Let's look at the Kamala Harris staffers, current and former, who could help shape her views on climate and energy, Nick writes.

Why it matters: Harris would likely carry on President Biden's agenda, but top policy aides could make a big difference in how the IRA is implemented and where she would focus her attention.

Ike Irby

Irby was Harris' longtime climate adviser — for seven years from her Senate days through the IRA — before he left her office early this year.

• He had a hand in much of what she's done on energy and climate at the federal level and was with her team for Harris' introduction of environmental justice and electric school bus legislation.
• Irby started an independent policy and political advisory firm when he left the administration, according to his LinkedIn.
• He's also a scientist who holds a doctorate from William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

Becca Ellison

Ellison is Harris' current top climate adviser, having joined her office around the time Irby left in January, per her LinkedIn.

• She worked on policy at Evergreen Action before joining the Biden Department of Transportation in 2021.
• Ellison also did a stint at EPA helping implement the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

Deanne Millison

Harris' former top economic adviser is now a lobbyist for Ford working on manufacturing policy.

• Before her move to the private sector, Millison was another long-tenured staffer.
• She was the legislative director and deputy chief in Harris' Senate office before joining the administration.

Mike Pyle

An alum of the Obama administration and Blackrock, Pyle was for a time Harris' top economic aide.

• He later served on the White House National Security Council, where he was involved in trade and critical minerals issues.

Lorraine Voles

Voles is Harris' chief of staff. She moved up to that position in 2022 after the departure of Tina Flournoy.

• Voles has deep roots in Democratic politics. She was a communications director for Hillary Clinton's Senate office and for Al Gore when he was vice president.

What we're watching: If elected, we'll see whether Harris brings on any of the climate and energy staffers in the Biden White House, like Ali Zaidi, Mary Frances Repko or even John Podesta.

• Harris' office also has been noted for high staff turnover.

House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman and Rep. Scott Peters plan to have their own permitting proposal ready in September.

Why it matters: The proposal — in the works for months — could complement the Manchin-Barraso energy permitting legislation unveiled this week in the Senate, Westerman tells Nick.

Driving the news: The House proposal will also contain language to limit lawsuits under the National Environmental Policy Act, likely with broader scope than the energy-centric provision of the Senate bill.

• "Ours is more NEPA-focused, and theirs is more energy-focused," Westerman told Nick this morning.
• He didn't explicitly endorse the Senate legislation, but he said that "the two have a possibility of marrying up real nicely together."

Between the lines: This adds some bipartisan momentum in the House — but it could also complicate the path for a year-end permitting bill.

• It demonstrates that House committees will want to put their mark on a final product.
• Notably, however, Westerman said his bill won't address the Endangered Species or Clean Water acts (he's got a separate ESA proposal).
• "We've definitely got a place at the table, and I think the two bills could be complementary."

Senate appropriators advanced a bipartisan spending bill for the Interior Department and EPA this morning, Nick writes.

Why it matters: It came just about 12 hours after the House approved its own partisan Interior-environment bill, setting up contentious talks headed into recess.

Driving the news: Senate Appropriations signed off on the measure 28–1. (Marco Rubio was the lone "no.")

• The committee also advanced its spending bill for the Commerce Department.

Zoom in: The bill would spend $9.3 billion at EPA, a slight bump from fiscal 2024 and a huge contrast to the House GOP's proposed 20% cut.

• A committee summary says that would include "modest increases across all EPA programs."
• Interior would get $15.8 billion, roughly $1 billion more than the House proposal.
• And like the House bill, Senate appropriators say they've included a "permanent pay fix" for wildland firefighters.

The big picture: Fiscal 2025 appropriations are still in shaky territory after House leadership had one bill fail on the floor earlier in the month and had to pull the energy-water title from consideration this week.

House Energy-Water Subcommittee Chair Chuck Fleischmann told Nick this morning that he hopes to try again after August recess.

• The bill fell apart in GOP divisions about amendments on port funding in Georgia and concern from climate-conscious Republicans about battery storage permitting.
• Fleischmann said he's also lobbying other Republicans concerned about his bill's small overall spending increase, which is mainly in defense-related accounts.
• He could start negotiating with the Senate without getting the House bill approved on the floor. But, he added, "there's no question that it'd be preferable to have a W up there."