The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today announced its next seven hearings during the coming weeks on the importance of modernizing our nation’s energy infrastructure, bipartisan legislation to maintain competitive royalty rates on American produced soda ash, which is a critical component in the production of glass; on pending nominations to the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior; on west-wide drought legislation; on oversight of Puerto Rico; and on oversight of the administration’s proposed Stream Protection Rule. More information on these hearings can be found at the links below or by visiting the committee’s website.

• Thursday, October, 1, 2:30 p.m. EDT Public Lands, Forests and Mining Subcommittee hearing on S. 2031, the American Soda Ash Competitiveness Act.
  
  
• Tuesday, October 6, 10:30 a.m. EDT Full committee hearing to receive testimony on the potential modernization of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and related energy security issues.
  
  
• Thursday, October 8, 9:30 a.m. EDT Full committee hearing to receive testimony on the six bills:
• H.R. 2898 (Valadao), the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015.
• S. 1894 (Feinstein), the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2015.
• S. 1936 (Udall), the New Mexico Drought Preparedness Act of 2015.
• S. 1583 (Murkowski), to authorize the expansion of an existing hydroelectric project at Terror Lake on Kodiak Island, Alaska.
• S. 2046 (Murkowski), to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue an order continuing a stay of a hydroelectric license for the Mahoney Lake hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes
• S. 2083 (Burr), to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project.
  
  
• Thursday, October 8, 2:30 p.m. EDT Public Lands, Forests and Mining Subcommittee hearing to receive testimony on 10 bills.
• S. 414 (Feinstein), a bill to provide for conservation, enhanced recreation opportunities and development of renewable energy in the California Desert Conservation Area, and for other purposes.
• S. 872 (Murkowski), a bill to provide for the recognition of certain Native communities and the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and for other purposes.
• S. 1295 (Bennet) / H.R.1324 (Polis), a bill to adjust the boundary of the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado, and for other purposes.
• S. 1448 (Wyden), a bill to designate the Frank Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary in the State of Oregon.
• S. 1592 (Flake), a bill to clarify the description of certain Federal land under the Northern Arizona Land Exchange and Verde River Basin Partnership Act of 2005 to include additional land in the Kaibab National Forest.
• S. 1941 (Gardner) / H.R.2223 (Lamborn), a bill to authorize, direct, expedite and facilitate a land exchange in El Paso and Teller Counties, Colorado, and for other purposes.
• S. 1942 (Gardner) / H.R.1554 (Tipton), a bill to require a land conveyance involving the Elkhorn Ranch and the White River National Forest in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.
• S. 1955 (Murkowski), a bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide for equitable allotment of land to Alaska Native veterans.
• S. 1971 (Boxer), a bill to expand the boundary of the California Coastal National Monument, and for other purposes.
• S. 2069 (Wyden), a bill to amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to modify provisions relating to certain land exchanges in the Mt. Hood Wilderness in the State of Oregon.
  
  
• Tuesday, October 20, 10 a.m. EDT Full committee hearing to consider the following nominations:
• Cherry Ann Murray, to be Director of the Office of Science at the Department of Energy
• Victoria Marie Baecher Wassmer, to be Under Secretary of Energy
• Mary L. Kendall, to be Inspector General at the Department of the Interior
• Suzette M. Kimball, to be Director of the United States Geological Survey
• Kristen Joan Sarri, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Policy, Management and Budget)
  
  
• Thursday, October 22, 10 a.m. EDT Full committee hearing to receive testimony on Puerto Rico’s debt, economy and options for Congress moving forward.
  
  
• Tuesday, October 27, 10 a.m. EDT Full committee hearing to examine the development and potential implementation of the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement’s proposed Stream Protection Rule.