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FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Oversight Hearing on CEQ Regulatory Actions

Original title: OVERSIGHT HEARING ON EXAMINING SYSTEMIC GOVERNMENT OVERREACH AT CEQ

January 1, 2024

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing serves as a formal legislative inquiry into the regulatory authority and decision-making processes of the Council on Environmental Quality, which impacts how federal agencies implement environmental reviews for infrastructure and energy projects.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Council on Environmental Quality

The agency is the subject of a formal congressional oversight investigation regarding its regulatory authority.

Public Power Council

The organization provided testimony regarding the impact of CEQ regulations on power infrastructure.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2024.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on September 14, 2023, to examine allegations of government overreach by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The hearing featured testimony from academic, legal, and industry experts regarding CEQ's regulatory processes and the Phase 2 Rule.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on September 14, 2023, by the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Natural Resources.
  • CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory declined an invitation to testify or provide staff representation at the hearing.
  • The hearing focused on the 'NEPA Phase 2 Rule' implemented by the CEQ.
  • Witnesses included representatives from Florida International University, Earthjustice, the Public Power Council, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
  • The Subcommittee authorized several members to participate in the hearing from the dais, including representatives from Oregon, Louisiana, California, Idaho, and Washington.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)?
The CEQ is a division of the Executive Office of the President that coordinates federal environmental efforts and oversees the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act ().
Why was this hearing held?
The Subcommittee held the hearing to conduct oversight into what the Chairman described as 'systemic government overreach' by the CEQ.
Did the head of the CEQ attend the hearing?
No, CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory declined the invitation to testify.

Why It Matters

This hearing serves as a formal legislative inquiry into the regulatory authority and decision-making processes of the Council on Environmental Quality, which impacts how federal agencies implement environmental reviews for infrastructure and energy projects.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Executive-Legislative Tension

The refusal of the CEQ Chair to testify highlights a recurring tension between the House Natural Resources Committee and the current administration's environmental regulatory body.

Connected Entities

personMelanie A. StansburyRanking Member of the SubcommitteeMap →
personJill Witkowski HeapsWitness, Senior Attorney at EarthjusticeMap →
personMarlo LewisWitness, Senior Fellow at Competitive Enterprise InstituteMap →
personPaul GosarChairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsMap →
personScott SimmsWitness, CEO of Public Power CouncilMap →
personBrenda MalloryChair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)Map →
personMario LoyolaWitness, Research Assistant Professor at Florida International UniversityMap →
organizationCouncil on Environmental QualityThe federal agency under investigationMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy75
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment40
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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