Environment
Enacting policies that assist in our ongoing efforts to reverse the effects of a changing climate, while protecting our air, water, lands, oceans, and wildlife remains a priority of the Congresswoman’s. Throughout America’s history, we have often been presented the challenge of protecting and preserving the environment while maintaining growth and responsible industrial progress. The Congresswoman believes that today, we can do both.<br />\
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A great deal of debate continues around environmental regulations in Congress. In August 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the first ever carbon pollution standards for new power plants, called the Clean Power Plan. Previously, there were no limits to the amount of carbon pollution that power plants could emit. The Congresswoman supports these new standards, which reflect ongoing trends in the power sector to build cleaner plants and use American made clean energy technologies. California strongly supports the Clean Power Plan, and the Congresswoman is pleased that our state is well on its way to going beyond the plan’s requirements, recently enacting legislation that requires California generate half of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.<br />\
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The Congresswoman is also a strong proponent for sensible conservation efforts that would protect our diverse environmental legacy. From our vast oceans to our precious national parks, all aspects of our environment must be considered. The Congresswoman believes we must not only protect these lands for native wildlife, but also because they provide vital outdoor opportunities for Americans.<br />\
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The Congresswoman will continue working to uphold environmental regulations, protect wildlife sanctuaries, and to improve the quality of our air and water for future generations.<br />\
<h2>Accomplishments</h2>\
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<li>Named Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition for the 115th Congress.</li>\
<li>Legislation coauthored by Congresswoman Matsui resulted in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implementing rules in 2016 to protect consumers from potentially hazardous levels of formaldehyde in wood products.</li>\
<li>Secured over $1 million in federal grants for low-emission buses and clean-fuel equipment for Sacramento Regional Transit.</li>\
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<h2>Legislation</h2>\
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<li>H.R.3107 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2017</li>\
<li>H.R. 5226 Clean and Efficient Cars Act of 2018</li>\
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WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and author of the Clean and Efficient Cars Act, sent a letter to Andrew Wheeler, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and James Owens, Acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), urging them to halt the finalization of the Safer Affordable Fuel Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Justice Department's decision to terminate its antitrust probe into the California Air Resources Board (CARB)-automaker agreement to set higher climate standards.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6) applauded the passage of H.R. 1158 and H.R. 1865, which provide funding for the 2020 fiscal year. The funding package includes Matsui-backed legislation and significant Democratic priorities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) introduced The Residential Energy and Economic Savings (TREES) Act, a bill to help homeowners lower energy costs, reduce stormwater runoff, and mitigate the effects of climate change by planting more trees.
The bill creates a new Department of Energy (DOE) grant program that offers homeowners free or reduced-cost tree-planting services to help shade homes, reduce energy use, and tackle the climate crisis.
The federal government is working on guidelines to help people keep wireless carrier coverage during emergencies, but California lawmakers worry the agency is prioritizing hurricanes over wildfires.
Without proper guidance, lawmakers fear victims of wildfires could be left further disadvantaged and without necessary tools of communication during disasters.
The Federal Communications Commission is indicating it does not plan to include information specific to the wildfires that have devastated thousands of Californians.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-6), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Co-Chairs of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), led more than 160 Members of Congress, including 36 members of the California Delegation, in urging House Democratic Leadership to prioritize clean energy tax credits in upcoming legislation demonstrating broad Democratic support for the immediate passage of these policies.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and author of the Clean and Efficient Cars Act, condemns the Trump Administration for illegally challenging California's authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate its own air quality and fuel economy standards.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), author of the Clean and Efficient Cars Act and senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, calls out the Trump Administration and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for their decision to open a questionable probe in Ford, Honda, BMW, and Volkswagen. These latest actions come on the heels of California working with automakers on an agreement to limit air pollution and improve public health.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6) issued the following statement after the departure of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) controversial Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation a longtime opponent of the 2012 Clean Cars Rule and the California waiver authority under the Clean Air Act.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6) lauded the passage of H.R. 2740, the first of two spending measures securing significant wins for the Sacramento region. Congresswoman Matsui played a pivotal role in securing critically important flood infrastructure and interim nuclear storage funds. The overall spending measure included funding for the Departments of Defense, State, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Energy, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers. The House passed the package by a vote of 226 to 203.