Environment

The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 resolves longstanding water rights claims for the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation in the Zuni River Stream System. It establishes a $655.5 million trust fund to support water infrastructure development, confirms the Tribe's water rights held in trust by the U.S. government (prohibiting forfeiture through non-use), and withdraws approximately 92,364 acres of federal land to protect the Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary. The bill ensures allottees' (individual landowners) water rights remain separate from the Tribe's rights, with specific provisions for accounting for water use on allotments. This settlement replaces all previous claims against the U.S. government related to water rights in the Zuni River System.

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy (DOE), and several independent agencies. The bill provides appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, including for Investigations, Construction, Mississippi River and Tributaries, Operation and Maintenance, the Regulatory Program, Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, Expenses, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of the Interior for the Central Utah Project and the Bureau of Reclamation. The bill provides appropriations to DOE for energy programs, including Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; Electricity; Grid Deployment; Nuclear Energy; Fossil Energy; Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves; the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve; the Energy Information Administration; Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup; the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund; Science; Nuclear Waste Disposal; the Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy; the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program; the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program; the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program; Indian Energy Policy and Programs; Departmental Administration; and the Office of the Inspector General. The bill also provides appropriations to DOE for Atomic Energy Defense Activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration, Environmental and Other Defense Activities, and the Power Marketing Administrations. The bill provides appropriations to several independent agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

HR 7144, the Food Rescue Act, establishes a national food rescue system under the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service to coordinate the recovery and distribution of surplus food to food-insecure communities. The bill creates a competitive grant program for food rescue organizations to improve logistics (like refrigerated transport and storage), build partnerships with retailers and farms, and use technology to match surplus food with emergency feeding organizations. It directly affects food-insecure communities by increasing access to rescued food and supports food banks, nonprofits, and local governments through grants covering recovery operations, transportation, and infrastructure. The bill amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to integrate food rescue efforts with existing USDA programs.

HR 3392, the STOP Screwworms Act, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build modular facilities for rearing sterile New World screwworm flies within 180 days of enactment. These facilities will disperse sterile flies into at-risk agricultural areas - identified based on migratory patterns and suitability for dispersal - to prevent infestations that threaten livestock. The bill authorizes $300 million in funding for construction, operation, and annual reporting to Congress on threat assessments and effectiveness. It directly affects livestock producers and agricultural regions vulnerable to screwworm fly migration, using sterile insect technique as a preventive measure.

This bill establishes a "Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy" to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, particularly targeting Venezuela's Maduro regime and transnational criminal organizations that profit from illegal mining operations. The strategy aims to disrupt linkages between artisanal miners and illicit actors, promote responsible sourcing, support formalization of mining operations, and reduce environmental harm from mercury use. It would require coordination between U.S. departments and international partners to build law enforcement capacity, support miners in transitioning to legal operations, and enhance traceability in gold supply chains. The bill authorizes $10 million for implementation over two fiscal years to support these objectives.

The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 establishes a final settlement for water rights claims of the federally recognized Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in New Mexico's Rio Chama Stream System. The bill ratifies a 2023 agreement between the Pueblo, the State of New Mexico, and other parties, creating a $745 million Trust Fund to support water infrastructure, bosque restoration, and water rights management. It requires the Pueblo and United States to waive certain historical water rights claims in exchange for confirmation of the Pueblo's water rights through a legal judgment. The settlement includes specific provisions for fund usage, environmental compliance, and a timeline for implementation with an expiration date of July 1, 2038, unless extended.

This bill redesignates the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and establishes a new Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve in Georgia, to be created once the Secretary of the Interior acquires sufficient land. It authorizes the Secretary to acquire land for both areas only through voluntary means (purchase, donation, or exchange), prohibits eminent domain, and requires a management plan prioritizing preservation of cultural sites sacred to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The bill also creates an advisory council with tribal representation, mandates hiring preferences for tribal members, and sets rules for managing hunting and fishing within the preserve under federal and state laws.

This bill creates a new grant program to fund community infrastructure projects near land ports of entry. It directly assists state, tribal, local governments, and nonprofit utilities within 25 miles of a land port, focusing on transportation, water, waste, utility, or environmental projects affected by port operations. Key provisions include a 30% local funding match (reduced or waived for rural areas or security-focused projects) and reimbursement for eligible projects completed after November 2021. The program prioritizes projects improving border security, trade efficiency, community resilience, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel quality of life, as outlined in DHS guidance.

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study for designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a National Scenic Trail. The 287-mile trail, which runs through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina across federal lands and protected areas, directly affects the communities along its route and the Benton MacKaye Trail Association. The study must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment, assessing factors like the trail's current maintenance (95% on federal land, managed since 1980 by a nonprofit) and its economic benefits to rural areas. It does not designate the trail as a National Scenic Trail, only authorizes a study to determine if that step is appropriate.

This bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to expand education and risk management assistance for agricultural producers, crop insurance providers, and other stakeholders. It requires the USDA to offer language translation services and update training programs to include diverse conservation practices like soil health improvements, sustainable water management, and agroforestry systems. The legislation increases funding limits, allowing producers to receive up to $200,000 over five years for these activities, while also authorizing $20 million annually in new appropriations. Additionally, it clarifies that payments for these programs do not count toward existing federal fund limits, ensuring producers can access multiple sources of support.