The DRIVE Across America Act of 2026 establishes the Cleaner TRAILS Initiative to promote zero-emission vehicles and fueling infrastructure on National Forest and National Park lands. This program requires the Forest Service and National Park Service to develop a strategy for installing charging stations, purchasing electric vehicles for their fleets, and offering shuttle services that run on clean energy. The bill also directs the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation to expand electric vehicle charging access near airports and tourist destinations, while authorizing $1 billion in federal funding between 2027 and 2031 to support these efforts. Additionally, the legislation mandates that agreements for transportation services on federal lands give priority to providers using zero-emission vehicles and requires regular reporting to Congress on progress and spending.
The RESILIENCE Act of 2026 directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to launch a one-year pilot program that trains local government officials on assessing security risks at critical infrastructure facilities. The bill also requires the agency to create clearinghouses where owners and operators of critical infrastructure can access security guidance and best practices developed by the agency or trusted sources. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the agency produce annual public reports detailing its outreach efforts to these infrastructure owners across various regions and sectors. The act clarifies that these new requirements do not exempt the agency from existing federal civil rights laws.
This bill establishes a comprehensive sanctions framework targeting the Russian government and its affiliated entities in response to ongoing military actions. It authorizes the President to block assets, revoke visas, and prohibit financial transactions for Russian officials, military leaders, and foreign persons supporting Russia's defense industry or undermining Ukraine. The legislation also bans U.S. investments in Russian energy sectors, prohibits the purchase of Russian sovereign debt, and imposes high tariffs on Russian imports while restricting crude oil purchases by specific foreign nations. Additionally, the bill prevents Russian companies from listing on U.S. stock exchanges and includes mechanisms for terminating sanctions only if Russia signs a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine and ceases hostilities.
The Make More in America Act of 2026 expands the Export-Import Bank's authority to provide loans, guarantees, and other financial support specifically for U.S. manufacturing projects that are intended for export. This new program targets strategic industries such as renewable energy, semiconductors, shipbuilding, and advanced robotics, with a goal of creating at least 30 percent of the Bank's annual financing for these domestic projects. To ensure accountability, the bill requires recipients to meet prevailing wage standards, commit to workforce training, and adhere to strict timelines, with funds subject to clawback if these conditions are not met. Additionally, the legislation increases the Bank's overall lending authority, establishes a new interagency committee to coordinate federal investment strategies, and tightens rules on who is eligible for Bank support.
The Pacific POWER Act directs the U.S. State Department to launch an international program aimed at expanding geothermal energy use in Indo-Pacific allies to strengthen national security ties and reduce reliance on Chinese energy technology. This initiative involves selecting at least five partner countries, including several in the Indo-Pacific region, to collaborate on developing geothermal resources and next-generation technologies like enhanced geothermal systems. The bill authorizes the creation of public-private partnerships, financial tools, and technical assistance to help these partners build geothermal capacity while establishing standards for community engagement and environmental safety. To oversee this effort, the legislation requires the Secretary of State to submit detailed reports to Congress outlining the strategy, resource needs, and progress of the program over a five-year funding period.
This bill nullifies a specific decision made by the Endangered Species Committee regarding oil and gas operations in the Gulf of America. It immediately cancels any exemptions previously granted to these activities under the Endangered Species Act and bars federal agencies from using funds to enforce the canceled order. For a three-year period starting when the bill is enacted, the committee is prohibited from issuing any new exemptions for Gulf oil and gas projects. Consequently, all standard environmental protections required by the Endangered Species Act will continue to apply fully to these activities.
The Energy Bills Relief Act aims to lower household energy costs and accelerate the development of low-cost, clean energy by modifying federal tax credits, expanding weatherization programs, and streamlining permitting processes. Key provisions include restoring tax incentives for renewable energy projects, increasing funding for low-income heating assistance, and requiring federal agencies to treat wind, solar, and storage projects with the same procedural fairness as oil and gas projects. The bill also establishes new incentives for upgrading the electricity grid, such as tax credits for transmission lines and grants for wildfire prevention measures, while creating mechanisms to ensure utilities serve public interests and protect consumers from price volatility.
The WISE Act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require states receiving capitalization grants to allocate at least 20 percent of those funds toward specific sustainability projects. These designated projects must focus on green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative activities, provided there are enough eligible applications and available funding. This change directly affects state governments by mandating a minimum spending threshold for these initiatives within the existing grant program. The legislation aims to ensure that a significant portion of federal water infrastructure money supports modern, eco-friendly solutions rather than traditional construction methods.
The Clean Energy Workforce Act authorizes $100 million to help schools and colleges train students for jobs in clean energy, renewable energy, and climate change fields. The funding supports two main programs: grants for partnerships between schools and local businesses to create or expand educational courses that prepare students for these industries, and grants for educational facilities to become more energy-efficient and use renewable power. To ensure quality, the bill requires a review committee of educators and industry experts to evaluate grant applications, with priority given to programs that reach underserved students and share their methods with other schools.
This bill increases the corporate tax rate on stock buybacks to 25 percent for large oil and gas companies that meet specific revenue and operational criteria. It targets corporations with an average annual gross receipt of at least $1 billion that are primarily engaged in producing, refining, processing, transporting, or distributing oil or natural gas. The higher tax rate applies only to stock repurchases made after the bill is enacted and before gasoline prices fall below $2.937 per gallon for five consecutive weeks. If gasoline prices drop below this threshold, the special tax provision ceases to apply, and companies may claim a partial reduction in their tax liability based on the duration of the high-price period.
