Environment (Public Lands)

in committee · United States · House Sep 8, 2026

HR 10307: Anaktuvuk Pass Food Security Access Act

The Anaktuvuk Pass Food Security Access Act amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to allow local residents of Anaktuvuk Pass to use snowmobiles, motorboats, and various off-road vehicles for subsistence purposes. This change overrides existing restrictions that generally prohibit such vehicle use on federal lands in the area. The bill directly affects residents who rely on these modes of transportation to hunt, fish, or gather food. It also specifies that certain other provisions regarding land management do not apply to these authorized subsistence activities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill overrides existing restrictions on motorized vehicle use in a conservation area, potentially increasing environmental impact to allow subsistence access.65% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationThe bill expands access to snowmobiles and motorboats for subsistence, directly enhancing transportation capabilities for local residents.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Roads & Highways

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in committee · United States · House Sep 1, 2026

HR 10214: To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to modify the cost-sharing requirement for conservation projects carried out by a qualified youth or conservation corps, and for other purposes.

This bill amends the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to change the funding rules for conservation projects led by qualified youth or conservation corps. It increases the maximum federal contribution from 75 percent to 90 percent of project costs. Consequently, the required non-federal cost share is reduced from 25 percent to 10 percent. These changes directly affect organizations and agencies that partner with these corps groups to implement conservation work on public lands.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases federal funding for conservation projects by youth corps, directly advancing environmental protection and natural resource management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Aug 6, 2026

HR 10061: Wildfire Response and Readiness Act

The Wildfire Response and Readiness Act establishes a national prescribed fire program that requires federal agencies to increase the acreage of controlled burns on public lands by 10 percent annually for a decade. It creates a ten-year national wildfire plan to coordinate landscape-scale forest restoration, reforestation, and watershed protection efforts across federal, state, tribal, and private boundaries. The bill also authorizes new funding for community resilience, including grants for home hardening, satellite monitoring technology, and a joint office dedicated to fire environment data and prediction. Additionally, it modernizes the firefighting workforce by establishing training academies, expanding civilian conservation centers, and providing liability protections for non-federal partners conducting prescribed fires.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates increased prescribed burns, forest restoration, reforestation, and watershed protection to enhance environmental resilience.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Sep 3, 2026

HR 10292: Southern Nevada Wastewater Infrastructure Lands Act

The Southern Nevada Wastewater Infrastructure Lands Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer approximately 257 acres of federal land in Clark County, Nevada, to the Clark County Water Reclamation District. This transfer is intended to support the construction and operation of critical wastewater infrastructure for public use. The district must pay all administrative costs associated with the land transfer, including surveys, and the land will revert to federal ownership if it stops being used for these public purposes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill transfers federal land for wastewater infrastructure, which directly supports pollution control and environmental protection by enabling proper waste management.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Aug 6, 2026

S 5277: RANCH Act

The RANCH Act establishes a program for the Secretary of Agriculture to enroll cropland that has been planted in at least four of the last six years, requiring its conversion to perennial grass and forb cover to support grazing. Landowners who enter into contracts lasting 10 to 15 years receive annual rental payments equal to 75 percent of the local average dryland cash rental rate, along with cost-sharing assistance for establishing vegetation. To participate, landowners must develop a site-specific grazing management plan within two years and are permitted to graze livestock, manage fire risks, and conduct emergency haying during declared droughts or natural disasters. The program prioritizes beginning farmers, wildlife habitat conservation, and highly erodible land, with a total enrollment cap of 20 million acres and an individual annual payment limit of $155,000.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentThe bill converts cropland to perennial grasses, promoting soil conservation, erosion control, and habitat restoration, which are key environmental protection measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Aug 5, 2026

S 5262: Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026

The Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026 significantly narrows the federal definition of "navigable waters" by excluding wetlands without continuous surface connections, intermittent streams, and groundwater from federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The bill prohibits federal agencies from using aggregation methods or the "significant nexus test" to assert authority over these excluded water bodies and invalidates existing regulations that expand the definition of covered waters. Additionally, it requires federal agencies to obtain written consent before entering private property for data collection and mandates that they pay affected landowners double the value of any economic loss caused by new federal water regulations.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentThe bill narrows the federal definition of navigable waters under the Clean Water Act, explicitly removing wetlands and intermittent streams from federal jurisdiction and invalidating existing regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate Aug 4, 2026

S 5234: Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction Act of 2026

The Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a federal program focused on developing and implementing nonlethal strategies to reduce conflicts between wildlife, humans, and livestock. The program will absorb existing nonlethal initiatives from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and prioritize efforts in states where these operations are already active, with a specific focus on protecting livestock from predators and preventing damage to agriculture and infrastructure. To support these goals, the Act authorizes the provision of assistance, training, and demonstration projects for landowners, agricultural producers, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit organizations, while also requiring the development of state-level implementation plans. The legislation appropriates $20 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to fund these activities, with a cap limiting research expenditures to no more than 10 percent of the total annual budget.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentThe bill funds nonlethal strategies to protect wildlife and livestock, directly advancing conservation and natural resource protection goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands Wildlife Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Aug 4, 2026

S 5230: Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2026

The Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2026 amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to establish a mandatory 180-day deadline for the federal Secretary to approve state wildlife conservation and restoration programs. To prevent funding delays, the bill requires the Secretary to conditionally authorize these programs immediately upon submission and set aside the associated financial amounts while the review process is ongoing. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the Secretary develop a streamlined process with states to ensure timely reviews and prioritizes these approvals as a congressional intent. If the federal agency fails to approve a state's plan within the specified timeframe, the Secretary must submit a report to relevant congressional committees explaining the delay.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentThe bill amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to expedite approval of state wildlife conservation programs, directly advancing environmental protection and natural resource management.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Aug 6, 2026

HR 10065: Methane Pollution Accountability Act

The Methane Pollution Accountability Act requires that royalties be paid on all natural gas extracted from federal lands and the outer Continental Shelf, including gas that is vented, flared, or lost through equipment failures during operations. This mandate applies to leases issued after the bill's enactment but includes exceptions for short-term emergency releases, gas used directly within the lease area, and unavoidable losses. Additionally, the legislation directs the Bureau of Land Management to enforce existing waste prevention rules and prohibits the agency from finalizing new regulations that would alter these standards unless they can demonstrate that the changes will further reduce gas waste or improve public health and air quality.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyThe bill imposes new royalty costs on natural gas extraction from federal lands, increasing operational expenses and potentially restricting fossil fuel production.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentThe bill targets methane pollution by requiring royalties on vented or flared gas, directly strengthening environmental regulations and reducing emissions from federal lands.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Air Quality Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 5118: Local Input Act

The Local Input Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to actively engage with the public, state and local governments, and federally recognized tribes before offering federal land for oil or gas leasing. This process mandates that officials publicly disclose leasing proposals and analyze potential impacts on land resources and other uses, while also providing a specific opportunity for community comment. The bill empowers the Secretary to decide against leasing a parcel if the gathered input suggests it should not be offered. These changes directly affect federal land management decisions and increase the role of local stakeholders in energy development on public lands.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill restricts oil and gas leasing on federal lands by mandating public engagement and allowing officials to block leases, limiting fossil fuel development.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates public engagement and impact analysis before leasing federal lands for oil/gas, strengthening environmental review and community input.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Public Lands

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