooftop, you can reduce electric rates by 70, 80%, 90%. It is a big deal. Not to mention it takes carbon emissions out of the atmosphere and helps address climate change.
▶ 0:48:55Part of the inflation reduction act, I have a provision called solar for all, a $7 billion program that would reduce electric rates over years for millions of low income working-class people. Unfortunately, and I think illegally, the trump administration rescinded that legislation.
▶ 0:49:20What I'm asking you right now, talk about low-grade costs, we need to put solar panels on rooftops. If you are concerned about climate change, you have to cut carbon emissions. Willie worked with me to make sure the $7 billion in solar for all, and by the way, the grants coming to the epa after dozens of states, republican states, democratic states, people want lower electric rates, protect the environment, that is what
▶ 0:49:50The bill does. It to make sure it is funded and gets out to the states. >> the issue is congress has rescinded the entirety of the program as well as rescinding the money for epa to be able to oversee the program. If congress was to pass it in the future, we would do our job to get the money out. I will respect the decision made by congress in repealing it.
▶ 0:50:19>> you are suggesting the so-called big beautiful bill repealed it? >> not only did it resend the count, it also rescinded the count for us to oversee. >> first of all, it did not rescind solar for all. If you are sitting here telling us, that when we have a program that could lower electric rates for millions of people, help clean up the environment, you cannot find a small amount of money to provide oversight to this program? I think that is not quite credible, to be honest.
▶ 0:50:49>> maybe we don't share this concern, what I was really concerned about when I came in was the way the solar for all program would be implemented was they were going to have the money go to of through four different pass-throughs. Where each entity would collect 50%. The dollar you think was appropriated to be spent on the backend had to go through up to four pastors where they are each diluting it.
▶ 0:51:18Standing fiscally good stewards, if we ignored the fact congress rescinded the program, if we ignored the fact they rescinded the money, I would hope we would be equally offended by -- >> the answer would be you would come in as the author of it -- how do we make it more efficient, we don't want to waste money on this administration, I hate bureaucracy, as a matter of fact. That is not what you did.
▶ 0:51:44You took away the opportunity of millions of people to see lower electric -- that we can work together to bring that back. Want to make the program more efficient? Let's talk about it. Is that something you can do? >> I would be happy to talk about the program, what we saw the inefficiencies of it. But we also can't ignore is the fact that as part of the one big beautiful bill, the working families tax cut, they rescinded the $7 billion -- >> they did not. Absolutely inaccurate. Thank you very much. >> senator cramer.
▶ 0:52:16>> thank you, chair and administrator for being here. I have to go back to some of the comments senator whitehouse made. While I think true, a little incomplete. I want to ask questions about the preference of renewables on the grid, because they are low marginal, nearly zero marginal costs per kilowatt hour.
▶ 0:52:43I think you can use nine cents out of the average $.18. And I know you are not the rate maker, but I think you understand this. I'm wondering if nine cents, does that include the 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour subsidy the tax.
▶ 0:53:05Paid for tax credits, or it does it include 30% investment tax credit, the utility or the producer had to invest before they could even generate this zero cost energy -- do you think those prices include that? >> senator whitehouse's mass -- math is extremely wrong.
▶ 0:53:26>> what he's including, I don't believe it includes all of these other high costs by taxpayers, who by the way are also ratepayers. We spent time talking about rates, but not real time talking about costs. Because taxpayers are ratepayers as well.
▶ 0:53:47How about this, do you think it also includes, or does it leave out the additional investment the utility has to invest to back up the wind when it does not blow the other 70% at the time? In other words, you have to have a backup that is more reliable, does it include those costs? >> there is no way to explain his math.
▶ 0:54:13>> sticking with the preference on the grid, net zero marginal costs, it would be crazy if you did not put it on the grid first if you are stuck with all of the investment costs and the taxpayer costs. That I understand. That is part of the rate structure.
▶ 0:54:37But isn't it true that there are regions and states that add to regulatory or legal mandates that require less reliable energy to be on the grid first before they then go to the much more reliable extra cost electricity that goes on? >> it is not a coincidence the 10 states that have the cheapest rates across the country voted for president trump, and nine of the 10 with the highest rates voted for kamala harris.
▶ 0:55:11>> as a former rate maker, let me tell you, I know this topic pretty well. If we are going to have an honest discussion, we have to put all the costs on the table. That said, let's get back to order. First of all, thank you and to your team for having the first listening session. I think there was a lot of great feedback.
▶ 0:55:35One of the things that was interesting to me that I did not expect at the listening session was one of the president of the homebuilders association testified after a question -- they show that the cost of a lot do to waters in the united states, increased $25,000 per lot for a home before a shovel
▶ 0:56:05Went into it. Does it not seem like a cost issue or an inflation issue that could have been relieved by a better rule? >> absolutely.
▶ 0:56:19There are landowners, farmers, ranchers, states who have come to us and have done the math and the impact of the way the waters of the united states was to find previously results in heavy costs to be able to hire an attorney or consultant to tell them whether there is water in the united states, and the great uncertainty has caused a lot of issues across the country and that is what we are working to fix. >> while you are working to fix it, give us an update on that.
