Environment

in committee · United States · House Jun 21, 2025

HR 4059: SPEED Act

The SPEED Act (HR 4059) amends federal transportation law to increase funding thresholds for projects that qualify for "categorical exclusion" from detailed environmental reviews. It doubles the limits: from $6 million to $12 million for smaller projects and from $35 million to $70 million for larger projects under Section 1317 of MAP-21. This change directly affects state transportation departments and project developers by allowing more projects to bypass lengthy environmental assessments, speeding up construction of road and infrastructure improvements. The bill makes no new policy but adjusts existing eligibility rules for expedited federal project approval.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentDoubles project thresholds to bypass environmental reviews, reducing regulatory oversight on transportation projects' environmental impacts.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill streamlines project approvals by doubling funding thresholds for categorical exclusions, accelerating transportation infrastructure development per MAP-21 Section 1317.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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in committee · United States · House Feb 9, 2026

HR 7452: Air Quality Act

HR 7452, titled the "Air Quality Act" (though it addresses weather modification, not air quality), prohibits all weather modification activities in the U.S., including cloud seeding, geoengineering, and stratospheric aerosol injection, for individuals, companies, and federal agencies. It imposes criminal penalties of up to $100,000 or 5 years in prison per violation, plus civil fines of $10,000 per violation, and requires new reporting systems for aircraft involved in such activities and public complaints to the EPA. The bill repeals all existing federal laws, regulations, or executive orders authorizing weather modification and bans all federal research or experimentation on weather modification. It defines "weather modification" broadly to include any atmospheric alteration affecting weather, climate, or sunlight.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBans geoengineering (e.g., stratospheric aerosol injection), a climate change mitigation method, restricting environmental efforts to address climate change.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2025

HR 513: Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025

HR 513, the Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025, reverses multiple existing presidential protections that blocked oil and gas leasing on offshore federal lands. It nullifies 8 specific presidential withdrawals (including areas in the Arctic, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific) and restricts future presidential actions by limiting withdrawals to 150,000 acres per action, capping them at 20 years, and requiring Congressional approval for cumulative withdrawals exceeding 500,000 acres. The bill mandates that before any withdrawal, the Secretary must complete four assessments covering mineral resources, economic/energy value, revenue impacts, and national security. It also establishes a fast-track process for Congress to disapprove withdrawals within 20 days, with limited debate (10 hours) on the resolution.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill reverses protections blocking oil/gas leasing, enabling fossil fuel development and opposing renewable energy advancement by removing barriers to fossil fuel extraction.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentReverses presidential protections blocking oil/gas leasing on offshore lands, enabling increased drilling and weakening environmental safeguards per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Feb 7, 2025

HJRES 38: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Management of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons and Substitutes Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020".

HJRES 38 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule implementing the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. The rule manages the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning, under the AIM Act of 2020. If approved, this resolution would block the EPA rule from taking effect, preventing its implementation of HFC management requirements. This is a procedural disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, not a new law, and directly affects the EPA’s regulatory authority over HFCs.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBlocks EPA rule implementing HFC phasedown under AIM Act, weakening greenhouse gas regulations for refrigerants used in energy-intensive cooling systems.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks EPA rule implementing HFC phase-down under AIM Act, weakening climate protections by preventing management of potent greenhouse gases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · United States · House Jun 9, 2025

HR 3845: To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to expand the exemption process under section 7 of that Act with respect to national security and significant adverse national or regional economic impacts.

HR 3845 amends the Endangered Species Act to expand when federal agencies or project applicants can seek exemptions from species protection requirements. It allows exemptions if a project might harm endangered species but would either impair national security or cause significant adverse national/regional economic impacts. The bill adds new criteria requiring consultation with the National Security Council and National Economic Council before finalizing such exemptions. This change directly affects federal agencies, state governors, and project applicants seeking to bypass ESA protections for certain projects.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExpands exemptions from Endangered Species Act protections for projects harming species, weakening environmental safeguards to prioritize national security/economic impacts over conservation.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Jan 23, 2025

