Skip to main content

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 />\
<br />\
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 />\
<br />\
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 />\
<br />\
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>\
<ul>\
<li>Named Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy &amp; 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>\
</ul>\
<h2>Legislation</h2>\
<ul>\
<li>H.R.3107 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2017</li>\
<li>H.R. 5226 Clean and Efficient Cars Act of 2018</li>\
</ul>\
<br />\
<div class="telerik_paste_container" style="border-width: 0px; position: absolute; overflow: hidden; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; left: 77px; top: 407px; width: 1px; height: 1px;"><span style="color: #202a43; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; background-color: #e8e8e8;">H.R.5226&nbsp;</span><br />\
</div>\
<div class="telerik_paste_container" style="border-width: 0px; position: absolute; overflow: hidden; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; left: 77px; top: 407px; width: 1px; height: 1px;"><span style="color: #202a43; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; background-color: #e8e8e8;">H.R.5226&nbsp;</span><br />\
</div>

January 21, 2025

A House Democratic caucus pilloried President Donald Trump’s first set of executive actions, accusing him of working to “gut our bedrock pollution and environmental protections.”
But in a multipage letter filled with both bullet points and outrage, the leaders of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition offered something of an olive branch.
 

"We are committed to working with your Administration" to "protect Americans from harm, to grow the middle class, and to make our government work for the average American," they wrote.
 


Image
Tree-lined side of the Capitol building
December 4, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), and Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16) introduced the Whale Conservation Habitat Analysis, Research, and Technical Strategies (CHARTS) Act of 2024, legislation that will help protect baleen and sperm whales by improving our understanding of whale feeding areas, calving grounds, and migration routes.

Issues:Environment

Image
Tree-lined side of the Capitol building
October 8, 2024

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) released the following statement after California launched the first phase of its federal Home Energy Rebate programs to help lower families’ utility bills. California is implementing the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) portion of the rebate program—enabling savings on energy efficiency improvements.


October 3, 2024

A project to electrify hundreds of homes in Sacramento’s Meadowview neighborhood will get millions of dollars in new federal funding to launch the program.

The $3 million for Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Neighborhood Electrification Project will electrify as many as 300 homes in Meadowview, the utility company said. Upgrades will include induction stoves and smart thermostats, heat pump space heaters and water heaters along with chargers for electric vehicles, where feasible.


Image
Tree-lined side of the Capitol building
September 26, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Vehicle Energy Performance Act (VEPA) to incentivize the purchase of new vehicles with better-than-average energy performance.

Issues:Environment

Image
Tree-lined side of the Capitol building
September 19, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Reps. Jared Huffman (CA-02) and John Sarbanes (MD-03), led a group of 33 lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) National Old-Growth Amendment and urging USFS to take additional measures to protect old-growth forests.

Issues:Environment

Image
Tree-lined side of the Capitol building
August 16, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) released the following statement to celebrate the two-year anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)into law.


Image
Tree-lined side of the Capitol building
August 5, 2024

Washington, D.C. – House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Members Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Mike Levin (CA-49) along with the SEEC Co-Chairs — Reps. Doris Matsui (CA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Paul Tonko (NY-20) — led a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan, urging the agency to adopt strong, comprehensive standards for existing gas-fired powerplants.


July 31, 2024

Nine Democratic lawmakers are urging the CFTC to finalize “rigorous” guidance for carbon credit trading and are weighing legislation to bolster the agency's authority.