Energy and Environment

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis today unveiled a comprehensive framework to create jobs and combat the climate crisis, which incorporates 12 of U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright’s (PA-08) bills as critical tools in this effort – more than any other member of the U.S. House. The action framework outlines ambitious and achievable policies to: Grow our…

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) today announced support for the sweeping new House infrastructure proposal unveiled this week, the Moving Forward Act, which includes two of his bills that would address the problem of abandoned mine lands in northeastern Pennsylvania and across the country. These bills would help eliminate dangerous health and safety risks like acid mine…

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) led a group of Congressional Democrats and Republicans representing Pennsylvania in introducing the Pennsylvania National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act. This bill would reauthorize for 15 years all five National Heritage Areas (NHAs) in the Commonwealth: Lackawanna Valley, Delaware & Lehigh,…

Hanover Township, PA – U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) today announced the release of $500,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields program to the Earth Conservancy in Luzerne County. A Brownfield is a formerly contaminated site that, once cleaned up, can be repurposed or reused. This federal funding allows Earth Conservancy to…

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) re-introduced the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Plumbing Research Act to improve the safety, water efficiency and reliability of our plumbing systems. “Americans benefit from modern water fixtures and appliances like water-saving shower heads and efficient washing…

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) introduced the Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act with Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21) to protect and preserve native plant species in national parks throughout the United States. “Fighting invasive species is critical to preserving our national parks so we can enjoy them for generations to come,” said Rep.…

Today, U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Matt Gaetz (FL-01), introduced legislation supported by both Republicans and Democrats to bolster America’s infrastructure and systems against the risks of extreme weather. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) have also introduced companion legislation in the U.S.…

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) will provide $32,171,975 to Pennsylvania in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation grants, to clean up and repurpose abandoned coal mines. More than $170 million in AML Reclamation funding will be available to states and tribes in FY…

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the Safeguarding America’s Future and Environment (SAFE) Act, legislation authored by U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) to protect American communities, natural resources and wildlife from extreme weather and climate change. “The damaging effects of climate change and extreme weather are becoming more apparent…

Evidence of the days when coal was king linger throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania in the form of culm banks. The job to rid those piles of waste is in dire need of funding. Now, two local lawmakers in Washington aim to keep the work on track. The work you see is an ongoing project, nine months and counting. With each truckload, crews are cleaning up what was the old Harry E. coal…