The Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026 mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency reinstate specific environmental regulations, including those governing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and vehicles, within 60 days of enactment. The bill prohibits federal officials from delaying or weakening these protections without explicit congressional approval and requires the agency to base regulatory decisions on peer-reviewed science while restoring the use of a specific social cost of carbon value. Additionally, it directs the reinstatement of scientific advisory boards and environmental justice programs, requiring the agency to prioritize enforcement in communities facing disproportionate pollution burdens. To ensure compliance, the legislation authorizes approximately $10.9 billion in annual funding for enforcement activities and allows individuals adversely affected by non-compliance to sue the EPA administrator in federal court.
The Relief Without Delay Act ensures that FEMA can continue disaster relief operations and access its Disaster Relief Fund even if the government shuts down due to a lapse in appropriations. It requires FEMA to submit monthly public reports detailing how disaster funds are obligated and spent, while also mandating the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assess unmet housing needs after major disasters. Additionally, the bill directs NOAA and FEMA to improve tornado detection capabilities using new technologies like artificial intelligence and establishes a grant program for communities to build storm shelters and upgrade warning systems.
This joint resolution seeks to overturn a specific Environmental Protection Agency rule that granted California the authority to enforce its own nonroad engine pollution standards for commercial harbor craft. If enacted, the bill would render the EPA’s decision invalid and prevent it from taking effect. The measure directly affects California by removing its ability to impose stricter local emissions regulations on these vessels.
This bill, known as the Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026, authorizes additional funding for water supply projects in North Dakota, including those for Tribal, municipal, rural, and industrial communities. It allocates specific amounts to complete several infrastructure projects, such as the Northwest Area Water Supply Biota Water Treatment Plant, the McClusky Canal, and various rural water distribution systems on Indian reservations. The legislation also establishes a mechanism to transfer funds between projects with a 50 percent increase limit per project and requires final engineering reports to be completed within two years of enactment. Additionally, the bill updates cost indexing provisions to adjust funding amounts based on construction cost fluctuations and modifies a natural resources trust fund to include new project categories.
This bill authorizes federal funding to support water storage projects in western states (Reclamation States) to improve water security. It creates two main programs: one for small surface and groundwater storage projects (200-30,000 acre-feet for surface, 200-150,000 acre-feet for groundwater) and another for "natural" projects using natural methods like aquifer recharge ($15 million annually for 2027-2031). Eligible applicants include states, tribes, water districts, and local entities, with projects requiring Federal cost-sharing up to 90%. Funding must be distributed across multiple Reclamation States, and the bill explicitly states it doesn’t override state water rights or laws.
The MORE WATER Act reauthorizes and expands federal water recycling and reuse programs while establishing a new Water Conveyance Improvement Program to fund water infrastructure projects. It authorizes $450 million for water recycling projects and $500 million for conveyance projects from 2028-2032, with specific requirements for multi-benefit projects. The bill mandates that at least 50% of conveyance projects must provide environmental benefits or safe drinking water for low-income communities, with 50% of multi-benefit projects specifically providing each type of benefit. It requires projects to include specific water quality and environmental protections, including benefits for endangered species and low-income communities. The legislation aims to improve water infrastructure while ensuring projects address both community needs and environmental conservation.
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for designating the existing 550-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail as a National Scenic Trail. The study, to be completed within one year, will assess the trail's potential for national designation, considering its connection to over 75 parks and open spaces in the San Francisco Bay Area. It requires consultation with federal, state agencies, and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. The bill itself does not fund or create the trail but sets a process for evaluating its national scenic trail status.
S 3194, the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act, directs the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to study whether to designate a specific coastal area in California as a National Heritage Area. The study would cover Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties, plus adjacent regions with similar heritage features, involving local governments, tribes, and organizations like the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership. This bill does not create the heritage area itself but authorizes a feasibility study following existing federal law (54 U.S.C. § 120103(a)). The study’s outcome would determine if a formal designation process begins, directly affecting communities in the specified counties and their stakeholders.
This bill designates the Route 66 National Historic Trail under the National Trails System Act, covering all alignments of U.S. Highway 66 from 1926 to 1985 (approximately 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California). It requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer the trail while respecting its unique character and consulting with affected Native American tribes. Key provisions limit federal land acquisition to no more than 1/4 mile on either side of the trail, prohibit eminent domain, clarify the trail is not part of the National Park System, and ensure existing energy development and transportation activities remain unaffected. The designation does not require new permits or alter current easement authorities for existing infrastructure.
The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to increase the use of prescribed fire (deliberately set fires to manage wildland fuels) on federal lands. It requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to increase prescribed fire acreage by 10% annually on federal lands, and establishes a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to fund projects meeting specific ecological and collaborative criteria. The bill also addresses liability for prescribed fire managers, streamlines environmental reviews, and creates a national education program to improve public understanding of prescribed fire. It requires annual reporting on prescribed fire activities and landscape-scale prescribed fire plans for national forests and Bureau of Land Management districts.
This bill (S 1413) increases federal funding for the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act. It raises the authorized appropriation for implementing the settlement from $250 million to $750 million and increases funding for Friant Division water infrastructure improvements from $50 million to $75 million. The bill directly affects the San Joaquin River Restoration program and related water management projects in California. These changes authorize additional federal spending to support river restoration efforts and infrastructure upgrades under existing law.
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025 This bill establishes an interest-bearing account for the nonfederal contributions for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, a cooperative effort between federal and nonfederal entities in Arizona, California, and Nevada. The program works to recover multiple species listed under the Endangered Species Act.
