Comer, Fallon Renew Probe into Biden Admin. Regulations on Military’s and Federal Fleet’s Use of Fossil Fuels - United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY.) and Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Pat Fallon (R-Texas.) are continuing oversight of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council’s proposed rule on Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial risk after the FAR Council failed to provide documents, communications, and a staff briefing as requested by the Committee in an initial letter sent in August 2023. The proposed rule is a clear example of the Biden Administration’s ongoing radical environmental activism and regulatory blitz because it places restrictions on conventional fuels to the federal motor and aviation fleet and compromises U.S. military readiness. In a letter to FAR Council Chair Mathew Blum, the lawmakers assert the importance of complying with congressional oversight regarding this matter and again request the information sought by the committee.

“As we wrote you on August 3, 2023, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability is conducting oversight of the FAR Council’s proposed rule on Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk (hereinafter, ‘the Rule’). The Committee is deeply concerned that the Rule, as drafted, would restrict the availability of conventional fuels to the federal motor and aviation fleet and potentially compromise U.S. military readiness. In light of these concerns and others, the Committee requested a staff-level briefing by August 10, 2023, as well as documents and information by August 17, 2023, to understand the Rule’s potential to compromise needs of the U.S. military and federal fleet, the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)’s engagement with the FAR Council concerning the Rule, and other matters concerning the Rule,” the lawmakers wrote.

The proposed rule would also delegate functions for validating federal contractors’ greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to SBTi, a partnership between nongovernmental organizations. Delegating these oversight functions to an entity supported by foreign governments, including China, raises serious concerns about the impact the proposed rule would have on national security.

“The Committee’s letter was not sent simply to offer a public comment for the FAR Council’s rulemaking, but to assert congressional oversight regarding this critical matter. As such, the Committee reiterates its request that the FAR Council provide the briefing, documents and information sought by the Committee’s August 3, 2023, letter,” the lawmakers continued.

Read the letter to FAR Council Chair Mathew Blum here.