Week ahead: Dems to pull climate all-nighter in Senate

Senate Democrats are pulling an all-nighter on the chamber floor Monday night to stir up the climate change debate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) will be among those participating in the talk-a-thon, along with Sens. Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii) and 24 others.

{mosads}Notably absent from the marathon session will be the four most endangered Senate Democrats up for reelection this year. Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Mark Pryor (Ark.) and Mark Begich (Alaska) are not scheduled to take part, according to a list of speakers.

The point of the all-night climate change push is to “break the pattern of the Senate,” Whitehouse said last month.

“The cost of Congress’ inaction on climate change is too high for our communities, our kids and grandkids, and our economy,” he said in a statement on Friday. “On Monday we’ll be sending a clear message: It’s time for Congress to wake up and get serious about addressing this issue.”

There aren’t any Republican senators signed up for the all-night climate-fest but those involved hope to get their attention. 

Speakers will encourage supporters to weigh in on social media with the designated hashtag #Up4Climate.

A busy hearing schedule will also take up energy this week. 

On Tuesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the Hanford nuclear site in Washington state.

A House Science, Space and Technology Committee subpanel will examine the science behind the Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon limits for coal-fired power plants on Wednesday.

The subcommittee will dive into the EPA’s carbon capture requirements in its proposed rule for power plants in order to help curb greenhouse gas emissions.

House Republicans are bent on tearing down the science behind the EPA’s regulation, which is a key pillar of President Obama’s climate change legacy.

Acting EPA Assistant Administrator of Air and Radiation Janet McCabe will be among those testifying at the hearing.

Also on Wednesday, a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will hold a hearing on the new draft proposal by Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) that seeks to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Later on Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on Obama’s fiscal budget for 2015, which will highlight the environment, energy and installation funds under the Department of Defense.

Acting Deputy Defense Undersecretary for Installations and Environment John Conger will testify, as well as Dennis McGinn, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, among others.