▶ 0:56:48One of the things I hear, a couple of things I hear about the proposed rule is terms like significant nexus, rent season are vague. Can you give me an update on definitions and the process and is there a way we can tighten some of that? >> we have been going through all of the public comments. Grateful for everyone across the country participating in the process.
▶ 0:57:18We encourage the public to participate when we go to the public comment, including waters of the united states. We encourage this feedback and more and we are incorporating it. >> Mr. selden, my colleagues around this table are closing in on election, in which the trump administration's household cost catastrophe will be central. You have been on a polluter fronted rampage to increase american costs.
▶ 0:57:48Stuff should cost less, you are making a lot of stuff cost a lot more. You have raise costs for americans -- to your big polluters. The attack on clean energy raises costs for consumers. It sends billions to your fossil fuel polluters. Trumps big donors. Trump's attack on offshore wind stalled nine cents per kilowatt hour power, captain math.
▶ 0:58:19Going to my constituent to work at an $.18 average kilowatt hour grid. Every single day that power was delayed, steered money from consumer pockets into the pockets of expensive natural gas units, units the clean offshore wind energy would have displaced. They will concede nine cents is less than $.18, would you not?
▶ 0:58:46>> nine cents is less than $.18 -- >> your rampant denial and refusal to address climate -- home insurance rates skyward. Setting new records in states like iowa, florida, and texas.
▶ 0:59:02Those costs are cascading from a home insurance crisis to a mortgage crisis into a property values crisis, but the big winners getting to pollute for free are your fossil fuel polluters, trump's pick donors, is ep looking at florida's climate driven insurance crisis? >> everything about the nine cents, -- I have no questions.
▶ 0:59:30>> just what I'm understanding -- >> all you want to know is nine cents is less than $.18. You don't want to talk about the issue. >> you already answered, you are wasting my time. >> it is wasting your time -- >> it will drive up the costs of american gasoline budgets. Your own regulatory impact analysis but the net loss to consumers at $180 billion.
▶ 0:59:57But with a minimum $580 billion bonus for big oil at the pump. All those billions go to your fossil fuel polluters, trump's pick donors. Those are your numbers. You also made it easier to pollute with soot. Soot.
▶ 1:00:17Which will cost americans tens of billions of dollars of health care costs all to save about $600 million in compliance costs for your fossil fuel polluters, trump's pick donors. You stopped epa even counting health harms in your cost benefit analysis, didn't you? >> I'm still stuck on the fact all you are asking you so far -- >> can't answer that question either -- you attacked -- >> you want to talk about what an lcoe is? >> I am asking questions.
▶ 1:00:49You attacked the greenhouse reduction fund, potentially costing consumers 52 billion dollars in lost energy savings, let alone the health benefits of cleaner air. But that 52 billion dollars consumer lose will flow where? To your fossil fuel polluters, trump's pick donors. Ditto the solar for all funding you attacked. Trying to strip americans of 350 million dollars per year in expected energy savings, billions over time. Those lost savings go where? To your fossil fuel polluters, trump's pick donors.
▶ 1:01:21You even set up a special polluter email address that gave polluters a drive up window for exemptions from the clean air act, helping them keep 70 polluting coal plants online. One estimate is just six of those plans have already cost ratepayers an extra 200 $30 million in costs in less than one year.
▶ 1:01:44And indeed, one plant in michigan has already cost michiganders 600 million dollars in excess health costs. That is money out of consumer pockets and into the pockets of your fossil fuel polluters, trump's pick donors. Are you tracking the consumer costs of those coal plants? >> we are going to take get to talk about math? >> are you even tracking the consumer costs of those coal plants? >> this is great.
▶ 1:02:12I don't even know where to start with -- >> answer the question, are you even tracking the consumer cost -- >> of course. Costs are going down across the country. When you look at epa's -- >> where are you tracking the consumer costs of those coal plants? >> coal plants even staying open? You think that the math is it is better for west virginia if you close down their coal plants and put these people out of work and tell them to learn how to code? >> you put -- >> that is saving with virginia?
▶ 1:02:43>> we know it is raising costs. We couldn't -- you can talk across me all you like, you are raising costs. You are raising costs on purpose, because of the money you get when you raise costs to consumers goes to trump's pick fossil fuel donors. My time is up. >> we don't close down coal. >> not sure we are going to get anywhere with that. We will go to Mr. curtis. >> I would desperately like to change the subject, but Mr.
▶ 1:03:12Zeldin, let me just ask you, a very quick answer, if we had a magic wand and we waved it and we unclog every single fossil fuel source across our planet now, give me 30 seconds to what the world would look like. >> for us domestically, it would be absolutely devastating. And fortunately, we don't have to be naive to the math that senator whitehouse is using.
▶ 1:03:38He likes to look at a levelized cost of entry, he's not factoring in firming, not looking at iso'and net costs of new energy. Factor in firming and the additional costs, they start skyrocketing. The access to fossil fuels that they rail against are actually cheaper. Whether it is the gas combined cycle, whether you are talking about the gas that is already online, the nuclear that is already online.
