Environment (Wildlife)

The Extinction Prevention Act of 2026 establishes four separate conservation funds to provide financial assistance for protecting threatened and endangered species in specific regions. The bill creates funds for butterflies in North America, plants in the Pacific Islands, freshwater mussels in the United States, and desert fish in the Southwest, with each fund managed by the Secretary of the Interior. Eligible applicants, such as state agencies, nonprofits, and research institutions, can apply for competitive grants to support habitat protection, research, and management plans, while federal agencies are restricted to partnering roles rather than leading projects. Each fund is authorized to receive $5 million annually from 2027 through 2032, and the Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress detailing project outcomes and the status of the species.

This resolution designates the week of April 20 through 26, 2026, as National Dark Sky Week to highlight the importance of preserving the natural night sky. It encourages federal agencies, communities, and educators to promote awareness of dark sky preservation and its benefits for recreation, science, and wildlife. The bill also calls on individuals and organizations to adopt responsible lighting practices that reduce light pollution.

This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act to require federal officials to identify marine mammal species and populations facing population declines due to climate change. It mandates the creation of specific management plans for these species, which must include strategies to reduce human impacts, monitor interactions with fisheries, and improve habitat resiliency. The legislation also establishes a new monitoring program to track climate effects and authorizes funding for these conservation efforts from 2027 through 2031.

This resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as National Native Plant Month to highlight the importance of indigenous plant species. The measure recognizes that native plants are essential for healthy ecosystems, helping to clean air, filter water, and support wildlife habitats. It also notes the decline of over 200 native plant species due to habitat loss and other environmental challenges. As a symbolic gesture, the bill does not create new laws or funding but serves to raise awareness about conserving these plants.

This bill establishes a federal system to protect and restore wildlife corridors on public lands, aiming to help native species move safely across fragmented habitats affected by development and climate change. It creates a new mapping and science program to identify critical wildlife pathways, designates specific federal lands as National Wildlife Corridors, and sets up a coordinating committee of federal agencies and stakeholders to manage these areas. The legislation also authorizes grants for private landowners, states, tribes, and local governments to implement conservation projects that improve habitat connectivity on non-federal lands.

This bill extends the deadline for certain regulations protecting the North Atlantic right whale from 2028 to 2035. It directly affects the National Marine Fisheries Service and other agencies responsible for enforcing these conservation rules. The key provision amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to update the expiration date in the relevant section of federal law. This change ensures that existing protective measures for the whale species remain in effect for an additional seven years.

This bill, known as the No FED in West Texas Act, prevents the Secretary of the Interior from finalizing or enforcing a specific land protection plan for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. The legislation directly affects federal management of the refuge by prohibiting the implementation of a February 2023 document that would have restricted land use. By blocking this plan, the bill aims to stop the designation of certain areas as protected zones within the refuge.

The Extinction Prevention Act of 2026 establishes four separate conservation funds to provide financial assistance for protecting specific species of butterflies, plants, freshwater mussels, and desert fish. The Department of the Interior will manage these funds by issuing competitive grants to eligible applicants, such as state agencies, nonprofits, and research institutions, while prohibiting federal agencies from being the primary recipients of funding. Each fund is authorized to receive $5 million annually from 2027 through 2032 and includes provisions for accepting donations, investing earnings, and requiring annual reports to Congress on project progress and species status. The legislation prioritizes projects that focus on threatened or endangered species and those designed for long-term sustainability, with a requirement for local community consultation and support.

This resolution formally recognizes May 15, 2026, as Endangered Species Day to honor the success of conservation efforts under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The bill highlights how these laws have helped prevent the extinction of many species and supports the economic and cultural benefits of biodiversity. It acknowledges the role of indigenous communities in conservation and celebrates the recovery of various at-risk plants and wildlife. The measure is symbolic and does not create new laws or funding, but rather expresses support for existing conservation achievements.

This resolution provides for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 4690) to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to repeal certain Federal building energy efficiency performance standards, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1182) expressing support for rural communities across the United States as stewards of the environment, major suppliers of United States energy resources, critical providers of food production and manufacturing capacity, and drivers of national economic stability, and recognizing the work of the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress in support of those vital communities; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1897) to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to optimize conservation through resource prioritization, incentivize wildlife conservation on private lands, provide for greater incentives to recover listed species, create greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species, streamline the permitting process, eliminate barriers to conservation, and restore congressional intent; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5587) to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.