Environment (Natural Disasters) in United States

in committee · United States · House Sep 9, 2025

HR 3654: TERRA Act

The TERRA Act enables Indian Tribes to integrate funding from multiple federal programs into comprehensive plans addressing environmental threats and natural disasters, including climate impacts like flooding, erosion, wildfires, and sea level rise. The bill streamlines administrative processes by requiring only a single annual report instead of multiple reports from individual programs and allows tribes to reallocate funds across different services as needed. It establishes a streamlined permitting process for environmental reviews and creates an expedited fee-to-trust process for land acquisitions to support community-driven relocation efforts. The Act aims to reduce bureaucratic barriers while empowering tribes to address environmental challenges through their own community-driven strategies within the federal trust responsibility framework.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Tags Tribal Nations

in committee · United States · House Apr 24, 2025

HR 2990: Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act of 2025

This bill establishes a voluntary grant program for coastal states to develop climate adaptation plans and implement projects addressing climate impacts. It provides federal funding for states to create plans identifying vulnerable infrastructure, habitats, and resources, along with strategies like protecting biodiversity, managing coastal erosion, and using green infrastructure. States must align plans with existing hazard mitigation programs and receive federal approval before accessing implementation grants. The program focuses on concrete actions - such as protecting coastal ecosystems, adapting infrastructure, and monitoring environmental changes - without requiring states to modify existing coastal management policies.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters

passed · United States · Senate Jun 15, 2026

S 2033: Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act

This bill directs the Comptroller General to study how federal programs and funding help or hinder wildfire mitigation efforts across different land ownerships (including federal, state, tribal, and private lands). It examines existing rules, funding access for agencies like the USDA Forest Service and FEMA, and analyzes activities from the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. The study will identify improvements to simplify cooperation between federal, state, local, and tribal governments on wildfire prevention. The Comptroller General must submit a report with findings and recommendations to Congress within two years. This is a procedural study bill focused on improving coordination, not implementing new policies.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Public Lands Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2025

HCONRES 44: Recognizing a health and safety emergency disproportionately affecting the fundamental rights of children due to the Trump administration's directives that unleash fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, while suppressing climate change science.

HCONRES 44 is a symbolic resolution recognizing a health and safety emergency for children linked to the Trump administration's climate policies. It claims these policies - unleashing fossil fuel production, blocking renewable energy, and suppressing climate science - disproportionately harm children through increased air pollution, extreme weather, and denied access to climate data. The resolution calls for reversing these policies, restoring the EPA's mission, and ensuring climate action aligns with protecting children's rights. It does not enact new laws or change policy, but serves as a formal congressional statement of concern.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Air Quality Climate Change Natural Disasters Tags Children Emergency Management

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 21, 2026

S 3785: North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026

This bill authorizes emergency contracting for recovery efforts in the Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest after the Dragon Bravo and White Sage wildfires (which burned over 200,000 acres and destroyed structures). It grants the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture emergency contracting authority to quickly hire contractors for forest restoration, rebuilding structures, and ecological recovery within the affected areas, while requiring detailed public reports on spending, contractors, and progress. The law mandates involving tribes and local stakeholders in planning and prioritizes contracts with tribal and local businesses for reconstruction work. It also allows noncompetitive contracts with existing park concessioners to coordinate recovery efforts and requires a joint study on recovery costs. The emergency authority expires after 5 years or when recovery is complete, whichever comes first.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Parks & Recreation

passed · United States · House Apr 15, 2026

HR 1011: Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

This bill amends two conservation programs to provide upfront payments for emergency repairs. Agricultural producers can receive up to 50% of fencing repair costs or up to 75% for other farmland rehabilitation work before starting repairs. Forest landowners may get up to 75% of emergency restoration costs before implementing measures, with funds needing to be spent within 180 days or returned. It also clarifies that federally-caused wildfires (if spread by natural causes) qualify for payments under the program.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Natural Disasters

in committee · United States · Senate Nov 6, 2025

S 3140: Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2025

This bill amends existing laws to increase federal support for flood protection and watershed restoration projects. It allows the Secretary to fund measures that exceed immediate needs if they benefit long-term watershed health and prevent repeated damage. Local organizations managing flood control infrastructure can now receive up to 90% federal funding for rehabilitation projects in "limited resource areas" (compared to 65% generally), while still covering permit and resource rights costs themselves. The bill directly affects local governments and watershed groups undertaking flood prevention work by expanding eligible projects under conservation programs to specifically include flood/drought mitigation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Water Quality

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 16, 2025

S 3506: Post-Wildfire Environmental Emergency Assistance Act

This bill (S 3506) allows the President to provide federal assistance for clearing wildfire debris from public and private lands and waters *without* requiring a formal major disaster declaration. It directly affects states and local governments managing post-wildfire cleanup, especially when hazardous waste (like chemicals or toxic materials) is involved. Key provisions include authorizing debris removal assistance under the Stafford Act and directing the EPA to provide resources (personnel, equipment, expertise) to help safely handle hazardous substances identified under federal environmental laws. The bill streamlines cleanup by enabling immediate federal support for debris removal and hazardous waste management after wildfires.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Forestry Hazardous Materials Natural Disasters Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 17, 2025

SRES 558: A resolution recognizing that climate change-driven extreme weather events are increasing at the same time that the government is dismantling weather monitoring and alert systems.

This Senate resolution (SRES 558) recognizes the growing link between climate change and increasingly severe weather events while highlighting reduced staffing and funding for weather monitoring. It cites scientific consensus that climate change intensifies hurricanes, flooding, and heavy rainfall, and notes the National Weather Service has lost over 550 employees since 2025 with proposed $2.2 billion NOAA budget cuts. The resolution formally acknowledges climate-driven weather risks, mourns lives lost to such events, and calls for maintaining adequate funding and staffing for weather monitoring systems. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses the Senate's position but does not create new policy or funding.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Climate Change Natural Disasters

in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2025

HRES 585: Recognizing the threat of extreme weather to children's health and well-being, and expressing the sense of Congress that solutions must be rapidly and equitably developed and deployed to address the unique vulnerabilities and needs of children.

This resolution (HRES 585) is a symbolic congressional statement recognizing that extreme weather events - like heatwaves, wildfires, and poor air quality - pose unique health risks to children, including respiratory issues, heat illness, mental health impacts, and disruptions to education. It calls on Congress to prioritize rapid, equitable solutions tailored to children’s needs, such as improved school air filtration, accessible emergency alerts, and child-focused disaster planning. The resolution specifically highlights vulnerable groups like young farmworkers, pregnant people, and children in urban heat islands. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but urges future legislation and funding to address these climate-related health threats for children.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Air Quality Natural Disasters Tags Children

All environment bills