Environment (Public Lands)

in committee · United States · House Apr 17, 2025

HR 2944: Cerro de la Olla Wilderness Establishment Act

This bill designates approximately 12,295 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in Taos County, New Mexico, as the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness. It modifies the boundary of the Río Grande del Norte National Monument to align with this new wilderness area. The bill permits the maintenance of existing wildlife water structures (like guzzlers) within the wilderness if they enhance wildlife values and minimize visual impacts, and requires the federal government to establish a cooperative agreement with New Mexico State within one year to outline wildlife management terms. These changes directly affect federal land management practices and wildlife conservation activities in the designated area.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates 12,295 acres as wilderness, protects natural resources, and maintains wildlife structures to enhance conservation values per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 20, 2025

S 681: Wyoming Public Lands Initiative Act of 2025

This bill designates five new wilderness areas in Wyoming (Encampment River Canyon, Prospect Mountain, Upper Sweetwater Canyon, Lower Sweetwater Canyon, and Bobcat Draw) and releases 17 wilderness study areas from further study under federal law. It establishes the Dubois Badlands National Conservation Area and creates seven Special Management Areas (including Bennett Mountains, Black Cat, and Sweetwater Rocks) with specific management rules. The bill restricts new road construction and limits motorized vehicle use in these areas, while allowing existing uses and activities like fire management, grazing, and limited oil and gas leasing with directional drilling restrictions. These designations and management provisions directly affect approximately 27,000 acres of public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming. The bill also includes requirements for travel management plans and studies related to motorized recreation areas in specific counties.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates wilderness areas, creates conservation areas, and restricts road construction, advancing environmental protection and resource conservation.95% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRestricts new road construction, directly limiting transportation infrastructure development as a core component of transportation policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Roads & Highways

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 1349: Ruby Mountains Protection Act

The Ruby Mountains Protection Act (S 1349) withdraws approximately 309,272 acres of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest land and 39,926 acres of Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge from mineral leasing and development. This protects these specific areas from future mining or mineral extraction activities, directly affecting potential developers and federal land management decisions. The bill allows noncommercial wildlife management activities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service but prohibits all mineral leasing under federal law. Maps defining the exact boundaries are available for public inspection at relevant federal offices.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentWithdraws 349,200+ acres from mineral development, protecting ecosystems from extraction and conserving natural resources per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Dec 2, 2025

HR 5365: ENABLE Conservation Act of 2025

This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to streamline enrollment in a conservation program focused on wildlife habitat. It adds a new enrollment category for land under the "State acres for wildlife enhancement initiative" and updates acreage limitation rules to reference this specific program. The changes directly affect farmers and landowners participating in conservation programs who enroll land for wildlife habitat improvements. The bill simplifies administrative processes for this specific initiative without altering conservation requirements or funding.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill streamlines enrollment in wildlife habitat conservation program, adds new category for habitat enhancement, and simplifies administrative processes - directly advancing habitat protection and conservation efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 25, 2025

S 704: Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025

This bill establishes a mandatory $150 million funding stream (2025-2029) from the Commodity Credit Corporation to improve public access to conservation lands. It specifically allocates $3 million to encourage public access to wetland reserve easement lands through agreements with states and tribal governments. The program directly affects landowners holding these easements and state/tribal entities managing conservation areas. The key mechanism is using federal funds to incentivize voluntary agreements that make existing wetland conservation areas more accessible to the public.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates $150M to improve public access to conservation lands/wetlands, directly funding environmental conservation through easement agreements with states/tribes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3695: Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026

This bill amends the Santini-Burton Act to improve land management in the Lake Tahoe Basin by specifically supporting the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. It authorizes the federal government to transfer funds to the Tribe for acquiring and managing culturally significant land, and requires collaboration with the Tribe, states, local governments, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency for activities like forest health, water quality, and preserving cultural sites. The bill mandates annual spending plans developed with Tribe consultation, prioritizing projects that meet environmental thresholds and leverage community support. These changes directly address the Tribe’s limited land ownership (under 0.5% of the Basin) and aim to enhance shared stewardship of the region.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates collaboration for forest health, water quality, and cultural site preservation - direct environmental protection measures90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Water Quality Tags Tribal Nations

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died · United States · Senate Dec 4, 2025

SJRES 91: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision".

This bill (SJRES 91) seeks congressional disapproval of a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule authorizing oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) Coastal Plain. It directly affects the BLM's ability to implement this leasing program by aiming to block the rule under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The resolution would nullify the rule (issued December 2024) if passed, preventing the BLM from moving forward with leasing activities in the Coastal Plain area. The resolution references a Government Accountability Office opinion confirming the rule qualifies for disapproval under the CRA.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill blocks BLM's oil/gas leasing rule in ANWR Coastal Plain, directly opposing fossil fuel energy development in protected area.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBlocks oil/gas leasing in ANWR Coastal Plain, protecting fragile ecosystem from drilling impacts and preserving conservation area per BLM rule disapproval.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Coastal & Flood Protection Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 1389: Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025

This bill updates payment rules for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which helps farmers conserve land and water. It directly affects farmers who enroll in the program, particularly those with water rights or using dryland farming (non-irrigated agriculture). Key changes include: allowing landowners to choose annual payment distribution; setting payment rates equal to irrigated rates for agreements permanently retiring water rights; and creating a new payment rate for dryland uses based on the difference between irrigated and dryland rates. Existing agreements with lower rates will be adjusted retroactively under these new rules. The bill aims to better align payments with conservation outcomes like water savings.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill improves Conservation Reserve Program to conserve land/water, incentivizes retiring water rights, and supports dryland farming conservation - directly advancing environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 3493: Carson City Public Land Correction Act

This bill transfers approximately 1,288 acres of federal land to Carson City, Nevada, for public uses like recreation and flood mitigation, and 0.45 acres for roadway expansion (requiring a crosswalk). It also authorizes the sale of 360 acres of federal land, with proceeds deposited into an existing account. The city pays all conveyance and disposal costs, including environmental assessments, and must maintain existing utility easements. Proceeds fund local projects including wildlife conservation, wildfire prevention, and public land acquisitions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds wildlife conservation projects with proceeds from land sales, directly supporting environmental protection and conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 8, 2025

S 2208: Wildfire Resilient Communities Act

This bill allocates $30 billion to fund wildfire prevention projects on federal lands, prioritizing areas near at-risk communities, high-value watersheds, and regions with high wildfire risk. It requires federal land managers (like the Forest Service and National Park Service) to focus on reducing flammable vegetation through methods like prescribed burns and thinning. The bill also establishes a County Stewardship Fund, directing 25% of receipts from federal forest contracts to local counties for any governmental use. Additionally, it adds $3 billion for community wildfire defense grants through 2031 to support local fire resilience efforts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates $30B for wildfire prevention via prescribed burns/thinning, protecting watersheds and forests - directly advancing environmental conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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