Business meeting to consider S.2082, to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to modify the definition of "production facility" to exclude an equipment or device capable of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel in a manner that does not separate plutonium from other transuranic elements, S.2235, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize the diesel emissions reduction program, S.2741, to establish within the Environmental Protection Agency the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains, S.3022, to amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to reauthorize certain Environmental Protection Agency programs, S.2110, to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to prepare a report on reuse and refill systems, S.2878, to reauthorize funding to monitor, assess, and research the Great Lakes Basin, S.287, to designate the Federal building located at 225 South Pierre Street in Pierre, South Dakota, as the "Marcella LeBeau Federal Building," and for other purposes, S.2319, to designate the Federal building located at 300 West Congress Street in Tucson, Arizona, as the "Raul M. Grijalva Federal Building", and the nominations of Jeffrey Hall, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator, and Douglas Troutman, of Maryland, to be Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances, both of the Environmental Protection Agency, Ho Nieh, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mitch Graves, and Jeff Hagood, both of Tennessee, Randall Jones, of Alabama, and Arthur Graham, of Florida, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and 3 General Services Administration resolutions.

Committee on Environment and Public Works

2025-10-29

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This meeting of the committee was convened to consider and vote on seven nominations, three committee resolutions, and eight pieces of legislation, covering a range of environmental, infrastructure, and administrative matters [ 00:21:47-00:22:08 ] . The session included opening statements from the Chair and Ranking Member, followed by extensive discussion and voting on proposed measures [ 00:21:28-00:21:41 ] .

Nominations

The committee considered several nominations for key positions. Chairman Wicker urged support for nominees to the EPA (Jeffrey Hall and Doug Troutman), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Honi), and the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors, deeming them well-qualified [ 00:21:53-00:22:05 ] . Ranking Member Whitehouse, however, expressed strong opposition to Jeffrey Hall and Doug Troutman for EPA roles, citing their industry backgrounds and perceived lack of effective enforcement . He also opposed the four TVA nominees due to concerns about the board's politicization, though he supported Honi for the NRC despite broader concerns about the NRC's leadership . Ultimately, Jeffrey Hall and Doug Troutman, as well as the four TVA nominees (Mitch Graves, Jeff Haygood, Randall Jones, and Arthur Graham), were each favorably reported by a close vote of 10-9 [ 00:38:22-00:38:22 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
[ 00:39:37-00:39:37 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
[ 00:40:47-00:40:47 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
[ 00:44:18-00:44:18 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. The nomination of Honi for the NRC was favorably reported with a vote of 13-6 [ 00:38:22-00:38:22 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Ronald Reagan Building and FBI Headquarters Relocation

A significant portion of the meeting revolved around committee resolutions for repairs and alterations to the Ronald Reagan Federal Office Building, particularly the proposal to relocate the FBI headquarters there [ 00:22:20-00:22:38 ] . Chairman Wicker supported this plan as a responsible and efficient use of an existing federal building, potentially saving significant expense and time compared to new construction [ 00:22:38-00:22:49 ] . Senator Alsobrooks vehemently opposed the relocation, arguing it violates a bipartisan law that designated specific sites in Maryland or Virginia for the FBI headquarters [ 00:51:31-00:51:42 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. She raised concerns about the building's security suitability, as the FBI itself previously indicated a need for Level 5 security, and questioned the financial claims without a detailed cost assessment . Chair Capito countered that utilizing existing federal property is fiscally responsible and that the GSA had met its prior obligations . Senator Merkley expressed broader concerns about administrations targeting "blue states" for projects, a sentiment echoed by Senator Sullivan who cited adverse executive actions against his home state of Alaska [ 01:01:38-01:02:00 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Despite objections, the three resolutions concerning the Ronald Reagan Building, including the FBI relocation, were approved, with the FBI headquarters resolution passing 10-9 [ 01:03:35-01:03:35 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Bipartisan Legislation

Several pieces of legislation with bipartisan support were discussed and approved. The Refuel Act, co-sponsored by Senators Whitehouse and Husted, aims to establish a regulatory framework for recycling spent nuclear fuel to produce clean energy and reduce reliance on imported uranium . Despite Senator Merkley's concerns about proliferation risks, he ultimately supported the bill, which passed 16-3 [ 01:06:17-01:06:17 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) reauthorization, supported by Senator Whitehouse for its benefits in reducing pollution and aiding school districts, was approved by voice vote . The Save Our Seas 2.0 reauthorization, championed by Senators Whitehouse and Sullivan, focuses on combating plastic pollution through recycling programs . Senator Merkley highlighted the need to address microfiber plastic pollution from textiles and washing machines within this framework . The Legacy Mine Cleanup Act, co-sponsored by Senator Kelly, to authorize an EPA office dedicated to abandoned mine cleanup in the western U.S., was adopted . Additionally, a bill to rename the Tucson Federal Building after former Congressman Raul M. Grijalva, supported by Senator Kelly, passed by voice vote [ 01:11:07-01:11:20 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. The REUSE Act, Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act, and Marcella LeBeau Recognition Act were also approved on block by voice vote [ 01:11:07-01:11:20 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Regulation Challenges

Senator Sullivan spoke about his concerns with the EPA's 2010 regulation requiring Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in diesel engines [ 01:15:12-01:15:23 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. He explained that DEF freezes at low temperatures, causing engines in cold weather states like Alaska to shut down or enter "limp mode," posing significant public safety risks for drivers stranded in remote, frigid conditions . Senator Lummis echoed these concerns, recounting a constituent who was imprisoned for bypassing the DEF system to ensure essential vehicles like fire trucks could operate in cold Wyoming weather, criticizing the EPA's regulations as imposing criminal penalties without legislative backing . Both senators called for practical updates or exemptions to the regulation to prevent such dangerous situations .

