Environment

Enacting policies that assist in our ongoing efforts to reverse the effects of a changing climate, while protecting our communities, air, water, lands, oceans, and wildlife remains one of the Congresswoman’s top priorities. Throughout America’s history, we’ve often been presented with the challenge of protecting and preserving the environment and ensuring the safety and health of our communities while maintaining growth and responsible industrial progress. The Congresswoman believes that today, we can do both by supporting a just economic transition to a green new economy rooted in environmental and climate justice. For this reason she was a supporter of the Green New Deal and the Climate Action Now Act to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord.

In four years, the Trump Administration dismantled more than 100 environmental rules, including carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, cars, and trucks; critical provisions in the Endangered Species Act; and the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, which protect communities from the toxic health effects of mercury exposure. The Congresswoman took matters into her own hands by introducing the Clean and Efficient Cars Act to fight against these rollbacks and preserve Obama-era fuel economy and vehicle emissions standards that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars. 

In addition to this bill, during the 117th Congress the Congresswoman led several efforts urging the Biden Administration to restore these ambitious transportation standards and reinstate California’s ability to advance even stronger vehicle emission rules. Thanks in part to the Congresswoman’s efforts, in December of 2021 the Biden Administration unveiled new stringent tailpipe emission standards that incentivize the adoption of electric vehicles. The Administration has also announced that it is working to reinstate California’s authority to set its own vehicle emission standards and intends to unveil a new fuel economy rule to maximize transportation emission reductions. 

Congresswoman Matsui has also spearheaded initiatives focused on clean transportation to reduce air pollution. She is a long-term champion of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, a law enacted in late 2020 to provide $100 million annually to upgrade millions of diesel truck engines to cleaner technologies while improving air quality and living conditions.  

She is also a strong proponent for sensible conservation efforts that would protect our diverse environmental legacy, which is why she supported the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, the largest conservation funding law in the last fifty years, and the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act. The Congresswoman is also a strong proponent of equitably sharing the benefits of green spaces and nature. Inspired by our district’s own “Sacramento Shade Program”, the Congresswoman introduced the TREES Act, a bill to reduce residential energy bills through tree planting. 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 to protect our natural, tribal, and cultural heritage and provide vital outdoor opportunities for all Americans.

The Congresswoman will continue working to uphold environmental regulations; ensure access to clean air, water, and green spaces for all communities; protect wildlife and nature; and improve the quality of our air and water for future generations.

Delta Conveyance Project

The State of California has proposed to build a tunnel to deliver water directly from the Sacramento River, around the Delta, to the State Water Project pumping station at Bethany Reservoir. Congresswoman Matsui is reviewing the state’s proposal and engaging with state and local leaders to scrutinize the project and its potential impact. The Congresswoman has and always will prioritize the long-term sustainability and prosperity of the Delta for future generations.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a unique and irreplaceable landscape, in which historic and diverse farming communities maintain a delicate balance with a rich and endangered ecosystem. Chinook Salmon, Delta Smelt, and the Greater Sandhill Crane, among many other species, share this environment with some 500,000 people, many of whom have been farming this land and plying these waters for generations.

The future will be hotter and drier, and we must invest now in a sustainable water system that will support our needs while combating the long-term threat posed by climate change. However, a system that drains the Delta dry is not sustainable. Congresswoman Matsui is working toward a long-term, sustainable solution that meets Californians' needs while also prioritizing the best interests of the Delta communities.

Accomplishments

• Named Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition for the 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses. 
• Successfully led congressional efforts that helped to restore and strengthen federal tailpipe emission standards to reduce transportation pollution – the most polluting sector of our economy – and reinstate California’s ability to continue implementing its Advanced Clean Cars Rule. 
  • Introduced H.R.978, Clean and Efficient Cars Act of 2019, to restore the Obama-era tailpipe emission and fuel economy standards rollback by the Trump Administration.
  • In March 2021, she led a letter with 70 of her colleagues urging the Biden Administration to take action to reinstate California’s Clean Air Act waiver and restore the Obama-Biden tailpipe emission and fuel economy standards
  • In July of 2021, she led a letter a follow up letter with 130+ of her colleagues to reiterate the importance of reinstating the California authority to set its own vehicle emission standards
  • In October of 2021 she led a letter to President Biden urging his Administration to adopt the strongest proposal for new tailpipe emission standards. 
  • The new tailpipe emissions rule announced in December of 2021 incorporated many of the policies that the Congresswoman had urged for over the past years.
• Enacted the Diesel Emission Reductions Act reauthorization
• Fought for robust funding to lower carbon emissions, combat the climate crisis, ensure clean air for communities in the Build Back Better Act
• Led congressional efforts include robust funding for electric vehicles (EVs) in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• Fought for funding for Sacramento’s I Street Bridge Replacement Project and Old I Street Bridge Deck Conversion Project through the INVEST in America Act
• Secured over $1 million in federal grants for low-emission buses and clean-fuel equipment for Sacramento Regional Transit
• Legislation co-authored 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.

Legislation

• H.R.1768 - Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2019
• H.R.978 - Clean and Efficient Cars Act of 2019
• H.R.3522 - TREES Act of 2021
• H.R. 3271 – Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act
• H.R. 4440 – Medium and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Act