▶ 1:04:05He wants to use a very small number to say that wind is the cheapest and solar is the cheapest and wants to ignore all of the firming costs. His math is screwed up. For the rest of this country, as we saw eight through many weeks of very cold temperatures, thank god that people, when the sun stopped shining, when the wind stops blowing, and when it is freezing over the course of that winter, that they had access to reliable, durable baseload power.
▶ 1:04:35Thank you to the republicans on this dais for your efficacy and application of reality to make sure that all of these americans are able to stay warm, because they would have been in a really screwed up position if they were following senator whitehouse's approach towards forcing jamming everyone with wind and solar and putting away all their access to reliable baseline power. >> I would take an hour of this but I get five minutes. First of all, when you mentioned you have been to 50 states, I was surprised, because I know you came to utah.
▶ 1:05:06If you spend as much time in all 50 states and use of much as you did in utah, that is outstanding. Thank you for your visit and meeting with my legislators and for the good work you have done. Part of our challenge in utah is this atmospheric conditions we have that make us unique and different. We made, I would suggest, more changes to improve our quality than any other state, the rules of the game have been problematic for us.
▶ 1:05:34Thank you for your involvement in that. If I can switch issues quickly. The 2020 seven budget justification prioritizes the review of new chemicals, I appreciate your goal, literally a goal of conducting risk assessments and making a friend of diff government -- affirmative determinations on 500 chemicals, about 499 more than the last administration, maybe even 500.
▶ 1:06:05Thank you for that. Can you walk us through the steps the epa's taking to meet that goal, an aggressive goal, including case discussion readings within 30 days, receiving the request and how investments in ai and other innovation have been helping you? >> on that front, I want to thank congress who appropriated $17 million in march of 2025 to upgrade I.t. Inside of that office.
▶ 1:06:28When the systems go down for weeks at a time, everything is stopping and you have a backlog that starts increasing. We inherited a new chemicals backlog of about 500 or so. We did 58 new pmn's in the first three months of this year. When we did our agency reorganization last year, we increased the amount of ftes, the amount of scientists inside of the office of chemical safety.
▶ 1:06:57That reorganization and the streamlining of the process, the efficiencies added have allowed us to, for example, get those 58 new pmns done. We project we will do more pmns in 2026 then each of the last five years prior.
▶ 1:07:14>> I want to point out that impact the program has on innovation, pushing jobs, if we don't do it, pushing the jobs offshore, plus the fact many of these chemicals are far better for the environment, we don't get them approved, forcing them to use these chemicals we know are worse for the environment, can you elaborate on -- I know part of this is communicating with the submitters.
▶ 1:07:41Talk about the process and communicating with the submitters to make it smoother for them or in that review process. >> one of the things that was hiding a lot of time was the 100 steps that have to get done sequentially. It is just a no-brainer to move this stuff efficiently at the same time at once as much as possible. Congress is going to have an opportunity, the expiration towards the end of september.
▶ 1:08:10We would look forward to being able to share our feedback and work with you on that. >> I'm just going to take a couple more seconds to pick that line up. What we would like to know, what priorities should congress be focusing on so we could improve the program to make sure more approving the task so it is more efficient? >> I'm happy whether it is qfr's or separately with your office.
▶ 1:08:36I would like to talk about section 21 petitions, the section six prioritizes asian process. There are a lot of details that could be incorporated in development of new legislation. >> thank you for your addressing these issues. >> senator padilla. >> question for senator curtis. You spend more time in utah, or as he spent in california?
▶ 1:09:01I appreciate your attention for the improvements in and around the two on a river, number one, thank you for having worked with local official, city and county folks after the fires in the los angeles area last january. The palisades fire and the eaton fire, the largest footprint.
▶ 1:09:29The response and aid in the immediate aftermath was helpful, necessary. But as you know, there is still disaster aid pending as they are trying to rebuild. It has been more than a year. I'm wondering if on behalf of the administration, you know when we might expect that supplemental request for consideration by congress?
▶ 1:09:52>> I know, senator, there was a meeting that I've heard nothing but positive feedback from from both the white house as well as mayor vass, county supervisor barker, that meeting last week, I would imagine it was felt universally as a good conversation to talk about insurance, banking, and potential federal aid.
▶ 1:10:15Some of this is a request with fema, it might not require a new act of congress, some of it might be funding that will require. I believe the director was in that meeting as well. Also the understanding there's been follow-up conversations as well. >> I hate to cut you off, I'd like to get to other issues. A couple of weeks, a month?
▶ 1:10:44>> I don't have a timetable I have been focused on the epa budget. I'm happy to continue to help however possible on any front related to the rebuild. >> appreciate that, turning to the issue of delays. I would ask for your assistance in finalizing some long delayed refuel loans for california water projects.
▶ 1:11:06Reveals initiated in the first trump administration should be better for taxpayers to support communities and projects is what opposed to grants. Epa told at least three california applicants, the city of hayward, las virgenes, and valley water that their loans were on track for specific dates between eight and 12 months, and as they were approaching those very specific dates they were given, they were notified that
▶ 1:11:37Their applications were postponed indefinitely. Happy to supply the specifics behind those applications and projects, but can I count on you to help get those loans finalized? >> I'm happy to check up on that. I will be in the office tomorrow and I will ask our team what the status is. >> I appreciate that. The last category, and a couple minutes left, california is no stranger to the polluted air.
