{"id":17228,"date":"2020-11-09T13:02:01","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T18:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/?p=17228"},"modified":"2020-11-09T13:02:01","modified_gmt":"2020-11-09T18:02:01","slug":"policy-news-november-9-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/2020\/11\/09\/policy-news-november-9-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Policy News: November 9, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

In This Issue:<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Join an ESA Webinar Today about the 2020 Election Results<\/strong><\/a>
\nJoin the Public Affairs Office at 3:00pm eastern for a discussion of the implications for scientific and environmental policy.<\/p>\n

Vice President Joe Biden Wins Presidential Election<\/strong><\/a>
\nDemocrats retain majority in the House of Representatives, Senate races in Georgia go to runoffs.<\/p>\n

ESA Statement on the U.S. Withdrawal from the Paris Accord<\/strong><\/a>
\nThe Trump administration\u2019s choice to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement is an irresponsible and environmentally disastrous decision<\/p>\n

Congress<\/strong><\/a>
\nRep. Gerry Connelly (D-VA) introduces the Saving Civil Service Act.<\/p>\n

Executive Branch<\/strong><\/a>
\nThe US Department of Agriculture finalizes rule exempting Alaska\u2019s National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule.<\/p>\n

International<\/strong><\/a>
\nIPBES releases report about biodiversity and pandemics.<\/p>\n

States<\/strong><\/a>
\nColorado voters approve ballot measure to reintroduce gray wolves.<\/p>\n

Scientific Community<\/strong><\/a>
\nDay One Project is crowdsourcing a list of the top 100 science and technology leadership positions in the executive branch.<\/p>\n

ESA In the News<\/strong><\/a>
\nView an up-to-date list of ESA\u2019s media coverage.<\/p>\n

Opportunities to Get Involved<\/strong><\/a>
\nFederal Register opportunities.<\/p>\n

Join an ESA Webinar Today about the 2020 Election Results<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/a>
\nJoin the ESA Public Affairs Office today, Monday, November 9, at 3:00pm eastern for a discussion of the 2020 elections results and implications for scientific and environmental policy.<\/p>\n

Register for the post-election webinar\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Vice President Joe Biden Wins Presidential Election<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/a>
\nFormer Vice President Joe Biden won the presidency in the 2020 election, unseating President Donald Trump and drastically changing the outlook for scientific and environmental policy over the next four years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

See graphic:\u00a0Biden Defeats Trump<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Democrats underperformed expectations in the Congressional elections, with House Republicans gaining five seats.<\/strong>\u00a0Notably, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson (D-MN) lost his bid for re-election. Democrats are still expected to retain their majority in the House of Representatives, with 23 seats still too close to call.<\/p>\n

See graphic:\u00a02020 House Election Results.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On the senate side, vulnerable Republican incumbents Susan Collins (ME), Steve Daines (MT) and Joni Ernest (IA) all retained their seats. Democrat Mark Kelly unseated Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ), who was appointed to the Senate after John McCain\u2019s death in 2018. Former Colorado Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper (D) defeated incumbent Cory Gardner (R-CO). The Associated Press has not called the Senate elections in North Carolina and Alaska, but incumbents Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are ahead in their races.<\/p>\n

Overall control of the senate remains unclear. Races for both Georgia senate seats going to a runoff election in January 2021.<\/strong>\u00a0In those races, Democrat Raphael Warnock is challenging Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA). Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler in early 2020 after Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) resigned for health reasons. Democrat Jon Ossoff is challenging incumbent Sen. David Perdue (R-GA).<\/p>\n

If Republicans retain control of the senate, they could block parts of Biden\u2019s environmental and scientific policy agenda. They could also push Biden to nominate more conservative picks for top environmental positions that require senate confirmation like Secretary of the Interior and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In the first 100 days of his administration, Biden is expected to push Congress to pass another coronavirus stimulus bill, which will likely include investments in green instrastructure. Congress may also act to pass a coronavirus relief bill before Biden is inaugurated \u2014 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told press last week that he wants pass another coronavirus bill and bills funding the federal agencies before the end of 2020.<\/p>\n

Biden is also expected to start announcing his picks for Cabinet-level officials in the coming weeks.<\/strong>\u00a0Politico has compiled a\u00a0list<\/a>\u00a0of rumored Biden appointees and frontrunners for various positions.\u00a0ESA will update its\u00a0Transition Tracker<\/a>\u00a0as nominations are announced.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

See graphic:\u00a02020 Senate Election Results<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Still,\u00a0Biden could use Executive Orders and the regulatory state to push for climate action and environmental regulations. The president-elect\u2019s campaign promised to start reversing Trump rollbacks on \u201cDay 1\u201d of its new administration.<\/strong>\u00a0This could include reversal of the Trump administrations\u2019 replacements for the Obama era Clean Water Rule and the Clean Power Plan, as well as Trump\u2019s changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act regulations. These regulations have been finalized by the Trump administration, so the Biden administration would have to re-start the lengthy rulemaking process.<\/p>\n

The Trump administration could act to finalize its \u201cTransparency in Science\u201d rule before the inauguration. This proposed rule would prohibit the EPA from using scientific studies where the underlying data are not publicly available.<\/p>\n

See graphic:\u00a080 key rollbacks that define Trump\u2019s environmental record<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

President-elect Biden vowed to immediately re-join the Paris Climate Agreement, which would not require Congressional approval.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biden\u2019s campaign vowed to issue a climate executive order \u201cestablishing a new regime for urgent federal action to address the climate crisis.\u201d This would include embedding climate and equity mandates into all regulatory analysis, budgeting and procurement. Biden has also signaled support for conserving 30% of the country\u2019s lands and waters by 2030 and strengthening a Clinton-era environmental justice Executive Order (EO 12898<\/a>).<\/p>\n

