Environment

in committee · United States · House Aug 1, 2025

HR 4870: Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement And Tourism Act

HR 4870 designates five specific river segments in Montana - including the Madison River (42 miles), Gallatin River (39.5 miles), and three tributaries - as protected components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System under the Secretary of Agriculture. The bill preserves public access, private property rights, and existing infrastructure like dams while protecting current water rights and hydroelectric operations at Hebgen and Madison Dams. It explicitly ensures no impact on existing dam operations, licensing, or hydropower generation, and prohibits expanding dams into designated segments. The legislation directly affects Montana residents, recreational users, agricultural communities, and existing dam operators within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates river segments for protection under National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, preserving natural resources and conservation without weakening existing environmental safeguards.90% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Jun 5, 2025

HR 3771: Protecting Coasts and Cities from Severe Weather Act

This bill establishes a federal program to improve coastal flood and storm surge forecasting through better models, data, and community preparedness. It directs the Under Secretary of Commerce to prioritize real-time prediction of ocean-driven flooding, incorporate sensor data (like urban heat mapping), and develop probabilistic forecasts for use by emergency managers and communities. The program also requires identifying and filling "data voids" in vulnerable coastal areas to enhance weather observations and emergency response tools, with pilot projects focusing on critical infrastructure like dams and power plants. Key mechanisms include annual budget submissions to Congress and interagency coordination with FEMA and the National Weather Service to implement these improvements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enhances coastal resilience against climate-driven flooding through improved forecasting/data, directly supporting environmental protection efforts in vulnerable areas.90% confidence

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

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in committee · United States · House Jun 10, 2025

HR 3444: Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act of 2025

This bill requires federal land agencies (like the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service) to develop Tribal Co-Management Plans within one year, enabling federally recognized tribes to partner with agencies on forest and grassland management activities - such as restoration, planning, and recreation - on lands historically connected to those tribes. Tribes can enter agreements with the Forest Service to carry out these activities, with federal staff receiving training on indigenous knowledge and tribal history. The bill authorizes $50 million (2026-2030) to support these agreements, mandates consultation to protect tribal data sovereignty, and requires agencies to consider tribal cultural ties when evaluating partnership proposals.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates tribal co-management for forest/grassland restoration, directly conserving natural resources through collaborative land stewardship and partnership with federal agencies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Parks & Recreation Public Lands Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 21, 2026

S 3542: Upper Raritan River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2025

This bill designates specific segments of the Upper Raritan River Watershed in New Jersey - including the North Branch, South Branch, and Lamington-Black Rivers and their tributaries - for a federal study. The study, to be completed within 3 years of funding, will evaluate whether these watersheds qualify for potential future inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Secretary of the Interior must report the study results to Congress. This bill does not immediately protect the rivers but initiates a process to assess their eligibility for federal protection.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill initiates study to evaluate potential inclusion in Wild and Scenic Rivers System, a conservation program, advancing future protection of watershed resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Feb 5, 2025

HR 978: Superior National Forest Restoration Act of 2025

This bill rescinds a 2023 federal withdrawal of lands in Minnesota's Superior National Forest, allowing mining operations to resume. It requires the Secretary to complete environmental reviews for mine plans within 18 months (or 6 months for supplements) and reissues canceled mineral leases with 20-year terms plus automatic 10-year renewals. The bill directly affects mining companies operating in the forest, particularly those with canceled leases or rejected applications since 2021. It mandates issuance of new permits for surface use related to mining and prohibits judicial review of these reissued leases.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRescinds 2023 land withdrawal protecting forest, enabling mining operations. Overrides environmental safeguards to prioritize industry access, weakening conservation protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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in committee · United States · House Mar 5, 2026

HR 3553: BRUSH Fires Act

HR 3553, the BRUSH Fires Act, requires the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a study evaluating wildfire mitigation methods in shrubland ecosystems (like chaparral and sagebrush) to reduce fire risk and damage to nearby communities. The study will assess fuel management practices, invasive species control, ember ignition prevention, and factors hindering effective wildfire management. It mandates a report within 90 days of study completion, identifying best practices, research gaps, and opportunities to improve Forest Service coordination with local entities. The bill directly affects communities near shrublands and Forest Service managers by gathering data to inform future fire prevention strategies. This is a procedural study bill, not a policy change, with no direct funding or regulatory requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentStudies wildfire mitigation in shrublands to reduce ecological damage and community risk, aligning with conservation and resource protection goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House May 13, 2025

HR 3341: LIT Act of 2025

The LIT Act of 2025 repeals energy efficiency standards for incandescent light bulbs by amending the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and terminating three specific Department of Energy rules established in 2022 and 2024. It removes requirements that manufacturers must meet for incandescent bulbs' energy efficiency, effectively allowing the sale of bulbs that previously did not comply with these standards. The bill directly affects manufacturers, retailers, and consumers of incandescent lighting products by eliminating these regulatory constraints. This change does not create new standards but eliminates existing ones governing general service lamps.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals energy efficiency standards for incandescent bulbs, weakening a key clean energy standard per the bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, removing requirements that reduced energy consumption and emissions, weakening environmental protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

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in committee · United States · House Apr 18, 2025

HR 2235: Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act of 2025

HR 2235, the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act of 2025, amends key USDA conservation programs to prioritize wildlife habitat connectivity, particularly for big game species like deer and elk. It adds habitat connectivity and migration corridors as conservation goals in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), allowing payments for activities like planning and maintenance on grasslands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that are ecologically significant. The bill increases the maximum rental payment limit for CRP grasslands from $50,000 to $125,000 per year and requires the USDA to incorporate nonstructural methods (like virtual fencing) into conservation standards. It also directs research grants to study virtual fencing technology and its impacts on sensitive habitats used by big game species.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly adds habitat connectivity and migration corridors as conservation goals in USDA programs, promoting wildlife habitat protection and conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Feb 14, 2025

HR 389: Southern Border Farmers and Ranchers Protection Act

HR 389, the Southern Border Farmers and Ranchers Protection Act, creates a new program to provide annual payments to agricultural producers in specific Texas counties along the southern border. It directs the Secretary to fund conservation practices that repair damage to farmland and farming infrastructure caused by natural resource issues in those counties. The program applies to producers in 35 designated border counties (including El Paso, Hidalgo, and Webb) and requires one-year contracts for payments. This bill directly affects farmers and ranchers in these counties by offering financial support for land restoration through conservation efforts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds conservation practices to repair farmland damage from natural resource issues, directly supporting environmental protection efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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passed · United States · House Mar 6, 2025

HR 471: Fix Our Forests Act

HR 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, establishes a new system for identifying and managing high-risk wildfire areas called "firesheds" and creates a centralized Fireshed Center to coordinate wildfire risk management across federal agencies. The bill streamlines environmental reviews for wildfire risk reduction projects, allowing for faster implementation of hazardous fuels management activities in designated areas. It includes provisions for community wildfire risk reduction programs, water source protection, and specific initiatives for restoring white oak forests. The legislation also includes litigation reforms to expedite forest management projects and reduce delays from legal challenges. These provisions aim to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health through more coordinated, data-driven management approaches.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes wildfire risk management to protect forests and natural resources through streamlined hazardous fuels projects, aligning with environmental conservation goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Public Lands

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