Environment (Public Lands)

in committee · United States · House Apr 10, 2025

HR 2877: Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act

This bill directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a continuous route within 10 years of enactment, using existing land acquisition authorities under the National Trails System Act. It establishes a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management "Trail Completion Team" to coordinate with federal, state, Tribal, local governments, and landowners to identify trail gaps, explore land agreements, and develop a comprehensive 3-year plan. The plan must detail trail gaps, opportunities for land easements, and specific development costs. The bill explicitly states it does not create new land acquisition authority or prioritize trail land purchases over other federal land needs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill completes a national scenic trail under conservation-focused National Trails System Act, preserving natural landscapes and requiring coordinated land management for environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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passed · United States · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 5682: To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes.

This bill transfers approximately 1,261 acres of federal land in Riverside County, California (administered by the Bureau of Land Management) into trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians, making it part of their reservation under federal management. The land must remain open space, be used only for cultural/wildlife preservation, and cannot be used for any gambling (including class II or III gaming). The bill preserves existing water rights and service agreements, requires tribes to report MOU terminations to Congress and the Interior Department, and prohibits development that conflicts with open space or conservation goals.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires land use for wildlife preservation and open space, aligning with conservation protections.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 5111: CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025

The CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025 updates the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to give farmers more flexibility in managing enrolled land while maintaining conservation goals. It allows emergency haying during droughts or natural disasters under specific conditions (e.g., D2 drought designation or 40% forage loss) on no more than 50% of contract acres, without harming wildlife cover. The bill expands cost-sharing for grazing infrastructure like fencing and water systems and raises the annual rental payment limit from $50,000 to $125,000. These changes directly affect CRP participants by adjusting enrollment rules, management options, and payment structures.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMaintains CRP conservation goals, explicitly prohibits harming wildlife cover, and expands cost-sharing for conservation infrastructure like fencing/water systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Jan 23, 2025

HR 717: Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025

HR 717 establishes a grant program to fund projects improving habitat connectivity for migratory wildlife, primarily benefiting big game species like deer, elk, and pronghorn. The bill provides federal funding (with up to 90% federal share) for states, tribes, nonprofits, and landowners to implement habitat improvements such as fence modifications, wildlife crossings, and habitat restoration in identified movement areas. Projects must include support from state or tribal wildlife agencies, and at least 50% of funding must target big game movement areas. The program coordinates with existing initiatives like the Migratory Big Game Initiative and requires annual reporting on conservation outcomes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds habitat connectivity projects (wildlife crossings, fence modifications) to protect migratory species, directly advancing conservation and natural resource protection per environmental topic definition.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill funds wildlife crossings (a transportation safety measure) to reduce animal-vehicle collisions on roads, directly enhancing transportation infrastructure safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Mar 14, 2025

HR 2134: Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act

HR 2134, the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, transfers approximately 48,106 acres of federal land to the Moapa Band of Paiutes and Las Vegas Paiute Tribes to be held in trust for tribal use. The bill establishes 9 special management areas totaling over 290,000 acres in Clark County for conservation and habitat protection, while adding wilderness areas to the National Wilderness Preservation System. It conveys federal land to local governments for public safety facilities, water infrastructure, and recreation areas, with specific provisions for affordable housing and flood control. The legislation aims to balance economic development with environmental conservation in Southern Nevada through specific land management changes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes 290,000+ acres of conservation areas and wilderness protection, directly advancing habitat conservation and natural resource protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jan 17, 2026

HR 7143: Roadside Pollinator Program Amendments Act

This bill amends a federal program to promote pollinator-friendly vegetation along roadsides and highway rights-of-way. It expands eligibility to include 501(c)(3) nonprofits managing such projects and requires consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service before finalizing plans. The bill increases annual funding from $150,000 to $500,000 for program administration and raises the annual funding cap for projects from $2 million to $5 million (for fiscal years 2026-2031). These changes directly affect state transportation departments, federal land agencies, and qualifying nonprofit organizations managing roadside vegetation. The key policy shift is broadening partnership opportunities while increasing funding and clarifying consultation requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases annual funding caps for program administration ($150k→$500k) and projects ($2M→$5M), directly advancing fiscal support for environmental initiatives within government spending.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands pollinator habitat programs, increases funding for conservation projects, requires Fish and Wildlife consultation, and directly advances pollinator protection as environmental conservation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill directly enhances highway rights-of-way management with increased funding ($500k admin, $5M project cap) for pollinator projects along transportation infrastructure, aligning with sustainable transportation infrastructure support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands Wildlife Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 17, 2025

S 350: Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025

The Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025 creates a comprehensive approach to wildfire management through three main components. It establishes a pilot program using conservation finance agreements to fund landscape-scale forest restoration projects on National Forest System lands, prioritizing projects of 100,000 acres or more. The bill also creates programs to improve energy resilience for critical facilities through microgrids, requires fire-resistant materials in weatherization programs, and funds research centers for prescribed fire training and workforce development. Additionally, it provides grants to disadvantaged communities for land stewardship and wildfire resilience activities, with a focus on enhancing community capacity and equitable access to environmental resources.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill promotes energy resilience via microgrids for critical facilities and fire-resistant materials in weatherization, advancing energy infrastructure efficiency.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds landscape-scale forest restoration via conservation finance, prioritizing large conservation projects on federal lands, directly advancing environmental protection through habitat restoration and wildfire prevention.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Energy Resilience Forestry Natural Disasters Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Sep 2, 2025

HR 5102: Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement And Tourism Act

This bill designates five specific river segments in Montana - including the Madison River (42 miles), Gallatin River (39.5 miles), and Hyalite Creek (4.6 miles) - as protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers program. It directly affects recreational users, local tourism economies, and existing water rights holders by preserving public access, private property rights, and current infrastructure like the Hebgen and Madison Dams. Key provisions include designating segments as "recreational" or "scenic" rivers under USDA Forest Service management, explicitly preserving existing hydropower operations (including FERC licenses for the Hebgen and Madison Dams), and prohibiting dam expansion into protected areas. The bill also confirms that existing water rights, including Tribal and state compacts, remain fully intact.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates rivers under Wild and Scenic program, protecting natural flow, conservation, and public access per environmental preservation intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 4892: Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025

This bill authorizes the U.S. Forest Service to fund contracts and grants with state forestry agencies, local nonprofits, universities, tribal governments, and regional coalitions to collect native seeds and produce seedlings for ecosystem restoration. It specifically directs these funds toward activities like maintaining seed orchards and growing seedlings for replanting vegetation in degraded landscapes. The law modifies existing programs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Public Land Management Act to include these seed and seedling initiatives. This directly supports organizations working on restoring forests, grasslands, and other habitats using locally adapted native plant materials.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds native seed collection and replanting for ecosystem restoration, directly conserving natural resources and promoting habitat recovery per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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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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