Environment (Conservation)

in committee · United States · Senate Jan 21, 2025

S 156: Increased TSP Access Act of 2025

This bill amends USDA conservation programs to expand access to technical assistance for farmers. It creates new certification pathways for third-party providers (like crop advisors, engineers, or agricultural cooperatives) through state agencies or professional organizations, rather than requiring all certification through USDA. The bill establishes standardized payment rates for these services and mandates annual public reports on certification numbers, provider types, and program effectiveness. These changes aim to increase the number of qualified providers available to help farmers implement conservation practices.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands USDA conservation program access for farmers via third-party technical assistance, directly enabling more environmental conservation practices without weakening protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Apr 10, 2025

HR 2877: Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act

This bill directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a continuous route within 10 years of enactment, using existing land acquisition authorities under the National Trails System Act. It establishes a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management "Trail Completion Team" to coordinate with federal, state, Tribal, local governments, and landowners to identify trail gaps, explore land agreements, and develop a comprehensive 3-year plan. The plan must detail trail gaps, opportunities for land easements, and specific development costs. The bill explicitly states it does not create new land acquisition authority or prioritize trail land purchases over other federal land needs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill completes a national scenic trail under conservation-focused National Trails System Act, preserving natural landscapes and requiring coordinated land management for environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jul 23, 2025

HR 4656: Path to Florida Springs National Park Act

HR 4656, the *Path to Florida Springs National Park Act*, authorizes a special resource study by the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the potential for designating approximately 2,800 square miles of Florida land (including forests, springs, and conservation areas like Ocala National Forest and Silver Springs) as a National Park. The study must assess the area's national significance, feasibility of park designation, and alternative preservation options, while consulting with relevant agencies and stakeholders. It requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress within three years, detailing findings and recommendations. This bill does not create a park but initiates a formal evaluation process; the area directly affected is the specified Florida region encompassing existing conservation lands.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill authorizes study to evaluate designating 2,800 sq mi of springs/forests as National Park, aiming to protect conservation areas and natural resources through federal preservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Parks & Recreation

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in committee · United States · Senate May 12, 2025

S 1713: Agriculture Innovation Act of 2025

This bill creates a voluntary data collection system for farmers to share field-level information on conservation practices and farming methods. It requires the USDA to build a secure data center collecting anonymized farm data on soil health, crop yields, and ecosystem impacts - voluntarily provided by producers - to analyze how practices affect productivity and environmental outcomes. The data will be used to improve USDA programs and provide farmers with internet-based tools showing how specific practices boost yields and sustainability. Strong privacy safeguards prevent disclosure of individual producer data, ensuring compliance with existing privacy laws. The bill does not mandate data sharing or require farmers to adopt new practices.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentVoluntary data collection on conservation practices and ecosystem impacts to improve environmental outcomes via USDA tools, aligning with conservation and soil health goals.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes secure data center with anonymized farm data, aligning with data privacy protection indicators for technology policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2026

HR 1420: Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act

This bill amends the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program to create new "seasonally flooded working lands habitat conservation agreements." It allows farmers to maintain wetland-dependent wildlife habitats on working cropland by permitting seasonal flooding with specific best management practices, while also enabling enrollment of adjacent non-eligible agricultural land critical for habitat goals. The bill establishes regional rental payment rates based on actual habitat maintenance costs and waives matching requirements for these agreements. It directly affects farmers participating in USDA conservation programs who manage lands supporting Pacific Flyway migratory bird habitats.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates habitat conservation agreements for wetland-dependent wildlife on working lands, promoting habitat maintenance and biodiversity conservation through seasonal flooding with best management practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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passed · United States · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 5682: To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes.

This bill transfers approximately 1,261 acres of federal land in Riverside County, California (administered by the Bureau of Land Management) into trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians, making it part of their reservation under federal management. The land must remain open space, be used only for cultural/wildlife preservation, and cannot be used for any gambling (including class II or III gaming). The bill preserves existing water rights and service agreements, requires tribes to report MOU terminations to Congress and the Interior Department, and prohibits development that conflicts with open space or conservation goals.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires land use for wildlife preservation and open space, aligning with conservation protections.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 5111: CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025

The CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025 updates the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to give farmers more flexibility in managing enrolled land while maintaining conservation goals. It allows emergency haying during droughts or natural disasters under specific conditions (e.g., D2 drought designation or 40% forage loss) on no more than 50% of contract acres, without harming wildlife cover. The bill expands cost-sharing for grazing infrastructure like fencing and water systems and raises the annual rental payment limit from $50,000 to $125,000. These changes directly affect CRP participants by adjusting enrollment rules, management options, and payment structures.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMaintains CRP conservation goals, explicitly prohibits harming wildlife cover, and expands cost-sharing for conservation infrastructure like fencing/water systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 20, 2025

S 670: Protect the West Act of 2025

The Protect the West Act of 2025 establishes a $60 billion Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund to support ecological restoration projects across western U.S. landscapes. It creates two main programs: a $20 billion grant program to help eligible entities like state governments, tribes, and nonprofits plan and coordinate restoration projects, and a $40 billion partnership program focused on carrying out projects on Federal and non-Federal lands with high wildfire risk. The bill requires projects to improve forest conditions, watersheds, wildlife habitat, and reduce wildfire risks while creating jobs in outdoor industries, with special priority for projects in the wildland-urban interface and underserved communities. Projects must be coordinated with existing conservation programs and follow scientific best practices, with annual reporting requirements to track environmental benefits and job creation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes $60B Outdoor/Watershed Restoration Fund for ecological projects on western lands, directly advancing environmental protection through funding and restoration initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Dec 11, 2025

HR 6628: Protect Greenbury Point Conservation Area Act

This bill prohibits the development of a golf course at the Greenbury Point Conservation Area within Naval Support Activity Annapolis in Maryland. It amends Section 2855 of the Military Construction Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to explicitly ban constructing a golf course there, replacing prior language about modifying public access. The key mechanism adds this specific prohibition to the military construction law, directly affecting development plans for the conservation area. The bill also maintains existing environmental restoration requirements for the area under current law.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prohibits golf course development in a conservation area, directly protecting natural habitat and conservation status per its title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · United States · House May 13, 2025

HR 3369: Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

This bill designates 14 new wilderness areas totaling approximately 126,554 acres in Washington's Olympic National Forest as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. It also designates 22 river segments across western Washington as "wild," "scenic," or "recreational" rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, protecting them from development. The wilderness areas will be managed by the Forest Service under the Wilderness Act, while rivers will be managed by the Department of Agriculture or Interior depending on location. The bill preserves these natural areas for public enjoyment while respecting existing rights and treaty obligations, with management plans required to be updated within 3-5 years of enactment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates wilderness areas and rivers for protection from development, conserving natural resources under established environmental laws.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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