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January 29, 2021
Congressional Climate Camps
Find out more about the briefings in this series below:
Lessons Learned from Past Congresses and Current Attitudes on Climate
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is holding a Climate Camp online briefing series. We are going over the basics of the legislative process, highlighting key areas and opportunities for achieving near-term and long-term carbon reductions through policy.
Our first session brought you up to speed on the budget and appropriations process already underway for fiscal year 2022. Presenters drew on examples of funding for climate, energy, and environment programs to bring the process to life and show how it plays out in practice. Then, the session dived into how stimulus packages take shape, the role of climate action in stimulus, and what to expect in the upcoming months as the new administration and the 117th Congress work to address the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click below to go straight to the different highlights and sections.
Catch up with this briefing with the corresponding podcast episode! We distilled the 2-hour event into just 24 minutes, perfect for people who missed the briefing but still want to catch up with it on the go! Listen to the episode here.
Q&A
When it comes to bills and reports, what function do reports play in appropriations recommendations?
Where can staffers and policymakers find resources, information, and analysis on energy, environmental, and climate issues across the entire spectrum of appropriations?
What is the relationship between a continuing resolution (CR) and the regular appropriations bill?
What happens after Congress appropriates the budget? How final is the budget and report language, and what level of spending discretion is there?
What are some of the elements that make the federal appropriations process unique and challenging from your perspective? Are there any issues we should be aware of as the 117th Congress gets started?
Since you have experience working for multiple members of Congress, in your opinion, what should a staff person be thinking about right now to prepare themselves for the upcoming budget and appropriations process?
Do you have any suggestions for both Hill staffers and outside stakeholder groups on tips and tricks to be aware of and utilize when engaging in this process?
Looking back on your Senate service, do you have any stories or experiences that stick out as noteworthy or something that Hill staff members should take away from your experience?
At times, the members you worked for were in the majority and at other times, they were in the minority. How did that change your member’s perspective and your approach to working with subcommittees?
What should Hill staffers be thinking about in preparation for the expected stimulus package?
How do we make sure that a stimulus package is accessible to state and local governments that may not have the capacity or resources to take advantage of it?
What should Hill staffers consider to advance equity and critical environmental justice goals through stimulus?
What areas and topics in energy and environment should policymakers have at the front of their minds when they are designing a stimulus package?
How do you think the upcoming stimulus package will take shape? What are your thoughts and speculations on the direction of where stimulation can go?
Highlights compiled by Celine Yang