Environment (Natural Disasters) in United States

in committee · United States · House Dec 2, 2025

HR 5823: Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025

The Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025 creates a federal program to rapidly address watershed damage on National Forest System lands after natural disasters. It authorizes state, local, tribal, or water district sponsors to implement emergency measures like erosion control and flood mitigation within two years of a disaster, with the federal government covering all costs (waiving required matching funds). The program limits sponsor liability for normal operations but holds them responsible for damages resulting from willful or reckless actions. Sponsors may also monitor and maintain projects for up to three years to prevent future risks to downstream water resources.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Water Quality

in committee · United States · House Mar 20, 2026

HR 7264: Restoring America’s Floodplains Act

The Restoring America’s Floodplains Act (HR 7264) authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore and maintain floodplains on lands protected by existing floodplain easements. It requires the Secretary to restore natural vegetation, water flow, and other floodplain functions, while allowing landowners to continue compatible activities like hunting, fishing, or managed timber harvest if they support long-term floodplain health. The bill also permits the Secretary to implement more extensive restoration than immediate needs require to prevent future watershed damage. This applies directly to landowners holding floodplain easements and federal agencies managing these conservation programs.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Natural Disasters

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 25, 2025

S 1114: Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025

This bill establishes a new federal program to address urgent water resource risks after natural disasters on National Forest System land. It allows state/local governments, tribes, or water districts (sponsors) to request funding for immediate actions like soil erosion control and flood mitigation to protect downstream communities and water systems. Key provisions include waived matching requirements, expedited project timelines (completion within 2 years), and limited liability for sponsors - though sponsors remain liable for reckless conduct. The program focuses on emergency response, not long-term planning, and streamlines federal coordination for faster action.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Water Quality

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 6, 2025

S 453: Wildfire Intelligence Collaboration and Coordination Act of 2025

This bill establishes the Wildfire Intelligence Center within the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior to centralize wildfire data and coordination. The Center will provide real-time risk assessments, fire behavior modeling, and tools for evacuation planning to help communities, firefighters, and emergency responders. It aims to improve data sharing across federal, state, tribal, and local agencies managing wildfire response by creating standardized tools and a unified information platform. The Center will focus on pre-fire planning, active response, and post-fire recovery using aggregated scientific data and predictive services.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 2, 2025

S 902: Wildfire Response and Preparedness Act of 2025

S 902, the Wildfire Response and Preparedness Act of 2025, requires federal agencies managing public lands (like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management) to establish response time standards for wildfires on federal land within 90 days of enactment. It mandates that initial fire evaluation occur within 30 minutes and suppression assets deployed within 3 hours where practicable. The bill also requires annual reports to Congress detailing unified budget requests, performance metrics, fleet composition, and needed changes to improve dispatch systems and contract processes for firefighting resources. This legislation directly affects federal land management agencies and their wildfire response operations.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Public Lands

in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2025

HR 1786: Harmful Algal Bloom Disaster Relief Act

HR 1786 amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to explicitly include "algal blooms" as a qualifying event for federal disaster declarations. This change expands eligibility for federal disaster assistance to communities affected by harmful algal blooms, which can contaminate water and harm ecosystems. The bill modifies Section 102(2) of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) by adding "algal blooms" to the list of recognized disasters alongside drought. It is a procedural adjustment to the law's definition, not a new funding or program.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials Natural Disasters Water Quality Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · Senate Jan 29, 2025

S 325: Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025

This bill establishes a federal task force within NOAA to coordinate heat-health efforts across 15+ agencies (including Health and Human Services, EPA, and FEMA). It requires the task force to create a 5-year strategic plan within two years, focusing on sharing heat-related health data, improving research, and developing tools for communities. The plan must address heat risks for all Americans, with specific attention to tribal governments and vulnerable populations during heat events. The bill authorizes $5 million annually (2025-2029) to fund this coordination and the National Integrated Heat Health Information System.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2026

HR 7459: Coastal Trust Fund Act

HR 7459, the Coastal Trust Fund Act, establishes a trust fund to finance coastal storm protection projects. It directs $1 billion annually from offshore energy lease revenues into the fund to cover the federal share of authorized projects like hurricane damage reduction, shoreline protection, and beach nourishment managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Funds must be used only for specific projects approved by Congress, with annual reports detailing expenditures and remaining balances to Congress. The bill ensures these funds are separate from other conservation programs and requires the Treasury to manage investments within the fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Natural Disasters

in committee · United States · House Dec 17, 2025

HR 6785: CLEAR Act of 2025

HR 6785, the CLEAR Act of 2025, provides $100 million annually (2025-2030) in federal grants to states, territories, and tribes to establish or support resilience offices. These offices must develop five-year plans addressing climate and disaster risks across environmental hazards, economy, infrastructure, health, and housing, while prioritizing disadvantaged communities. Grantees must implement programs like technical assistance for local governments and integrate resilience into existing grant programs, with 10% of funds reserved for Indian tribes. States must report annually on how funds were used and the effectiveness of their resilience efforts. The bill directly affects state/local governments and tribal entities by requiring new planning structures to prepare for climate impacts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Feb 2, 2026

HR 6693: SALAMANDER Act

The SALAMANDER Act streamlines permitting for post-disaster recovery projects involving waterways (like rebuilding roads, bridges, or coastal infrastructure after hurricanes or floods) by creating pre-approved general permits. It directly affects communities recovering from federally declared disasters and the Army Corps of Engineers, which implements these permits. Key provisions require upfront coordination with wildlife agencies to agree on "best management practices" that protect endangered species and critical habitats, replacing individual environmental reviews under the Endangered Species Act for 18 months after a disaster declaration. This reduces delays while maintaining environmental safeguards, with the Corps required to work with state agencies and establish national guidelines for consistent use.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Wildlife Tags Emergency Management

All environment bills