▶ 1:12:04I grew up with it in southern california. I know firsthand. State and local regulators have done everything they can to bring emissions down in every section within their jurisdiction. The largest to tackle here are emed with stern federal jurisdictions.
▶ 1:12:29We have been working feverishly to get the federal government to do its job, or conversely, allow california to push the envelope as we are able to do through the waiver is granted by the clean air act.
▶ 1:12:44Authorities no longer has because they were taken away by the republican majority in congress last year in response to the waiver being declared some sort of rule that can be overturned. We can have the cra debates separately. What I want to know is -- I guess the bigger picture, to set the tone, when you came in, you promised the cleanest air in history.
▶ 1:13:15Do you believe air in los angeles and across the country is cleaner than when this administration started? >> yes. I have seen over the course of the last couple of decades -- >> just this last year. >> yes, primarily I would give credit to the advancing technology that we have seen across this country, and decisions private actors had made.
▶ 1:13:41We've also started approving state implementation plans that were very much backlogged as well. That is also part of that process. I would point out, I know it is an important issue for senator kelly and senator curtis, but we took down the guidance on the international sources of air pollution so that we were not putting air into nonattainment for sources that are outside of their jurisdiction. California is another example where a lot of the air issues you are experiencing are actually coming from international sources.
▶ 1:14:13Another topic where even though there might be conflict in this agreement, on other aspects and policy approaches, it is another area we might be able to work together. >> I certainly hope so, there is a playbook for that. The core infrastructure, railroad infrastructure, locomotive technologies that we are happy to support. The hydrogen in california, the federal government has defunded.
▶ 1:14:35There has been the sample pushed to the department of energy and department of interior on fossil fuel, sources of electricity, renewable sources california has led on with battery storage, to bring down costs, reducing emissions, there's a lot more we can c1 >> thank you. >> thank you. There are some important things I want to mention.
▶ 1:15:08Thank you for help and detection. I very much appreciate the work on that. There was a critical step for something that has been going on for a long time. I also want to mention this.
▶ 1:15:53Some of the states back to 2016. You are not an office back then. The statute says that epa must act within 90 days on getting back. I hope you can assure us that going forward you will be making those decisions in a timely manner.
▶ 1:16:19Mr. Zeldin: That is very important. As you just pointed out. We had a backlog of exemption requests. So getting through all that at once was a big process. There have been some new requests. We are starting to work on that.
▶ 1:17:00Mr. Zeldin: It is an important goal.
▶ 1:17:01Sen. Wicker: I have a few minutes left. Let me say, I wish that in this room we could acknowledge that there is room for honest disagreements of opinion. On the science were talking about.
▶ 1:17:30Sen. Wicker: There are people in this room who are so convinced of the accuracy of their point of view that they somehow feel if you disagree europe to ability. I wish I could get away from that.
▶ 1:18:00Sen. Wicker: At this point I want to give you next couple of minutes to say what you were trying to say.
▶ 1:18:10Mr. Zeldin: I appreciate that. They were adopting the most pessimistic views of the science. When you get to 2026, great news, we are able to do rely on present day facts.
▶ 1:18:40Mr. Zeldin: Just because you take exception when a member of congress says the world is about to end, we are sitting here today saying it's only a few years. I don't think the world's about to end. They want to vilify you as if you are denying science. I just saw a clip yesterday where al gore was talking about global freezing. I'm having trouble keeping up.
▶ 1:19:12Mr. Zeldin: On a noah kahan money was made. The money was going to former obama and biden officials. The amount of self-dealing. The amount of qualified recipients.
▶ 1:19:54Mr. Zeldin: We could talk about that. I could go through those conflicts of interest. They are not offended by that.
▶ 1:20:25Mr. Zeldin: As long as we stay true to these facts, it is good to go. I'm not going to take morality lessons from them. >> thank you. I want to thank you for giving me the time. Thank you for being here. Almost 12,000 schools in the united states are within one mile of chemical facilities.
▶ 1:20:57Mr. Zeldin: One in three children go to school in a chemical zone. Can you talk about what you've done to address this issue?
▶ 1:21:15Mr. Zeldin: It is a very important topic. There might be a chemical plant that might have some level of fence line admissions. You have to get the data on that. You have to analyze that. You have to look at what exposure level.
▶ 1:21:54Mr. Zeldin: You have to make that decision. Based on the risk assessment. >> I'm glad you mentioned that. I think we may be had this conversation in my office a year ago. I am very concerned that the data you mentioned as necessary.
▶ 1:22:20Mr. Zeldin: It is my understanding that the epa has proposed a rollback of the 20 for safer communities by chemical accident prevention which would undercut the risk management practices that make it easier for the public to find out information about chemical facilities in their communities.
