Environment (Public Lands)

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 564: Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

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.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes trust fund for water infrastructure, confirms water rights, and withdraws federal land to protect Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary, directly supporting environmental conservation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands Tags Tribal Nations

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signed · United States · House Dec 11, 2025

HJRES 130: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment.

HJRES 130 is a congressional disapproval resolution that blocks a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for its Buffalo Field Office. The resolution, enacted December 11, 2025, prevents the "Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment" from taking effect under federal law. This action directly affects the BLM's management of public lands in the Buffalo area by invalidating the resource management plan amendment. The resolution follows the Congressional Review Act process, which allows Congress to reject agency rules within a specified timeframe.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill blocks BLM resource management plan amendment, potentially limiting environmental protections and conservation measures on public lands.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

signed · United States · House Dec 11, 2025

HJRES 105: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan".

HJRES 105 is a procedural resolution that blocks a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule concerning North Dakota's resource management plan. It directs Congress to disapprove the BLM's "North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan" (issued January 2025), which the Government Accountability Office determined qualified as a "rule" under the Congressional Review Act. The resolution states this BLM rule will have no legal effect once enacted. This action directly affects the implementation of the BLM's resource management plan for North Dakota's public lands.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill blocks BLM resource management plan, likely weakening environmental protections and conservation efforts in North Dakota.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

in committee · United States · Senate Oct 27, 2025

S 1376: Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025

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.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes a National Scenic Trail, which protects natural resources, promotes conservation, and preserves environmental areas through federal designation and maintenance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SRES 645: A resolution recognizing 2026 as the "International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists".

This resolution formally recognizes 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, acknowledging the ecological and economic importance of these lands to the United States. The bill highlights that rangelands cover a significant portion of U.S. territory and support domestic production of food, fiber, and energy while providing critical ecosystem services like carbon storage and wildfire risk reduction. It encourages federal agencies, universities, and organizations to engage in education, research, and outreach activities related to sustainable rangeland management during the designated year. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves to raise awareness and promote collaboration among stakeholders involved in rangeland stewardship.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill recognizes rangelands for supporting domestic energy production and ecosystem services like carbon storage, indicating positive stance on energy infrastructure.65% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill recognizes ecological importance of rangelands, highlighting carbon storage and wildfire risk reduction as ecosystem services, promoting conservation awareness.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 1464: Buffalo Tract Protection Act

S 1464, the Buffalo Tract Protection Act, withdraws approximately 4,288 acres of federal land in New Mexico (described as Tracts A-D on a 2019 map) from mining claims, mineral leasing, and other disposal under federal law. This directly affects the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which administers the land, by prohibiting new mineral development on the surface. The bill allows the surface estate to be conveyed (sold or transferred) under existing laws like the Federal Land Policy Act, but requires the federal government to retain all mineral rights permanently.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill prohibits new mineral development on federal land, restricting potential energy production from mining and leasing activities.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentWithdraws 4,288 acres from mining/mineral leasing, prohibiting new development to protect natural resources and prevent environmental damage from extraction activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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passed · United States · Senate Feb 10, 2026

S 282: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act

This bill allows the Secretary of the Interior to voluntarily acquire specific land within a defined "authorized acquisition area" (outside the current monument boundary) to expand Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine. It prohibits the use of eminent domain for land purchases and requires boundary adjustments upon acquisition. The bill maintains existing hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation rights on newly acquired land, and permits noncommercial hand-gathering of fiddlehead ferns under certain conditions. It also directs the Secretary to collaborate with local communities on public education about the area's history and management, while preserving existing timber access rights.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands protected land area of Katahdin Woods monument, maintaining conservation status without weakening environmental protections or regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Feb 18, 2025

HR 1444: Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

HR 1444, the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, establishes a settlement for the Zuni Tribe's water rights in the Zuni River Stream System by confirming the Tribe's water rights held in trust by the U.S. government. The bill creates a $655.5 million Trust Fund for water infrastructure development and management, plus $29.5 million for operation and maintenance, with funds to be used for projects like water treatment, irrigation systems, and watershed protection. It also protects approximately 217,000 acres of culturally significant land around Zuni Salt Lake by withdrawing Federal land from development and imposing management restrictions. The settlement ensures Tribal water rights cannot be forfeited for non-use and maintains existing water rights for individual allottees on Zuni Lands.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds watershed protection and water infrastructure projects, directly advancing environmental conservation and resource management under tribal water rights settlement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Public Lands Water Quality Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · House Mar 26, 2025

HR 2376: To nullify the Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge Travel Management Plan.

HR 2376 directs the Secretary of the Interior to stop implementing, administering, or enforcing the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) January 2025 "Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge Travel Management Plan." The bill explicitly states this plan shall have no legal effect. It directly affects the BLM's management of public lands in those areas and the public using those trails and roads. The bill's sole mechanism is a formal nullification of the existing travel plan, not a new policy.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentNullifies BLM's travel plan managing public land use, removing environmental protections for Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge trails/roads.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jan 3, 2025

HR 92: Strategic Production Response and Implementation Act

This bill requires the Secretary of Energy to develop a plan increasing oil and gas leasing on federal lands (managed by Interior, Agriculture, and Defense) by the same percentage as any initial drawdown of petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The plan must not increase leased lands by more than 10% total. It mandates consultation between energy, agriculture, and defense secretaries to create this plan before any reserve drawdown occurs. The bill directly affects federal land management agencies and the process for accessing the national oil reserve.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill mandates increased oil/gas leasing on federal lands, advancing fossil fuels over renewable energy alternatives.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill mandates increased oil/gas leasing on federal lands, promoting fossil fuel extraction that typically harms environmental protection, climate goals, and conservation efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Conservation Public Lands

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