Environment (Water Quality)

in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 5280: Protecting Farmers from Natural Disasters Act of 2025

HR 5280, the *Protecting Farmers from Natural Disasters Act of 2025*, amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to permit restoration of farmland above pre-disaster conditions if it benefits the long-term health and protection of the watershed. This directly affects farmers seeking disaster recovery assistance and gives the Secretary discretion to approve such restoration projects. The key provision replaces an existing requirement with a new standard focused on watershed sustainability, rather than strictly returning land to its pre-disaster state. The bill makes a specific policy change to existing disaster recovery rules without creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllows watershed protection in farmland restoration, directly advancing environmental conservation through disaster recovery programs95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 21, 2026

S 3542: Upper Raritan River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2025

This bill designates specific segments of the Upper Raritan River Watershed in New Jersey - including the North Branch, South Branch, and Lamington-Black Rivers and their tributaries - for a federal study. The study, to be completed within 3 years of funding, will evaluate whether these watersheds qualify for potential future inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Secretary of the Interior must report the study results to Congress. This bill does not immediately protect the rivers but initiates a process to assess their eligibility for federal protection.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill initiates study to evaluate potential inclusion in Wild and Scenic Rivers System, a conservation program, advancing future protection of watershed resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Mar 6, 2025

HR 1938: Department of Defense PFAS Discharge Prevention Act

HR 1938 requires the Department of Defense to request modifications to stormwater permits at military facilities, mandating quarterly monitoring of PFAS discharges and implementation of best management practices to reduce them. The bill directly affects all Department of Defense facilities subject to federal stormwater permits under the Clean Water Act. It allocates at least 1% of annual PFAS remediation funds specifically for testing stormwater runoff at these sites. The legislation focuses on preventing PFAS contamination in waterways by strengthening monitoring and reduction measures at military operations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires DoD to monitor and reduce PFAS discharges via stormwater permits, directly addressing pollution control and environmental protection through mandated monitoring and remediation funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2025

HR 2408: Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act

The Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to include harmful algal blooms as a qualifying event for federal disaster assistance, alongside existing events like droughts and floods. This change allows communities affected by harmful algal blooms - such as those experiencing water contamination or public health risks - to access federal disaster relief funds and support. The bill directly impacts local communities that face recurring water quality issues from algal blooms, which can disrupt drinking water, recreation, and ecosystems. The key mechanism is updating the Stafford Act’s list of qualifying events to explicitly add "harmful algal blooms" without creating new programs. This procedural amendment streamlines access to existing disaster relief resources for affected areas.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill provides federal disaster assistance for communities affected by harmful algal blooms (water pollution), directly addressing environmental protection and public health risks from pollution events.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Natural Disasters Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1217: Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025

HR 1217, the Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025, amends federal grant rules for cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells by removing the requirement for states to measure methane emissions as a condition for receiving funding. It allows states to use estimated data from well plugging projects (without needing to collect new monitoring data) for reporting purposes. The bill also mandates a National Academies study to analyze how well-plugging activities affect local economies, housing, and water quality in communities where many wells are cleaned up, requiring input from all U.S. regions and agencies like HUD. This study must be completed within 18 months after the final grant is awarded, using existing federal funding.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves methane emission measurement requirement for well cleanup funding, weakening oversight of emissions from oil/gas projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Jan 28, 2026

HR 7268: CLEAN–UP Act

HR 7268, the CLEAN-UP Act, streamlines the removal or remediation of contaminated sediment in waterways by requiring the Army Corps of Engineers (as "Secretary") to develop a joint plan with local partners. This plan must protect human health and the environment, detail work methods, disposal locations, roles, and funding sources, and undergo public review. The bill shields the Corps from liability under federal environmental law for cleanup activities conducted under this approved plan. It maintains existing requirements for the government to seek cost recovery from polluters responsible for the contamination. The law directly affects federal and local agencies managing sediment cleanup projects under existing water resources programs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill requires Corps to develop plan protecting human health/environment in sediment cleanup, explicitly mandating environmental protection as a core component.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 28, 2025

S 2472: Department of Defense PFAS Discharge Prevention Act

This bill requires the Department of Defense to request modifications to stormwater discharge permits at military facilities, mandating quarterly testing for PFAS (chemicals used in firefighting foams and other military products) and implementation of best practices to reduce discharges. It applies to all DoD facilities with active permits under the Clean Water Act, with exceptions for permits already containing these requirements. The bill also directs that at least 1% of annual funds allocated for PFAS remediation must be used for monitoring and reduction activities at these facilities. These provisions aim to standardize PFAS testing and controls across military sites without creating new regulatory standards.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates quarterly PFAS testing and discharge reduction at military facilities, directly addressing water pollution from toxic chemicals under Clean Water Act compliance.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House May 13, 2025

HR 3361: Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025

HR 3361 reauthorizes the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program through 2034, doubling its annual funding cap from $4 million to $8 million. It directly affects collaborative groups working on forest restoration across federal, state, tribal, and private lands. Key changes include expanding eligible projects to address wildfire risk reduction across multiple land ownerships, enhance watershed health, and improve monitoring standards. The bill also requires federal staffing plans for supporting these collaboratives and adds new mechanisms like conservation finance agreements for implementation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReauthorizes and doubles funding for forest restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and watershed health - directly advancing environmental protection through increased resources and expanded project scope.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Feb 12, 2025

HR 1267: Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act

HR 1267, the Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act, exempts certain water and wastewater treatment facilities from liability under the federal environmental cleanup law (CERCLA) for releases of specific PFAS chemicals. It directly affects public water systems, wastewater treatment plants, municipalities with stormwater permits, and their contractors who handle PFAS while following all applicable laws. The exemption applies only if facilities manage PFAS in compliance with existing federal or state water quality rules, such as through proper biosolids disposal or treated water discharge under permits. However, the bill does not protect facilities that act with gross negligence or willful misconduct in handling PFAS. This law changes liability rules for water systems but does not alter PFAS regulation standards.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts water systems from CERCLA liability for PFAS releases, weakening environmental cleanup enforcement and removing accountability for PFAS contamination under federal law.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Hazardous Materials Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Apr 9, 2025

HR 2783: Infrastructure Project Acceleration Act

HR 2783, the Infrastructure Project Acceleration Act, fast-tracks large-scale manufacturing projects in the U.S. by waiving certain federal environmental reviews. It applies to projects costing $1 billion or more that require federal approvals, directly affecting major manufacturers seeking to build or expand facilities. Key provisions exclude projects from needing permits under the Clean Water Act (Section 404) and the Endangered Species Act (Sections 7, 9, 10), modify National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews to accept equivalent state/Tribal environmental processes, and limit court challenges by barring judicial review of approvals for these projects. The bill aims to speed up manufacturing projects in critical sectors like defense and healthcare while reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill waives environmental reviews for large projects, removing barriers that could apply to renewable energy infrastructure while facilitating fossil fuel projects without clean energy standards.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill waives Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act permits, weakening environmental protections for large manufacturing projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pipeline Infrastructure Water Quality Wildlife

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