▶ 1:22:39Mr. Zeldin: It is my understanding as well that one of your websites had a page that said how to access risk management plan information. Write out says the pages being updated. It has been that way for a while.
▶ 1:23:08Mr. Zeldin: Will you provide us an update on the page and when it could be back up and running?
▶ 1:23:18Sen. Blunt Rochester: We will get right back to you. I also want to say that it is critical that americans have this information. That is why there is a disconnect. We think that would be a good thing.
▶ 1:23:59Sen. Blunt Rochester: I met with people in my state. There was a lot of concern that the budget eliminates all funding for clean water.
▶ 1:24:37Sen. Blunt Rochester: States really cannot afford this. Especially when we are talking about rising costs. Whether for food or gas or anything else. People cannot afford one more higher bill. I would love to ask for your commitment to working with us to support our state.
▶ 1:24:52Mr. Zeldin: Absolutely. We will make sure that we are able to work closely with each of you. This includes your congressionally directed spending. That is the main reason why it has not been as revolving as may originally intended. That is something that is very important for us to work with you on. Getting that money.
▶ 1:25:20Sen. Blunt Rochester: I think you brought up that spending. It was a bipartisan decision. It is crucial. I look forward to working with you. >> thank you. >> thank you.
▶ 1:25:56Sen. Blunt Rochester: I wanted to thank you for the work you have done. You have been fantastic. I want to thank you make sure that people they have not been forgotten. We have heard a lot in this committee about energy prices.
▶ 1:26:27Sen. Blunt Rochester: From my economics background, I believe supply and demand is really what drives prices more than anything. If you have high demand and low supply, that will run up the price. I also have also been someone who believes in it all of the above strategy. We talked about that.
▶ 1:27:05Sen. Blunt Rochester: You have to build up all that additional infrastructure. That is a fixed cost. We need more of this.
▶ 1:27:37Sen. Blunt Rochester: All we can do is talk to congress to make it easier to drive down the prices. Make sure people have that energy mix. How important do you believe permitting reform is to the members of this committee?
▶ 1:27:56Sen. Husted: I think it is a very big opportunity to modernize the clean air act. That would take less time and cost less money.
▶ 1:28:32Sen. Husted: There is a big opportunity with permitting reform. I know how important this is.
▶ 1:28:38Sen. Husted: I was taking a look at ohio's electricity. During those years we use a lot of power. It is like peak demand. Talk about creating a supply demand problem.
▶ 1:29:13Sen. Husted: We know we aspire to lower carbon energy outputs. Two affordable reliable electricity. How important is permitting reform to that?
▶ 1:29:31Mr. Zeldin: It is extremely important. I know ohio is no stranger to nuclear.
▶ 1:29:38Sen. Husted: We have operations enriching uranium. Building small modular nuclear reactors.
▶ 1:29:45Mr. Zeldin: We had a request I came in to us to build a small modular reactor in tennessee. It came to us november 24. We completed the process on december 1. The biting epa, that might have taken three year. It took eight days. We have that power.
▶ 1:30:34Mr. Zeldin: We found ways to engage with as members of this committee.
▶ 1:30:41Sen. Husted: I want to conclude by talking about how important this is. We will need more electricity. Time is money. We have to get this accomplished. Thank you for being here. >> thank you. Thank you for being here.
▶ 1:31:15Sen. Husted: You said this is simple. There can be times when we discussed this. The rulebook says some action needs to be taken. That might not make sense. I agree. But that is a rare exception. Sometimes the answer is pretty clear-cut.
▶ 1:31:46Sen. Husted: Take what is happening in the town of arizona. The mining operator there has a smelter. That smelter is located about a mile from an elementary school.
▶ 1:32:15Sen. Husted: Less than a half mile from a church. That is the smelter. We know what led dez to kids. I imagine you would not want your kids attending that school.
▶ 1:32:50Sen. Husted: That would reduce toxic lead and arsenic. It is a big vacuum cleaner bag. That is for company that had a net profit of $2.7 billion last year. That is not a drop in the bucket. Nobody wants to kids breathing and lead and arsenic pollution.
▶ 1:33:22Sen. Husted: I do think anybody here would want that. Last fall the company got a presidential exemption from these requirements through a new process.
▶ 1:33:58Sen. Husted: They said that waivers can only be granted if the technology to do so is not available. It is in the national security interests of the U.S. to do so. It has to be both. He clearly exists. It has been used for decades.
▶ 1:34:28Sen. Husted: Including at the other smelter still operating in the U.S. in utah. Somebody could argue that the national security connection. It keeps kids from breathing in lead. That is what environmental protections are designed to do.
▶ 1:34:54Sen. Husted: Given this fails both of the tests that are laid out in the law and more importantly fails the basic duty to protect human health, how is that legal?
▶ 1:35:07Mr. Zeldin: With regards to that of presidential exceptions are made by the president. That was the extent of our role.
▶ 1:35:39Mr. Zeldin: It is externally important. We take this extraordinary seriously.
▶ 1:35:55Sen. Kelly: Your agency created a website specifically to invite companies to do that. They spoke with your staff to coordinate this request. This is not to something the president did. You went to great lengths to make sure that was facilitated.
