Environment (Tribal Nations) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 3358: Native American Seeds Act of 2025

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to collaborate with Indian Tribes within one year of enactment to identify culturally significant "Native American seeds" and support tribal seed banks, traditional agriculture systems, and seed protection efforts. It requires the Secretary to safeguard any culturally sensitive or confidential information shared by Tribes under this Act, prohibiting its disclosure. The bill does not authorize new funding, relying instead on existing appropriations for implementation. It directly affects Indian Tribes by empowering them to manage and protect their traditional seed resources under federal guidance.

Topics ✓ Environment

Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Feb 13, 2025

HR 1324: Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

This bill ratifies a water rights settlement agreement between the Navajo Nation, the State of New Mexico, and other parties for the Rio San José Stream System. It establishes a $223.27 million trust fund (with $200.27 million from federal funds) to support water infrastructure projects, water rights management, and environmental compliance on Navajo Nation lands. The agreement resolves longstanding water rights claims for the Navajo Nation, confirms their water rights in the Rio San José Stream System and Rio Puerco Basin, and includes protections for allottee water rights. The settlement becomes effective on the "Enforceability Date" after certain conditions are met, including court approval and fund deposits.

Topics ✓ Environment

Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Nov 20, 2025

HR 6205: Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025

This bill amends the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to establish two new trust funds: a $190 million Groundwater Development Supplemental Trust Fund and a $16 million Surface Water Sharing Supplemental Trust Fund. These funds will support water infrastructure projects for the Taos Pueblo tribe and eligible non-Pueblo entities to address water rights and offset surface water depletion effects. The bill sets specific deadlines requiring at least 10-15% of funds to be spent within 3 years, with full construction completion required within 4-8 years depending on project type. It also allows for alternative infrastructure if projects fall behind schedule, with provisions for returning unspent funds to the Treasury.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Jan 22, 2025

HR 635: WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act

The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act amends federal law to improve access to water infrastructure funding for Indian Tribes. It allows the Secretary of the Interior to reduce or waive a tribe's required cost share for water projects if the tribe faces financial hardship. This directly affects tribes receiving WaterSMART grants, making it easier for them to secure federal funding for essential water management improvements without bearing excessive upfront costs. The change modifies existing cost-sharing rules under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Public Lands Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 27, 2025

S 1181: Tribal Energy Fairness Act of 2025

The Tribal Energy Fairness Act of 2025 modifies two federal energy programs to better support Indian Tribes. It adds $500,000 in funding for financial/technical assessments for tribal renewable energy and transmission projects seeking Department of Energy loan guarantees, and exempts Tribes from cost-sharing requirements for grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's grid resilience program. The bill specifically ensures Tribes can apply for these grants without needing to match federal funds and simplifies application plans for tribal-led projects. These changes directly affect Tribes seeking to develop energy infrastructure on or near tribal land or manage federal energy grants.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Energy Resilience Renewable Energy Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Jun 17, 2025

HR 4047: Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025

HR 4047, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025, amends the 2009 Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act to improve collaboration on ocean acidification issues. The bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish ongoing input mechanisms for affected industries, coastal stakeholders, fishery councils, Indigenous groups (including Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations), and non-Federal scientists. It mandates specific tribal representation on the Advisory Board, directs NOAA to coordinate with tribes on vulnerability assessments and research planning, and prioritizes underserved coastal communities in resource allocation. These changes aim to integrate community and tribal knowledge into federal research and management efforts related to ocean acidification impacts on coastal economies and ecosystems.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2025

S 2391: BUILD Housing Act

The BUILD Housing Act streamlines environmental review processes for federal housing assistance programs. It allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to designate certain HUD-funded housing projects as "special projects" for environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), reducing administrative steps. This directly affects HUD housing programs, particularly enabling federally recognized tribes to assume environmental review responsibilities instead of relying solely on states or local governments. The bill modifies existing law to include tribes as eligible entities for these reviews, using the federal definition of "Indian Tribe" from the Native American Housing Act.

Topics ✗ Environment ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Property Development Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Jun 17, 2025

HR 4025: Energy Transitions Initiative Authorization Act of 2025

The Energy Transitions Initiative Authorization Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to fund renewable energy infrastructure projects in remote, island, and Tribal communities. It authorizes up to $5 million per project (with grantees covering at least 10% of costs) for initiatives like solar microgrids, hydropower, or energy efficiency upgrades. Eligible entities include states, local governments, Tribal communities, and community organizations serving these areas, with $31 million annually allocated for fiscal years 2026-2030. The bill requires technical assistance for grantees and annual GAO audits to ensure proper fund use. It directly targets communities facing high energy costs, infrastructure vulnerability, and disaster risks due to geographic isolation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Energy Resilience Solar Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 6415: Native American Seeds Act of 2025

This bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to collaborate with tribes within one year of enactment to identify seeds of cultural significance and support tribal efforts to protect them. It mandates federal support for tribal seed banks, traditional agriculture systems, and the confidentiality of culturally sensitive seed information provided by tribes. The bill explicitly prohibits disclosure of such confidential information and states that existing funding must cover these activities - no new funds are authorized. It directly affects tribal nations by safeguarding their traditional seed knowledge and agricultural practices.

Topics ✓ Environment

Tags Tribal Nations

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 ✓ Environment

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

All environment bills