Energy

This bill withdraws federal lands surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) from oil and gas leasing and development. It automatically terminates non-producing oil and gas leases on these lands and prevents new mineral leasing within the designated area, protecting cultural resources and the park’s visitor experience. The withdrawal specifically applies to federal land within the mapped "Chaco Cultural Heritage Withdrawal Area" but does not affect tribal mineral rights on trust land. It aims to safeguard sacred sites, prehistoric roads, and the park’s dark sky status from potential impacts of energy development.

HR 346, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, amends the Clean Air Act to clarify that state emissions standards directly or indirectly limiting sales of new internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE) would not qualify for federal EPA waivers. It adds a specific definition to the law, requiring states to avoid restrictions on ICE vehicle sales to maintain waiver eligibility. The bill also mandates the EPA to revoke existing waivers granted between January 2022 and the bill's enactment if those waivers didn't comply with the new definition. This directly affects states with their own vehicle emission standards (like California), the EPA's waiver approval process, and automakers selling vehicles in those states.

This bill (SJRES 55) is a congressional resolution seeking to block a rule issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA rule, published in January 2025, established safety standards for hydrogen fuel systems in vehicles. The resolution aims to nullify this rule through a formal disapproval process under federal law, meaning the safety standards would not take effect. This directly affects hydrogen vehicle manufacturers and dealers who would have been required to comply with the NHTSA rule.

HR 5888, the UNtaxed Act, prohibits the United Nations or its affiliated bodies from imposing taxes, tariffs, or fees on U.S. citizens or companies without a Senate-approved agreement. It also blocks U.S. funding for any United Nations activities related to implementing or enforcing a global carbon tax, which is defined as a tax on vessel emissions under a worldwide fuel system. The bill directly affects U.S. businesses and citizens who might face UN levies, and it restricts federal resources from supporting international carbon tax initiatives. This legislation aims to prevent unilateral UN taxation and funding of carbon-related policies without congressional oversight.

S 990, the Freedom to Haul Act of 2025, prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing or enforcing Phase 3 greenhouse gas emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles (finalized in April 2024). It amends the Clean Air Act to require that future emissions rules for vehicles cannot mandate specific technologies or limit the availability of new trucks based on engine type. This directly affects EPA regulatory authority and vehicle manufacturers, ensuring a broader range of new truck options remains available. The bill focuses on preventing regulatory restrictions on vehicle choice, not on emissions outcomes.

Federal Lands and Waters Leasing Transparency Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to provide explanations to the highest bidders when it rejects their bids for certain offshore oil and gas leases. The bill also prohibits courts from invalidating or delaying certain onshore and offshore oil and gas leases. When Interior determines that the federal government will not receive the fair market value for offshore lease tracts on submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf from the highest bidder, then Interior must provide a report to the bidder that explains the basis for the determination. If the bid was subject to a resource and economic evaluation, the report must include information on how the bid compares to specified valuation metrics. These requirements apply to lease sales in which Interior received at least one bid and did not issue a lease to the highest bidder. Additionally, courts may not prevent Interior from issuing certain onshore oil and gas leases by a 60-day statutory deadline unless the lease would violate federal law. Further, the bill prohibits civil actions that challenge certain offshore oil and gas lease sales from (1) invalidating leases issued under such sales; and (2) delaying the consideration of plans, documents, or applications for a federal authorization or approval of activities for a lease. If a court finds that the sale was not carried out in compliance with federal law, the court must (1) remand the matter to Interior, and (2) direct Interior to correct the noncompliance.

National Coal Council Reestablishment Act This bill provides statutory authority for the National Coal Council and directs the Department of Energy to reestablish the council in accordance with the charter that was in effect on November 19, 2021. Established in 1984, the council made recommendations to DOE on matters relating to coal and the coal industry. In addition, the bill removes the requirement under the Federal Advisory Committee Act for the council to be re-chartered every two years.

This bill (SJRES 47) seeks congressional disapproval of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that approved California's stricter vehicle pollution standards. Specifically, it targets the EPA's "Omnibus Low NOx Regulation" for motor vehicles and nonroad engines, which California had submitted for federal approval under waiver authority. If passed, the resolution would block this EPA rule from taking effect, preventing California's state-level pollution controls from being implemented under federal oversight.

This bill imposes a $550 tax on each heavy battery module (over 1,000 pounds) and a $1,000 tax on each electric vehicle sold by manufacturers or importers. It excludes hybrid vehicles from the tax definition, as they use both internal combustion engines and rechargeable batteries. The collected revenue would be transferred to the Highway Trust Fund, which finances road and highway maintenance. The tax applies to sales after December 31, 2025.

This bill prohibits U.S. companies deemed "integral to national interests" (primarily those in extractive industries like mining/energy, manufacturing, or critical minerals with significant government contracts or revenue from raw materials) from complying with foreign sustainability regulations, including the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. It bars such entities from undertaking required environmental or social impact assessments, reporting, or corrective actions under these foreign rules. Companies facing hardship may seek presidential exemptions within 30 days, considering impacts on U.S. jobs, supply chains, and economic security. The bill also prevents U.S. courts from recognizing foreign judgments against companies for non-compliance and allows legal action against entities taking adverse actions for refusing such foreign regulations.