▶ 1:36:30Sen. Kelly: This is spewing out 12 tons of lead. Every single year. Can I get a commitment from you to fix this? Companies have responsibilities. Can we get a commitment from you to undo this?
▶ 1:36:59Mr. Zeldin: This is the first time were talking about it. This is the first time we are engaging this topic?
▶ 1:37:10Sen. Kelly: We may engage in other topics. This is a serious issue for the community.
▶ 1:37:16Mr. Zeldin: At this point after all of the many other topics you have engaged us with that we have been able to very successfully work together on, my role has been on this. It merits up a follow-up conversation.
▶ 1:37:42Sen. Kelly: The website was set up. There was coordination.
▶ 1:37:51Mr. Zeldin: I receive and transmit.
▶ 1:37:54Sen. Kelly: But your job is to look after the health of the american people. How about the kids that go to that school? The people who go to that church ? I would love to have an opportunity to solve this problem. The white house put the profits of that company over the health of those children.
▶ 1:38:22Mr. Zeldin: As I sit here I do not have the information. This is the first time anyone has raised it. >> thank you. We have talked a little bit about this stuff. Thank you for being here.
▶ 1:38:55Mr. Zeldin: You have done some great things. I love this committee. Because we can talk about biofuels. Which we will at a moment.
▶ 1:39:26Mr. Zeldin: We should be using those. It is much less expensive. Nebraska has clean air.
▶ 1:39:59Mr. Zeldin: We are all of the above. About 30% of our electricity comes from renewable resources. Which is much higher than about any state on the east coast. Including rhode island. We are in all of the above state. Let's talk about biofuels some more.
▶ 1:40:28Mr. Zeldin: You have done a lot for biofuels. I come into the epa on your historic rvo's and putting ahead the most programs ever seen. Thank you for issuing a temporary waiver. Your support for that is evident.
▶ 1:40:58Mr. Zeldin: We appreciate everything you have done. I was saving some money. Is there anyway to that recognizes for all americans?
▶ 1:41:22Mr. Zeldin: I appreciate everything you just said. As far as the actions you have taken.
▶ 1:41:52Mr. Zeldin: I know this is a congressional process. All of these requests that have come in. We move to these.
▶ 1:42:21Mr. Zeldin: I would love to be able to get to a new reality. Where we don't have spend that time making those asks.
▶ 1:42:28Sen. Ricketts: So what I've. It is encouraging to see. To support american dominance. We have seen this firsthand. My home state has a couple of new processing plants.
▶ 1:43:04Sen. Ricketts: This supports good jobs. This prioritizes domestic feedstocks. It is a long overdue correction.
▶ 1:43:33Sen. Ricketts: Now we are looking at the next set. Can we expect this to be finalized?
▶ 1:43:42Mr. Zeldin: I would love for that to happen. We will be back on schedule.
▶ 1:44:07Sen. Ricketts: I know again you mentioned that. We expect that. >> thank you. >> thank you. Thanks to trump's war on iran, gasoline prices have shot up.
▶ 1:44:48Sen. Ricketts: Drivers are feeling it at the pump every day. That feeling will be supercharged. By your evisceration of the vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards. I will not fight with you today. About whether this rollback is legal.
▶ 1:45:19Sen. Ricketts: They are air pollutants. You agreed with that. When you are in congress. You are against any effort to do that. But as epa administrator you said last year that you were driving a dagger into the heart of the climate change religion. A very movie villain way of saying that.
▶ 1:45:50Sen. Ricketts: Before it was even finished. The only thing that has been changing faster than our climate is your position on it. I am not going to fight with you today on whether the vehicle standards rollback will increase harvest. Because it will. I will call out that. That the epa is committing.
▶ 1:46:20Sen. Ricketts: That it will hike up costs. This will increase costs. Based on projections.
▶ 1:46:45Sen. Ricketts: That is without even calculating a penny for health or environmental cost to americans. When americans hear you talking about trillions in savings and why they still cannot pay the bills and why it is more expensive to develop their tank and why they are spending more on inhalers and home risk insurance, it is because when the math really gets added up, the cost of these rollbacks comes out of their pockets.
▶ 1:47:15Sen. Ricketts: I will talk a little bit about health care costs as well. When analyzing the standards for dangerous air pollution, the epa no signs no value to american lives that would be saved by protection action. You tweeted that this was fake news. But an epa spokesperson is not monetizing those impacts.
▶ 1:47:52Sen. Ricketts: On monday he said to the health impacts of the epa's repeal on mercury and toxic air pollution could be zero. The epa's own analysis from february said that the rollback will get into our hands.
▶ 1:48:20Mr. Zeldin: How much do you think it says that? Do you want to talk about it?
▶ 1:48:28Sen. Markey: I think any worried mother or concerned american would rightly question whether more arsenic in the air could have zero health impacts. Look at who gets counted as valued by your epa. It is not the kids. It is not the grandparents with heart disease. It is big polluters.
▶ 1:48:58Sen. Markey: Whose costs get counted in your equation. They will be paying the price for this. They have been in place for a generation. That is the price that will be paid. By the health of everyone in our country. >> thank you.
