On Feb. 25, 2026, Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a legislative hearing to discuss the potential of America’s brownfields sites. The hearing, titled “Ready for Reuse: Legislative Proposals to Unleash the Potential of America’s Brownfields Sites,” is scheduled for March 4, 2026 at the Rayburn House Office Building.
The hearing aims to examine legislative proposals supporting the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites across the United States. According to Guthrie and Palmer, “For years, the Brownfields Program has been a vital tool to support the cleanup of contaminated sites, putting many locations back into productive use and creating jobs to revitalize communities across the country. As demand grows to redevelop these sites for advanced manufacturing, and other critical infrastructure, it is essential that the program continues to serve the needs of our communities. This hearing will provide the opportunity to discuss legislation that would strengthen and modernize the Brownfields Program to cut red tape, protect our environment, and support the innovative use of these sites.”
The session will focus on several bills including: Brownfields Revitalization for a Better Tomorrow Act; Brownfields Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act; Brownfields Inventory and Permitting Efficiency Act; and Brownfields Reauthorization for an Affordable and Revitalized America Act. The event will be open to both public attendance and press coverage.
Gerald L. Pouncey Jr., an environmental lawyer with over thirty years’ experience in brownfield redevelopment projects nationwide, is scheduled to testify before the committee. In his prepared remarks he states that brownfield redevelopment is central to restoring land for commercial use while improving surrounding communities. Pouncey highlights challenges such as high upfront costs for environmental testing compared with greenfield development as well as uncertainties related to liability protections.
Pouncey also discusses how state voluntary cleanup programs provide liability protections and financial incentives necessary for successful redevelopment efforts. He supports recent increases in federal grant limits but recommends further prioritization of grants toward state programs working directly with developers.
The committee notice emphasizes that federal programs like those administered by EPA must remain effective and predictable in order to facilitate community revitalization through brownfield redevelopment. The hearing will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov.
For more information about this announcement or details regarding participation in the upcoming hearing, visit the official House Committee page.