See also:\u00a0Venable LLP<\/a>\u00a0has analyzed the likely impact of the election on energy and environmental policies coming from both the White House and Congress.<\/em><\/p>\n

State Elections<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the state level, Republicans retained control of 29 state legislatures and hold both the state legislature and the governorship in 22 states.<\/strong>\u00a0Republican Greg Gianforte won the Montana governor\u2019s race, replacing Democrat Steve Bullock, who was term limited. Republicans also took the majority in the New Hampshire state legislature.<\/p>\n

This election is especially important because state governments will re-draw most Congressional districts after the 2020 Census. An\u00a0analysis<\/a>\u00a0by FiveThirtyEight from late October 2020 estimated that 117 congressional districts (27% of the entire House) will likely be drawn by Republicans, while 11% of House districts are likely to be drawn by Democrats. The remaining 30% will be drawn by independent commissions or by bipartisan groups. The potential for gerrymandering in favor of the Republican party is high, which would significantly give an advantage to electing Republicans to Congress beginning in 2022.<\/p>\n

See graphic:\u00a0Republicans control most state legislatures<\/a>\u00a0&\u00a02020 Governor Election Results<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Of the ten Attorney General position up for re-election, Democrats won five and Republicans won five. The partisan make-up of these positions remains the same. State Attorney Generals have played an important role in environmental policy during the Trump administration. For example, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson is\u00a0leading<\/a>\u00a0a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration Clean Water Act regulation that limit states\u2019 ability to veto infrastructure projects like oil and gas pipelines within their border. Ferguson won re-election. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey (R) has been an\u00a0enthusiastic supporter<\/a>\u00a0of Trump\u2019s repeal of the Obama administration\u2019s Waters of the U.S. rule. Morrissey also won re-election.<\/p>\n

See graphic:\u00a0<\/em>2020 Attorney General election results<\/a><\/p>\n

ESA Statement on the U.S. Withdrawal from the Paris Accord<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/a>
\nOct. 29, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

How we address climate change is a defining issue for the country, the planet and the well-being of all people now and in the future. The Trump administration\u2019s choice to withdraw the United States from the Paris accord is an irresponsible and environmentally disastrous decision that can legally go into effect Nov. 4-the day after the general election.<\/p>\n

More than 190 signatory nations pledged in the Paris accord to take actions toward reducing future temperature increases and addressing the serious threats posed by a warming planet. The U.S., once a leader in confronting climate change, now stands alone as the only country to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. Abandoning the Paris accord is but one action in the administration\u2019s efforts to systematically dismantle American commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reverse the catastrophic impacts of a warming climate.<\/p>\n

In reneging on its commitments, the Trump administration ignores decades of scientific research pointing to our current situation. Climate change is not the future; it\u2019s the present. Current climate trends bring disruption to the ecosystems on which humanity, and all biodiversity, rely. Wildfire, drought, and storms occur with greater frequency and intensity. Increasing ocean acidity and warming temperatures lead to fishery losses, destabilize coral reefs and other critical marine ecosystems and reduce the critical function of carbon storage that the oceans provide. The inexorable rise of sea levels and the inundation of heavily populated coastal cities and infrastructure threaten homes and industry for a large portion of the global society.<\/p>\n

Along with clean energy solutions, healthy ecosystems improve soil, filter water, store carbon and cycle nutrients. They buffer communities from urban heat waves, floods, erosion and storm surge. Ecosystems provide many benefits, but climate and other global changes are overwhelming their capacities to protect us.<\/strong>\u00a0This U.S. withdrawal will also delay development of ecosystem-based adaptation strategies critical to sustainable stewardship of the services ecosystems provide to humanity.<\/p>\n

Despite U.S. withdrawal from the Paris accord, there is independent, science-driven action that continues in the United States. Business leaders and leadership in state and city governments across the country have forged ahead to curb emissions by cleaning up their supply chains, electrical grids and transportation infrastructure. They have also invested heavily in mitigation and adaptation to the environmental consequences of climate change.The science is indisputable: humans are driving climate change. ESA remains committed to ensuring that science helps us understand the drivers and consequences of climate change and informs and guides policy and management efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon and drive sustainable adaptation to changing ecological conditions.<\/p>\n

The United States is facing a global challenge that requires a global solution based on the best available science. It is time for our leaders to honor the nation\u2019s commitments to the Paris accord and re-join the rest of the world in the global climate effort.<\/p>\n

Kathleen Weathers, President
\nOsvaldo Sala, Immediate Past President
\nDennis Ojima, President Elect
\nCatherine O\u2019Riordan, Executive Director<\/p>\n

Congress<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/a>
\nFederal Employment:<\/strong>\u00a0Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced the Saving the Civil Service Act (H.R. 8687<\/a>). This bill prohibits federal agencies from spending funds to implement an executive order from President Donald Trump to create a \u201cschedule F\u201d employment category. Federal employees in this category would be easier to fire. It not yet clear what employees would be sorted into this category. Federal scientists\u00a0fear<\/a>\u00a0that this category would include scientists, who could then be fired if their conclusions do not support political appointees\u2019 preferences. House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) are co-sponsors for Connolly\u2019s bill.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) introduced a bill (H.R. 8711<\/a>) to codify Trump\u2019s executive order into law. This bill has no co-sponsors<\/p>\n

Legislative Updates:<\/strong><\/p>\n