▶ 1:49:34Sen. Markey: I think you are doing a great job. You are showing respect to my constituents. People who live in alaska. You came to alaska a number of times.
▶ 1:50:07Sen. Markey: Thank you for that. Thank you for listening to my constituents. They singularly and exclusively focused on alaska.
▶ 1:50:39Sen. Markey: You are helping get us out from underneath that. What does that matter? I have shown this. This is really important to me. All of my colleagues want to shut down the economy of alaska's. Resource development in alaska. They forget about this chart. You have seen it before.
▶ 1:51:12Sen. Markey: When people have the ability to develop their resources responsibly, as they have in the north slope of alaska. They live longer. A lot longer. Life expectancy when up by almost 13 years. No more important than that.
▶ 1:51:42Sen. Markey: When you are out there and seeing it, the work you are doing, it actually helps save lives. So I appreciate it. That is what is happening in my state. Just last weekend I was in wasilla, alaska. Visiting a shop.
▶ 1:52:09Sen. Markey: He is now a convicted felon not because he put anyone at risk but because he was keeping essential diesel vehicles running. Thank you for this.
▶ 1:52:41Sen. Markey: That is balmy. That shows the giant risk to lives and safety. Can you give me an update on where you are on that?
▶ 1:52:58Mr. Zeldin: Last august at the iowa state fair alongside the small business administrator, we see significant reversal.
▶ 1:53:26Mr. Zeldin: We did that so farmers and others can be repairing their next equipment. They got rid of that. Now we are moving to that proposal. We heard from the truckers of alaska.
▶ 1:53:59Mr. Zeldin: Specifically with the filters. Our staff widths with us in fairbanks. While you are doing your job. We will not forget that.
▶ 1:54:17Sen. Sullivan: You have truckers and ambulance drivers. Another quick issue. You are listening.
▶ 1:54:56Sen. Sullivan: Why do you have worked to clarify. Is that a big issue? Thank you for listening to the unique aspects of alaskans. They have big challenges with that rule.
▶ 1:55:14Mr. Zeldin: We have heard you loud and clear. It has been great to see permafrost. In the middle of the winter. We are deftly taking your advocacy strongly into consideration in reviewing and preparing a final decision.
▶ 1:55:29Sen. Sullivan: Thank you very much. >> thank you. You came out to southern california to observe the crisis. I appreciate that. We were hoping to do that.
▶ 1:56:15Sen. Sullivan: We saw that timeline for achieving 50 million gallons a day expansion. I wanted to ask if you are aware of this.
▶ 1:56:32Mr. Zeldin: I am aware of the story. I saw it. I asked the questions before today. They are committed to slashing that timeline. I was told rather constantly that that was not accurate.
▶ 1:56:54Sen. Schiff: So you think we can still meet that?
▶ 1:56:56Mr. Zeldin: That is what I being told. I will make sure we are staying on top of it. The question I asked about that was strong pushback that that was not accurate. As far as whatever is needed from the epa or whatever might need to be commuted to congress or elsewhere, we want to make sure that is done.
▶ 1:57:27Mr. Zeldin: As you are well aware, last summer we expedited that timeline to get the expansion. Getting this next part of them will be important in order to achieve a permanent solution.
▶ 1:57:49Sen. Schiff: Do you think there is an opportunity ahead of us that we could use that that you negotiated with mexico, is there an opportunity to get any further guarantees or put in any further safeguards to make sure that mexico expands the resources it needs to?
▶ 1:58:12Mr. Zeldin: This is a really important point that I have been asked from the beginning. My first trip to the san diego area as administrator was april of last year. We have been tracking every obligation. They have been obligating the money they said they would obligate. They have been doing the projects. We are staying on top of it daily.
▶ 1:58:45Mr. Zeldin: I have not a single blown deadline to report I haven't asked the entire time. The way I was communicating the entire time sounded like that. They were interested in making this their priority.
▶ 1:59:13Mr. Zeldin: As long as they are meeting those obligations we don't want to communicate that. There is slippage.
▶ 1:59:27Sen. Schiff: I appreciate that. Thank you for any effort you can make to try to keep us on track. Let me turn to another subject matter. When you testified last year, you are adamant that epa conducted an individualized review of every single one of those grants. A great many were in california.
▶ 1:59:58Sen. Schiff: You told the committee that conducted an individual review of everything. You told the house energy and commerce committee that you were the one who made the decision. After an individual review of every grant specifically. I submit a question for the record. You said you terminated grants on an individual basis. My question is these cancellations are being challenged in court.
▶ 2:00:28Sen. Schiff: Recently a show which in south carolina ruled that the epa likely violated the administrative procedures act. Because the epa failed to produce a single document showing any review. My question is do you stand by your testimony that you did an individualized review?
▶ 2:00:51Mr. Zeldin: 1000%. I'm not able to talk about individual litigation. There are declarations that were submitted. I am pointing you to that.
▶ 2:01:22Mr. Zeldin: The other staffers and political appointees or part of that process. Every single grant went that way. If you made a sheet that had everything individualized on it.
