Capito to Confront Climate in EPW Role
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso’s decision to relinquish the Environment and Public Works Committee gavel in favor of the Energy and Natural Resources chair has shifted new attention to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). She is widely assumed to be his successor at EPW, although committee staff won’t confirm whether Capito has formally filed paperwork to seek the seat.
Hill staffers and lobbyists who have worked with Capito describe her as pragmatic and well-respected, with an ability to build consensus across the aisle, Pro’s Tanya Snyder reports. The reauthorization of a five-year surface transportation bill is one of her top priorities on the committee, according to an aide, as are water resources and broadband. Her aide also listed “continuing to address climate change” as a priority.
Expect to see friction on the issue between Capito and her would-be counterpart in the House, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), whose surface transportation proposal is wrapped in a massive multi-sector infrastructure bill, H.R. 2 (116), centered on combating climate change. The current Senate reauthorization proposal, S. 2302 (116), would be the first-ever surface transportation bill with a climate section. But, by focusing on resiliency rather than mitigation, it does not go nearly as far as DeFazio would like to reduce emissions from mobile sources, Tanya writes. READ MORE