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a largely professional and procedural tone, marked by a balance of bipartisan collaboration on several legislative items and contentious, partisan debate on specific nominations and the FBI headquarters relocation [ 00:23:28 ] [ 00:51:14-00:51:20 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. While there were instances of mutual commendation for cooperative efforts, particularly on environmental bills [ 01:09:29 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
, strong objections were raised by the Ranking Member and other senators regarding EPA nominees and GSA actions [ 00:50:45-00:50:49 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Specific frustrations were articulated concerning alleged political targeting and the impact of federal regulations on citizens, adding a critical edge to some discussions [ 01:01:38-01:02:00 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Participants

Transcript

Thank you.
Good morning, everybody.  I note the presence of a quorum and will now call this business meeting to order.  For the information of the members of the committee, Ranking Member Whitehouse and I will deliver our opening statements.  And once we have a sufficient attendance, we will immediately proceed to the votes to report out nominations, resolutions, and legislation.  After the votes, senators who wish to be recognized to speak on the nominations, resolutions, or legislations may do so.   So I want to thank my colleagues for attending today's business meeting to vote on seven nominations, three committee resolutions, and eight pieces of legislation.  First, we will consider the nomination pending before the committee of Jeffrey Hall and Doug Troutman to be assisted administrators at the EPA, Honi to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and four nominees of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors, which will return the board to a working quorum.   Each of these nominees is well qualified, and I urge my colleagues to support their nominations.  We will also consider three committee resolutions related to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., and eight pieces of legislation.  The three committee resolutions approve prospectuses from the General Services Administration for repairs and alterations at the Ronald Reagan Building.  Two of these prospectuses address important repairs immediately needed at the building.  The final prospectus is the GSA's proposed plan   to replace the current FBI headquarters at the J. Edgar Hoover Building with a renovated space at the Ronald Reagan Building.  This approach addresses the needs and mission of the FBI and utilizes an existing federal building with a reasonable investment in renovation instead of significant expense and time waiting for new construction.  I believe the GSA's plan is a responsible and efficient way to address this years-long problem.  Finally, the bills we consider today are largely bipartisan measures drafted by   a variety of members of the committee.  The bills are, you know what, I'm going to skip reading them because I think everybody has them in front of them, because I'll call them out individually as we vote.
I want to thank all of our members for their work on these bills, and I am proud that this committee can continue its bipartisan work on passing legislation.  With that, I'll turn to Ranking Member Whitehouse for his opening statement.
Thank you, Chairman.  We have a busy agenda today, so let me get right to it.  I'll start with Jeffrey Hall, Trump's nominee for EPA's Office of Enforcement, another industry crony here to serve the big polluters who have occupied this administration.  Since February, as acting in EPA's enforcement role, he's done so little that DOJ filed fewer enforcement complaints for this EPA than ever in any previous administration.   One administrative complaint was dismissed with prejudice, meaning EPA cannot bring it again, against Trump megadonor and former Pambandi employer GEO Group, alleging misuse of pesticides at a detention facility.  We'll have to get the facts on that from a separate lawsuit over chemicals sprayed directly on inmates.   Hall claimed no involvement in this and then admitted he'd been briefed on the matter and on likely additional violations.  EPA, already no great shakes for enforcement, has targeted enforcement attorneys for buyouts so a smaller staff can deliver what Hall calls appropriate enforcement, which sounds to me like appropriate for polluters.  I will vote no on Mr. Hall.  Doug Troutman for EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention spent over 20 years representing chemical industry interests   that he would now regulate.  EPA has zero credibility, and I will oppose his nomination.  The four Republican nominees for the Tennessee Valley Authority Board came after the Trump administration fired three Democratic appointees, upending decades of tradition of a bipartisan TVA board.   This is not the fault of the nominees, but it causes me to oppose their nominations.  As for Honia, nominated to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, I will support his nomination despite my concerns that the mischief and upheaval at NRC is threatening nuclear safety and regulatory certainty.   The NRC needs expertise and qualified leadership like his, but is infested with unqualified doggie staffers and so-called DOE detailees who are attuned to the interests of the fossil fuel industry.
I expect Mr. Nia to resist the dangerously misguided political interference that upends decades of bipartisan support for NRC as the safety regulator enabling the nuclear industry's very existence.   A capable NRC can focus on nuclear progress for America, including smart ways to deal with our nuclear spent fuel.  So I'm pleased that the Refuel Act, which I introduced with Senator Husted, is on our agenda.  Spent nuclear fuel is a $45 billion disposal liability that could be an energy opportunity.   Advanced reactor technologies can use spent fuel for clean power.  Spent fuel also contains hundreds of radioisotopes with economic value outside nuclear power.  Our bill paves the way to license nuclear fuel recycling facilities that can help make these wins a reality.   I hope we'll also reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.  DERA is a longstanding bipartisan grant program that helps retrofit and replace old, dirty diesel engines with newer, cleaner, more efficient engines that both save money and make air safer along roadways, around ports, and near schools.  School districts have been the largest beneficiary of these grants, usually for safer, cleaner buses, so I'm glad we're continuing this program.  I will happily support the Save R.C.  's 2.0 reauthorization, which I introduced   with Senator Sullivan to reauthorize existing EPA grant programs that combat plastic pollution.

Sign up for free to see the full transcript

Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.

Sign up