▶ 2:01:36Sen. Schiff: Was that she provided to the court? Why would the court find that?
▶ 2:01:42Mr. Zeldin: There are judges every single day across this country that a breach decisions that show that.
▶ 2:01:49Sen. Schiff: Was the information provided to the court?
▶ 2:01:52Mr. Zeldin: I cannot speak to it. Anything beyond the declarations. I would imagine it was.
▶ 2:01:58Sen. Schiff: Can you provide that to this committee?
▶ 2:02:01Mr. Zeldin: Yes. If it is not part of what was submitted to the court. I don't know why it would have been. We will submitted to the committee. I would be surprised. I'm actually looking at something that was submitted to the court. It looks pretty individualized.
▶ 2:02:22Sen. Schiff: As long as you're
▶ 2:02:24Committed To Mr. Zeldin: Sending it to this committee. I have it right here. >> I will grant your request for another few minutes. >> thank you. I want to follow-up on this issue. We have talked about it. It is an issue I'm very passionate about. You've done a great job on this. For communities in alaska.
▶ 2:02:54Committed To Mr. Zeldin: We still have over 30 communities in my state that still do not have running water. A lot of people in america would be surprised by that. You have seen a number of them. Some of the most patriotic communities in the country. Because alaska natives are higher rates in the military than any other ethnic group in the country. And yet we still have places in my state where people do not have basic running water.
▶ 2:03:25Committed To Mr. Zeldin: That is one of the reasons why there is development. There is a great increase in the life expectancy. Can you commit to continuing to work with me and this committee on drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs particularly in rural alaska and making that a top priority? Dda does have some good programs. Sometimes they are little bit encumbered in red tape to get the money out.
▶ 2:03:55Committed To Mr. Zeldin: I would like to get your commitment to continue to work with me on that. It is a very important issue for me.
▶ 2:04:01Mr. Zeldin: Absolutely. That program has grown. We anticipate 39 million for the program. To be able to maintain the current level of wastewater infrastructure. Just this past friday we announced $90 million to strengthen water infrastructure for tribes and rural communities.
▶ 2:04:33Mr. Zeldin: Like the ones you have long champion.
▶ 2:04:34Sen. Sullivan: Great, thank you, that is a great answer. This is another issue we have worked on. You've seen it firsthand in alaska. In 1971, congress passed the natives settlement act. It conveyed 44 million acres of federal land, the size of north dakota, to the alaska native people.
▶ 2:05:04Sen. Sullivan: The largest land settlement probably in the history of the world. To settle those land claims. Very historic, very successful. But a lot of these lands that were transferred by the federal government were polluted.
▶ 2:05:31Sen. Sullivan: So the feds sent alaska native people to these lands. That were contaminated. We have worked hard on this committee in a bipartisan way. They went to these atlanta native corporations and said we are going to sue you to clean up your land and they were like you gave us the land. This committee fixed that. They are no longer liable.
▶ 2:06:00Sen. Sullivan: The fact that the epa even contemplated that was crazy. I did notice that the contaminated land assistance program and the president's budget this year was fully funded. I want to thank you for that. Can you continue to work with me and this committee on this issue ? It is a real injustice. Here is the land. By the way, it is fully polluted so you can use it.
▶ 2:06:30Sen. Sullivan: We need to help with the feds not just in funding but creative ways we have talked about. May be mitigation banks and other approaches that could help bring the private sector and to help clean up these lands. The land kind of sits on the use because it is polluted.
▶ 2:06:54Sen. Sullivan: That certainly was not part of the bar in alaska thought they were getting when we pass this historical legislation.
▶ 2:07:01Mr. Zeldin: Thank you for making sure that is a top priority. We are working with the atlanta -- alaska department of conservation on these projects. We are actively working on several projects for this year. And next year. And continue to streamline our process.
▶ 2:07:31Mr. Zeldin: The epa and the alaska native tribal consortium. They are continuing to provide support to alaska native entities through fieldwork and site planning and proposal development. We are aware of approximately 1200 contaminated sites. Identified on these lands. We look forward to continuing to work with you now and into the future on this.
▶ 2:08:00Sen. Sullivan: I appreciate your cooperation. I will be home in a few days. You just mentioned them. They do great work. On the water and sewer issues we just talked about. I will pass on the greetings. Thank you for listening to my constituents. When the federal government is helping them, you get people like this.
▶ 2:08:31Sen. Sullivan: I asked my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, give me a policy indicator of success more important than the people you represent living longer. There is not one. It is more important than anything. You are helping in that regards. I appreciate. >> thank you. There are no further questions. I would like to thank you. For being here this afternoon and for your candid answers and very informative answers.
▶ 2:08:58Sen. Sullivan: All of my colleagues for their participation in today's hearing. The witness responses to these questions are due back to this committee no later than 5:00 p.m. On wednesday. They will be submitted for the record.
▶ 2:09:18Sen. Sullivan: Before the hearing adjourns, I would like to ask the folks in the audience to remain seated until the administrator and his staff have exited the building. This hearing is adjourned. Thank you.
▶ 2:09:47Sen. Sullivan: [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]