Environment

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 13, 2025

S 590: Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

This bill establishes the National Mesonet Program to enhance weather and flood forecasting by expanding environmental data collection. It directly affects state and local governments, agricultural businesses, and private weather monitoring networks by requiring them to share soil moisture, weather, and water data through upgraded local sensor networks. Key provisions include funding 15% of annual program funds to help states and private entities build or improve monitoring stations, prioritizing remote or underserved areas, and mandating annual congressional briefings on progress. The law aims to improve forecast accuracy for severe weather, droughts, and agricultural planning by integrating more real-time environmental data into federal systems like the National Weather Service.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes data collection program for environmental monitoring, enhancing flood/agricultural forecasts to support resource management and conservation efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

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in committee · United States · House Dec 2, 2025

HR 5854: Sustainable Agriculture Research Act

This bill amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act to prioritize sustainable agriculture research. It adds a definition for "precision agriculture" (using targeted input management like seed or fertilizer at specific times/places to cut waste) and directs research toward voluntary solutions like climate-resilient farming. Key provisions require USDA to develop technologies addressing extreme weather impacts, drought resilience, soil carbon storage, farm biofuels, and wider adoption of precision agriculture tools. The bill directly affects USDA research programs and agricultural technology developers by setting new priorities for federal agricultural research funding. It focuses on concrete research goals, not new regulations or funding levels.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prioritizes sustainable agriculture research with focus on soil carbon storage, drought resilience, and climate-resilient farming - directly advancing environmental conservation and climate adaptation goals.92% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Jun 13, 2025

HR 3935: Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act

HR 3935, the "Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act," amends a key provision of the Clean Water Act to create clear timelines for federal permits involving disposal sites in U.S. waters. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop blocking or restricting disposal site applications during a defined period: from the date an applicant submits all required information to the date the permit is issued. This directly affects developers, construction firms, and other applicants seeking permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The bill’s main mechanism sets specific start and end dates for EPA review, reducing potential delays from indefinite administrative holds.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAmends Clean Water Act to limit EPA's permitting authority during review period, reducing regulatory hurdles for developers and weakening environmental review process.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Apr 3, 2025

HR 2620: Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act

The Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act reorganizes the Marine Debris Act to improve administrative operations of NOAA's marine debris programs. It modifies grant and agreement provisions to include more partnership types, changes the Marine Debris Foundation's structure from an "organization" to a "corporation," and adds requirements for outreach to Indian Tribes. The bill also updates funding authorizations through 2025 and clarifies definitions for terms like "Indian Tribe" and "coastal shoreline community." These changes focus on streamlining program administration rather than altering substantive marine debris policies.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enhances NOAA's marine debris programs via updated funding, partnership provisions, and tribal outreach, directly advancing marine environmental protection under the Save Our Seas framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 9, 2025

S 60: Write the Laws Act

S 60, the Write the Laws Act, would require Congress to write all federal laws directly instead of delegating rulemaking authority to agencies. It prohibits Congress from delegating legislative power to the executive branch, courts, or any agency, declaring such delegations invalid. This would affect all federal agencies (like the EPA or FCC) that currently create regulations under congressional authority. The bill mandates that all agency rules must be based on specific statutes passed by Congress, not on delegated authority.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prohibits agency rulemaking (including EPA regulations), weakening environmental protections by requiring Congress to write all laws directly instead of enabling agencies to act on environmental issues.80% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Apr 17, 2025

HR 2932: CLEAR Skies Act

HR 2932, the CLEAR Skies Act, creates a tax credit for producing unleaded aviation gasoline in the U.S. The credit provides $1.25 per gallon in 2026, phasing down to $1.05 per gallon by 2030, for fuel that is lead-free, meets aviation standards, and is produced domestically. Producers must register with the IRS and certify compliance with these requirements to claim the credit. The bill also mandates a GAO study to analyze price differences between leaded and unleaded aviation fuel and whether the tax credit benefits end-users. This policy directly affects U.S. aviation fuel producers and aims to accelerate the transition from leaded to unleaded aviation fuel.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates a direct tax credit ($1.25-$1.05/gal) for domestic unleaded aviation fuel producers, advancing tax incentive policy under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates tax credit for unleaded aviation fuel to reduce lead emissions, directly advancing pollution control in environmental protection.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationTax credit for unleaded aviation fuel promotes sustainable transportation by incentivizing cleaner fuel production and meeting aviation safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Airports

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in committee · United States · House Dec 19, 2025

HR 6913: Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act

The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act designates over 200,000 acres of new wilderness areas across northern California, including specific additions to existing wilderness designations. It establishes the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area (871,414 acres) to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risks through collaborative management plans developed with local stakeholders. The bill creates the California Public Land Remediation Partnership to address land degradation from illegal marijuana cultivation and designates new recreational trails like the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail. Additionally, it designates multiple river segments as wild and scenic rivers and establishes special management areas for conservation and recreation. These provisions directly affect federal land management in northern California, local communities, and tribal nations, with specific provisions for utility companies like Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates 200k+ acres wilderness, creates forest restoration area for health/wildfire reduction, and establishes land remediation partnership - directly conserves natural resources and protects ecosystems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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passed · United States · House Sep 15, 2026

HR 6893: Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act

HR 6893, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act, reauthorizes and updates NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office to better support Bay restoration. It establishes new programs including a watershed education initiative for students and teachers, a coastal habitat management program focused on species like oysters and blue crabs, and requirements for coordinated scientific monitoring of water quality and living resources. The bill mandates the Office Director to consult with the Chesapeake Executive Council, ensure peer-reviewed scientific merit for funded projects, and submit biennial reports to Congress on progress. This directly affects NOAA, Bay watershed states, educators, researchers, and conservation groups working on Bay restoration under the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes watershed education initiative for students and teachers, directly advancing environmental science education access and teacher engagement within the Chesapeake Bay context.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes watershed restoration programs, coastal habitat management, and water quality monitoring to advance Chesapeake Bay environmental protection and science-based conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Apr 30, 2025

HR 3126: Promoting Submetering for Affordable Housing Act

HR 3126, the Promoting Submetering for Affordable Housing Act, increases tax credits for affordable housing projects that implement water submetering. It adds a 5% credit increase to the eligible basis for buildings with four or more units that use submeters for individual tenant billing and provide tenants access to meter readings within 72 hours of a request. This applies to projects receiving housing credit allocations after the bill's enactment. The law directly affects affordable housing developers and property owners who build or renovate qualifying properties to meet these submetering requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds 5% tax credit increase for affordable housing submetering, providing tax relief to qualifying projects under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes water conservation via submetering incentives, reducing waste in affordable housing, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases tax credits for affordable housing projects implementing water submetering, directly funding and advancing affordable housing initiatives through financial incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Housing Finance

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in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 6251: To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

HR 6251 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow U.S. importation of polar bear trophies (excluding internal organs) from sport hunts in Canada that occurred before specific dates: February 18, 1997, or May 15, 2008. The bill requires hunters to provide proof of legal harvest before those dates and directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits without considering current population status or other restrictions under the Act. It directly affects hunters who took polar bears in Canada before these dates and wish to import trophies, bypassing standard MMPA import limitations. The policy change only applies to trophies from past hunts, not future hunting activities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAllows trophy imports without population status consideration, weakening protections for threatened polar bears under MMPA.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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