Senate EPW braces for leadership change

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is changing leadership regardless of who wins the election as Chairman Tom Carper, a champion of the Biden administration’s tax and infrastructure policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act, will not be returning to Congress next term.

“As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I’m especially proud of a number of significant climate and clean air investments that we worked to secure in this law,” said Carper, a Delaware Democrat.  

“The Inflation Reduction Act has also made critical investments in the IRS to modernize the agency, improve customer service and ensure that all Americans are paying their fair share in taxes.”  

His comments came via a statement earlier this month and addressed his departure when his term ends in January 2025. Carper has served in the Senate since 2001 and overseen the EPW Committee since 2021. His career in politics began with three terms as Delaware’s state treasurer where he was credited with turning around the state’s credit rating from the worst in the country to a AAA rating. 

Carper has been a reliable advocate for climate change legislation and observers don’t expect much of a change if the Democrats remain in control of the Senate. 

“Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island is thought to have the inside track at claiming the EPW Committee gavel, assuming that he is willing to give up his chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee,” said Dan Hartnett, chief policy officer, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. 

“As EPW chair Sen. Whitehouse would have an opportunity to delve into federal policies related to climate change, which is one of his passions.” 

Whitehouse has been in the Senate since 2007, and is also a supporter of Supreme Court reform, and growing the middle class by increasing wages. 

The Environmental Committee spends a lot of time dealing with issues revolving around clean water including an ongoing tug of war over State Revolving Funds that flow to local water utilities, who are consistent bond issuers.

The SRFs are managed by the Environmental Protection Agency, a group that consistently draws suspicion from EPW Ranking Member, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

Should control of the Senate flip to the Republicans, Capito seems to be the heir apparent. 

“Democrats generally favor higher levels of spending on EPA programs, providing an opportunity to secure necessary dollars for EPA’s water infrastructure funding assistance programs, especially with the looming expiration of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Hartnett.

“Conversely, Republicans may be more motivated to extend portions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” 

Capito has been serving in the Senate since 2015 and has been the ranking member of EPW since 2021. She’s considered a moderate who has clashed with and eventually supported former president Trump. 

“She has strongly supported our efforts to provide liability protections for drinking water systems that properly dispense of per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, and we expect to continue working with her on this issue in 2025,” said Hartnett.

The EPA is a favorite target of the Republicans, but it’s relationship with the EPW is a bit more nuanced. “I would not expect any changes to EPA’s enforcement or regulatory development plans based on the outcome of the Senate races”, said Hartnett. 

“I would expect a much higher degree of EPA oversight, should Republicans take control of the Senate. Especially if Republican Senate control is combined with a Democratic administration, much of EPW’s focus in the new year could be on reviewing different aspects of EPA’s agenda.”

Sen. Lindsay Graham R- S.C., also sits on the minority side of the Environmental Committee and he’s the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. 

Democratic heavy hitters on EPW include Sen. Bernie Sanders D – Vt., who chairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Sen. Ben Cardin D – Md., the current chair of the Foreign Relations Committee.   

In June, both sides of the Environmental Committee blessed the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act. The ADVANCE Act aims to streamline the process of bringing Small Modular Reactors online to generate carbon free energy. 

President Biden signed the bill into law in July as industry representatives feel confident about EPW’s continued support for nuclear, no matter who wins in November. 

“Legislative action like this demonstrates not only a commitment to accelerating progress, but overwhelming bipartisan support for nuclear as a long-term solution,” said John Kotek, senior vice president of policy and public affairs for the Nuclear Energy Institute.  

“We expect to see this continue long after election day.”