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House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC)

Website:

seec.house.gov/
Type:

Congressional Caucus
Co-Chairs:

Doris Matsui

Mike Quigley

Paul Tonko
Affiliated Organization(s):

Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition PAC

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The House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) is a congressional caucus comprised of Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The coalition was formed in 2009 and is described as an “aggressive” coalition supporting left-of-center environmentalist legislation in Congress. The coalition appears to support the House Democrats’ Clean Energy Plan and as well as several funding items in the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The group also has a campaign arm, the SEEC Political Action Committee, that appears to fund the campaigns of members of the coalition as well as the campaigns of other Democratic congressional candidates focused on promoting left-of-center environmental legislation. In the 118th Congress, the chairs of the coalition were U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Paul Tonko (D-NY). 1 2 3

History

The U.S. House of Representatives Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) was founded in January 2009 at the start of the 111th Congress with then-U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) along with 35 other Congressional Democrats. The stated purpose of the organization was to promote “policies for clean energy innovation and job creation, environmental protection, and policies that will address global climate change.” 4

When the group was founded in 2009, co-chair Jay Inslee, who later became governor of Washington, claimed, “The melting of the Arctic ice cap is speeding up toward a point of no return and the economy is in turmoil. We are in need of bold, aggressive action, and that’s exactly what the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition is about.” 5

Activity

Since its founding, the House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) has added “environmental justice” to its list of priorities. In the 117th Congress, the groups stated that its members helped drive the inclusion of climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, calling it the largest investment in “tackling climate change” in U.S. history. Regarding the Inflation Reduction Act, the group’s website stated that, “When the prognosis for the reconciliation bill that became IRA looked dim, SEEC rallied 175 House Democrats in partnership with the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition to demonstrate House Democrat unity on the inclusion of the climate provisions.” 6

In the 118th Congress, the group established task forces to craft or endorse legislation on climate and agriculture, clean energy deployment, nature and oceans, climate jobs, and climate and national security. 7

Members

Members of the House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) as of late 2024 are exclusively House Democrats. In the 118th Congress, SEEC is Co-Chaired by Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Paul Tonko (D-NY). SEEC Vice Chairs are Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Katie Porter (D-CA). The SEEC Chair Emeritus is Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA). The coalition has 89 additional members including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). 8

Political Action Committee

The House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) also has a campaign arm, the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Political Action Committee, that funds the campaigns of members of the coalition as well as other Democratic congressional candidates focused on promoting left-of-center environmental legislation. The PAC spent $297,000 in 2020 and $224,000 in 2024. 9

References

  1. “Members.” House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seec.house.gov/members
  2. “Press Release: SEEC Celebrates Two Years of Democrats’ Clean Energy Plan Delivering for the American People.” House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. August 16, 2024. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seec.house.gov/media/press-releases/seec-celebrates-two-years-democrats-clean-energy-plan-delivering-american
  3. “About.” House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seec.house.gov/about
  4. “About.” House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seec.house.gov/about
  5. “Press Release: RELEASE: Inslee and Israel Announce “Aggressive” New Energy and Environment Coalition.” House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. August 16, 2024. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seec.house.gov/press-release/release-inslee-and-israel-announce-aggressive-new-energy-and-environment-coalition
  6. “About.” House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seec.house.gov/about
  7. “About.” House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seec.house.gov/about
  8. “Members.” House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seec.house.gov/members
  9. “About.” Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Political Action Committee. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://seecpac.org/about/
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