This bill establishes the Green New Deal for Public Schools Act, which creates new funding streams to help U.S. public schools, including those run by the Bureau of Indian Education, become environmentally sustainable and resilient to climate change. It directs billions of dollars toward retrofitting existing school buildings to be energy-efficient and zero-carbon, constructing new green schools, and hiring local educators and support staff to improve school environments and community partnerships. The legislation also mandates that a significant portion of funds be used in environmental justice communities to address inequities, while requiring contractors to pay prevailing wages and prioritize hiring from local and historically disadvantaged groups. Additionally, the bill sets up a new office within the Department of Education to coordinate these efforts and ensures that schools can serve as community centers during disasters by upgrading infrastructure for power, water, and internet access.
The Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026 directs the Department of Energy to remove specific quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year through 2036 and beyond, with targets increasing from 50,000 to 10 million metric tons annually. The bill defines eligible technologies as those that capture CO2 directly from the air or seawater and store it durably, while excluding methods like enhanced oil recovery or natural photosynthesis. To ensure accuracy, the law requires independent third parties to measure, monitor, and verify removals, with costs included in the price of removal, which must drop from $750 per ton in 2026 to $150 per ton by 2037. The Secretary of Energy must prioritize projects that create domestic jobs, source materials locally, and benefit communities historically dependent on fossil fuels, while reserving at least 20 percent of removals for smaller projects. Additionally, the act mandates regular reports to Congress on progress and authorizes funding to carry out these removal obligations.
The STRONG GRID Act of 2026 directs state regulators to develop rules for connecting microgrids and for measuring the value of investments in grid resilience, while exempting military installations from these new standards. To support these efforts, the bill creates a new grant program that provides up to $500 million over five years to help states deploy microgrids, with priority given to projects in rural areas, low-income communities, and those that improve energy reliability or cybersecurity. Additionally, the Department of Energy will offer technical assistance to utilities and regulators and launch a $200 million pilot program to fund innovative microgrid projects that test new technologies and management systems.
The Incentivizing Value Capture for Greener Transportation Act establishes a federal program to help states and local governments develop strategies for funding public transit through value capture, which involves collecting a portion of the increased economic value generated by government infrastructure investments. To receive grants under this program, recipients must demonstrate that their plans will increase transit ridership and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle miles traveled, and traffic congestion while maintaining existing funding levels for these initiatives. The legislation also requires that construction projects funded by these grants adhere to prevailing wage standards and mandates an evaluation of the program's effectiveness three years after funding is received. Additionally, the bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to create voluntary best practices for value capture and publish a report on existing state and local laws that successfully promote affordable transit-oriented development.
The Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allocate at least $75 million annually toward developing new plant cultivars and animal breeds that are publicly funded and available for commercial use. This funding prioritizes research on climate-resilient crops, nutritionally improved varieties for local populations, and breeds adapted to specific regional conditions or dual-use energy systems. The bill also establishes a new coordinator role to oversee breeding research across the department and mandates that any public breed developed with federal funds must be produced substantially within the United States if sold under exclusive rights. Additionally, the legislation requires the implementation of strategic plans to assess and utilize national collections of plant and animal genetic resources, ensuring these materials remain accessible for future agricultural needs.
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The DRIVE Across America Act of 2026 establishes the Cleaner TRAILS Initiative to promote zero-emission vehicles and fueling infrastructure on National Forest and National Park lands. This program requires the Forest Service and National Park Service to develop a strategy for installing charging stations, purchasing electric vehicles for their fleets, and offering shuttle services that run on clean energy. The bill also directs the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation to expand electric vehicle charging access near airports and tourist destinations, while authorizing $1 billion in federal funding between 2027 and 2031 to support these efforts. Additionally, the legislation mandates that agreements for transportation services on federal lands give priority to providers using zero-emission vehicles and requires regular reporting to Congress on progress and spending.
The Cleaner Transportation Access for All Act extends federal tax credits for purchasing clean vehicles and installing charging equipment through 2031, while also allowing a higher credit amount for home charging installations. It establishes a new Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to coordinate federal efforts on electric vehicle infrastructure and creates an Electric Vehicle Commission to study industry needs and safety issues. The legislation authorizes billions in funding to expand charging networks, with specific requirements that states prioritize underserved communities and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, the bill mandates that electric vehicle charging stations be permitted on public curbsides and expands access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes for clean vehicles.
The GRID Savings Act of 2026 directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create new rules for connecting large industrial electricity users to the national power grid. This legislation specifically targets new or expanded nonresidential loads with a peak demand of at least 150 megawatts, aiming to clarify how costs for grid upgrades are assigned. Under the proposed framework, the agency must establish procedures to ensure that facilities built solely for a specific large customer are paid for entirely by that customer, while shared grid improvements are allocated fairly among all users. The bill also allows these large customers to voluntarily pay for regional transmission projects in exchange for guaranteed access rights and includes an option for them to construct their own necessary grid connections. Additionally, the law excludes the Electric Reliability Council of Texas from these requirements and does not change how existing grid plans are managed.
This bill creates a pilot program that brings together the National Guard and the Corporation for National and Community Service to address workforce needs and national security goals. The program would allow National Guard members to work alongside national service participants on projects such as protecting critical infrastructure like energy grids and water systems, improving cybersecurity for schools and local governments, and enhancing disaster preparedness. It also aims to build a career pipeline that connects part-time Guard and Reserve members with structured employment opportunities to help address economic insecurity. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to expand community resilience and ensure workforce stability through these coordinated activities.
The CHARM Act directs the Environmental Protection Agency to create a National Critical Mineral Recovery Strategy aimed at coordinating federal efforts to extract essential minerals from discarded materials and mining waste. This strategy requires the agency to identify existing programs, overcome legal and technological barriers, and ensure that recovery methods protect human health and the environment. The bill mandates that the EPA report its findings and actions to Congress every two years, including recommendations for future legislation to support these recovery efforts. Ultimately, the law seeks to strengthen domestic supply chains by systematically evaluating opportunities to reuse critical minerals found in waste streams.