HR 676: To exempt Federal actions related to energy and mineral activities on certain Federal lands from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

This bill (HR 676) would exempt specific federal permits and leases for energy and mineral projects on certain public lands from the environmental review process required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It removes the need for environmental assessments when the government issues or renews leases under the Mineral Leasing Act for oil, gas, or coal development, or permits under the Mining Law of 1872 for critical minerals on lands open to mineral entry. The exemption applies only to these designated actions on federal lands where mineral extraction is permitted. This policy change directly affects energy and mining companies seeking to develop resources on such lands by eliminating a mandatory environmental review step.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts oil, gas, coal projects from NEPA reviews, facilitating fossil fuel development and opposing renewable energy advancement by removing environmental barriers.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts energy/mineral projects from NEPA environmental reviews, removing regulatory oversight required for environmental impact assessments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jan 3, 2025

HR 106: LIST Act of 2025

HR 106, the LIST Act of 2025, amends the Endangered Species Act to streamline the delisting of species. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to remove species from protection lists when recovery goals are met or when substantial evidence shows the species has recovered, and to address cases where listing was based on inaccurate, fraudulent, or misleading information. The bill mandates faster action (within 90 days) for species wrongly listed and prohibits judicial review of positive findings on such errors. It also updates 5-year review processes to explicitly consider recovery criteria or listing errors. This directly affects species currently listed under the Endangered Species Act and the administrative procedures used by the Department of the Interior.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill streamlines delisting under Endangered Species Act, prioritizing speed over thorough review, weakening protections by reducing barriers to removing species from protected status.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 11, 2025

S 530: WEST Act of 2025

S 530, the WEST Act of 2025, repeals a specific Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule titled "Conservation and Landscape Health" (88 Fed. Reg. 19583, April 3, 2023). The bill directly affects the BLM by nullifying the legal force of this 2023 regulation. It contains no new provisions or policy changes, only the repeal of an existing rule. This is a procedural legislative action with no direct impact on the public, businesses, or other entities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals BLM conservation rule, removing environmental protections. Directly weakens existing regulations without new provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Apr 10, 2025

HR 2867: Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act

HR 2867, the "Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act," modifies tax credits for clean fuel production under the Internal Revenue Code. It requires that feedstocks used for qualifying fuel must be produced or grown in the U.S. (effective 2025), excludes indirect land use change emissions from lifecycle calculations (effective 2026), and extends the clean fuel production credit deadline from 2027 to 2034. These changes directly affect renewable fuel producers seeking tax credits under Section 45Z by altering eligibility rules, emissions calculations, and the program's timeline. The bill aims to prioritize domestic feedstocks and adjust emissions accounting for clean fuel tax incentives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends clean fuel tax credit deadline to 2034 and modifies eligibility, maintaining tax incentives for renewable producers under Section 45Z.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExtends clean fuel tax credits until 2034, requires domestic feedstocks, and excludes emissions calculations - directly strengthening renewable fuel producer incentives under Section 45Z.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExcludes indirect land use change emissions from lifecycle calculations, weakening environmental impact assessment for biofuels while prioritizing agricultural industry interests.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends tax credits for clean fuel production, promoting sustainable transportation through renewable fuel incentives under vehicle regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Transportation Funding

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2025

S 2390: Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act

This bill streamlines environmental reviews for certain housing projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It reclassifies HUD-funded housing activities into three categories: some (like tenant assistance) become fully exempt from review, others (like rehabbing small buildings) get simplified "categorical exclusion" status if they don’t alter environmental conditions, and infill projects (new construction on previously disturbed urban land surrounded by development) receive streamlined review. The bill directly affects HUD housing programs, developers of infill projects, and local governments managing housing approvals. It aims to reduce review times and administrative costs, with HUD required to report annually on these impacts, particularly for affordable housing.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentStreamlines NEPA reviews, exempting housing projects from environmental scrutiny, weakening protections by reducing regulatory oversight.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill streamlines NEPA reviews for housing projects, accelerating development (e.g., infill construction) to increase housing supply, aligning with advancing housing development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Zoning

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