Environment (Parks & Recreation)

in committee · United States · House Dec 17, 2025

HR 6798: Calumet National Heritage Area Act

The Calumet National Heritage Area Act designates a specific region in Indiana and Illinois (including parts of three Indiana counties and portions of two Illinois counties) as a National Heritage Area to preserve its cultural, historical, and natural resources. This designation directly affects local communities, organizations like the Calumet Heritage Partnership (which will coordinate efforts), and federal agencies managing the program. The bill requires the local entity to create a management plan within three years and authorizes federal assistance for up to 15 years to support conservation, education, and tourism initiatives. It focuses on protecting the area’s industrial heritage, ecological sites like Indiana Dunes National Park, and immigrant cultural history without creating new federal funding or regulatory requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly designates area to preserve natural resources, directly aligning with environmental conservation goals per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

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in committee · United States · House Aug 5, 2025

HR 4877: Central Coast Heritage Protection Act

The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act designates approximately 235,000 acres of federal land in California as wilderness areas, scenic areas, or a special management area. It incorporates specific lands into existing wilderness systems, designates river segments as Wild and Scenic Rivers, and establishes management guidelines including provisions for fire management, grazing, and recreation. The bill withdraws these lands from mining, mineral leasing, and other activities under public land laws. It also requires studies on trail connectivity, vehicle trails, and nonmotorized recreation opportunities within the designated areas. The bill directly affects land management by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service in California's Central Coast region.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates 235k acres as wilderness/scenic areas, withdraws lands from mining/mineral leasing, directly conserving natural resources and protecting ecosystems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 9, 2025

S 1870: Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act

This bill formally adds the "Rim of the Valley Unit" to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by adjusting its boundaries. It specifies the exact land, water, and interests to be included, using two referenced maps (one from 2001 and a proposed 2023 addition). The addition does not change how the area is managed overall but requires that existing water and utility facilities continue operating while minimizing impacts on the area's natural resources. The change directly affects the lands within the newly defined boundaries, incorporating them into the existing national recreation area framework.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdds land to protected recreation area, mandates minimal impact on natural resources, aligning with conservation goals of environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

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in committee · United States · House Dec 11, 2025

HR 6674: CLAIM Act of 2025

HR 6674, the CLAIM Act of 2025, changes the annual maintenance fee for hardrock mining claims on federal land based on proximity to protected areas like National Parks and monuments. It establishes tiered fees: $1,100 for claims mostly within protected areas, decreasing to $300 for claims over 30 miles away, replacing the traditional "assessment work" requirement under the 1872 Mining Law. Small miners (holding ≤10 claims, ≤200 acres, or earning <$50,000 annually from mining) are exempt from these fees. Excess fees collected fund conservation programs, with 40% allocated to infrastructure projects, 20% to Tribal preservation, and 10% each to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and national park restoration. The bill directly affects individual miners and small operations holding claims near protected lands.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentReplaces 1872 Mining Law's assessment work requirement (with environmental oversight) with tiered fees, weakening protections near protected areas while incentivizing mining in less regulated zones.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Mar 28, 2025

HR 1565: Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025

HR 1565, the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025, directs $150 million in federal funds (from the Commodity Credit Corporation) to support public access to wetland conservation areas between fiscal years 2025 and 2029. Specifically, $3 million of this funding must be used to create voluntary agreements with states and tribal governments, encouraging public access to lands protected under wetland reserve easements. This bill directly affects landowners with these easements and state/tribal entities managing conservation programs. It provides a concrete funding mechanism to improve public access without mandating access or changing landowner obligations. The focus is on using existing federal resources to facilitate voluntary partnerships for recreation and education on conservation lands.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $150M in federal funds (Commodity Credit Corp) for wetland access, directly funding government spending under budget management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDirectly funds public access to wetland conservation areas via $150M allocation, supporting environmental protection through conservation easements and resource access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Feb 10, 2025

HR 1073: Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025

The Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025 creates a coordinated network of sites across the Great Lakes region to conserve, restore, and interpret natural, historical, and cultural resources. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (with EPA collaboration) to provide technical and financial assistance for linking these sites - such as parks, historic ports, and cultural landmarks - with trails, water routes, and educational connections. The bill establishes a grants program offering up to 50% federal funding for conservation projects, requiring non-federal matching funds (including in-kind contributions) and capping administrative costs at 10% of project totals. The program is funded at $6 million annually from 2026 through 2031 for state/local governments, nonprofits, and private groups.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly creates a network to conserve, restore, and interpret natural resources in the Great Lakes region, directly advancing environmental conservation through grants and EPA collaboration.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill authorizes grants to link sites via trails/water routes, directly funding transportation infrastructure connections for conservation access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 21, 2026

S 3501: Calumet National Heritage Area Act

This bill designates the Calumet region in Indiana and Illinois as a National Heritage Area, formally establishing a framework to preserve and promote its unique industrial, cultural, and natural resources. It specifies the boundaries (covering parts of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties in Indiana and adjacent Illinois areas) and names the Calumet Heritage Partnership as the local coordinating entity responsible for managing the area. The bill requires the local entity to submit a management plan within three years and sets a 15-year limit on federal funding for the initiative. This designation directly affects residents, tourism, and conservation efforts in the region by creating a structured approach to protect sites like Indiana Dunes National Park and historical industrial landscapes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates Calumet region for preserving natural resources via heritage area framework, aligning with conservation goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

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in committee · United States · House Jun 17, 2025

HR 4041: To exempt certain forest management activities in Yosemite National Park from requirements of section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.

This bill exempts specific forest management activities in Yosemite National Park from standard environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It directly affects park managers by allowing fuels removal (like brush clearing) and reforestation planning/execution without needing an environmental assessment or impact statement. The key mechanism is a "categorical exclusion," meaning these activities are automatically exempted from NEPA's review process. This change streamlines park operations for fire prevention and forest restoration work.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts forest management from NEPA review, weakening environmental oversight requirements for park activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Parks & Recreation

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in committee · United States · House Feb 12, 2025

HR 1261: Land and Water Conservation Fund Water Amendments Act of 2025

This bill amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund program to allow federal funding for state-led water quality projects. It requires states to identify impaired water bodies under federal water law and include proposed restoration projects in their outdoor recreation plans. Funds can now support specific restoration efforts like wetlands, marshes, and living shorelines to improve water quality, but cannot reimburse completed projects or expand federal regulation over waterways. The bill directly affects states developing recreation plans and implementing water quality restoration under existing federal programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates federal funds from Land and Water Conservation Fund for state water quality projects, advancing fiscal management of environmental spending.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds state-led water quality projects including wetlands, marshes, and living shorelines for environmental restoration without expanding federal regulation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Water Quality

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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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