Environment

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 15, 2026

S 4200: Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act

This bill transfers various federal lands in Douglas County, Nevada to the state, county, and the Washoe Tribe for conservation, recreation, and tribal purposes. It designates approximately 12,392 acres as the Burbank Canyons Wilderness, protects tribal cultural resources, and allows for the sale of certain federal lands with proceeds supporting education and open space preservation. The legislation also establishes rules for land use, environmental protection, and management of wildlife and water resources within the designated areas.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill transfers federal lands for conservation, designates wilderness area, protects cultural resources, and establishes environmental protection rules.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Mar 26, 2026

HR 7979: Public Lands Access Restoration Act

This bill requires federal land agencies to assume that designated motorized roads and trails remain open unless restrictions are clearly justified by resource protection or public safety concerns. It mandates that any access restrictions be properly signed, mapped, publicly announced, and reviewed at least every five years to ensure they remain necessary. The legislation also allows the public to propose new motorized routes or convert existing closed roads, with agencies prioritizing requests that improve connectivity, protect resources, support wildfire management, or enhance recreational access. These rules apply to National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management roads and trails, excluding wilderness areas and national parks.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by requiring agencies to justify access restrictions based on resource protection and mandating regular reviews to ensure restrictions remain necessary.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill promotes motorized road access on federal lands, requiring agencies to keep roads open unless justified, which strengthens transportation infrastructure and public access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Mar 17, 2026

HR 7957: Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District Act

This bill designates the Chí'chil Biłdagoteel Historic District, a traditional cultural place significant to Western Apache and other Native American tribes, as protected land within the Tonto National Forest. It prohibits mining, toxic waste disposal, pipeline construction, and other development activities on the area to preserve its cultural and natural integrity. The legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to maintain the land in its natural condition, consult with affected tribes, and ensure continued access for traditional religious and cultural practices. By withdrawing the land from public land laws and mining rights, the bill prevents future extraction projects that could damage sacred sites, water sources, and ecosystems.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill prohibits mining, pipeline construction, and toxic waste disposal on protected land, restricting energy infrastructure and resource extraction activities.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill protects natural land from mining, toxic waste, and development, preserving environmental integrity and natural resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pipeline Infrastructure Conservation Forestry Public Lands Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 7978: Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill reauthorizes and expands the Cooperative Watershed Management Program, which provides federal grants to local communities and Indian tribes for watershed restoration and management projects. It updates the program's definition to explicitly include Indian tribes as eligible recipients and increases the maximum annual grant amount from $100,000 to $150,000 for a minimum of three years. The legislation also adds provisions allowing grant continuations for up to two additional years based on satisfactory performance and enables multiple grant applications per year to increase funding opportunities. Finally, it authorizes $40 million in federal funding annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases federal grant funding for watershed management programs, expanding eligibility and raising maximum grant amounts.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill reauthorizes and expands funding for watershed restoration and management, explicitly including Indian tribes and increasing grant amounts to protect natural resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · House Apr 3, 2026

HR 7951: Long-Term Good Neighbor Authority Act

This bill amends existing laws to allow federal agencies to enter into long-term agreements with state governors, Indian tribes, and counties for natural resource management. The key change extends the maximum duration of these Good Neighbor Authority agreements from the current limit to up to 20 years, providing more stability for restoration and recreation projects. By updating definitions in the Agricultural Act of 2014 and the EXPLORE Act, the legislation formally includes Indian tribes alongside state and local governments as eligible partners in these collaborative efforts. The bill focuses on administrative updates to existing frameworks rather than creating new programs or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill extends Good Neighbor Authority agreements to 20 years, enhancing stability for natural resource management, restoration, and recreation projects, which supports environmental conservation and resource protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 4181: Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act

This bill, known as the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, directs the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the discharge of pre-production plastic pellets and related materials into wastewater and runoff from specific industrial facilities. It requires the EPA to issue new rules within 60 days that prohibit these discharges from factories that make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets, as well as from facilities regulated under existing federal water pollution regulations. The law mandates that these new restrictions be included in all wastewater and stormwater permits issued by the EPA and state programs, as well as in performance standards for affected industrial point sources. This legislation directly impacts manufacturers and distributors of plastic pellets and aims to prevent plastic pollution from entering water systems during the production and packaging stages.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates EPA to ban plastic pellet discharge into wastewater, directly reducing pollution and protecting water quality.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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passed · United States · House Sep 15, 2026

HR 7889: AWRC Act of 2025

The Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025 amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to update research priorities and funding allocations for water resources research institutes. The bill adds artificial intelligence to the list of research areas alongside private industry and increases federal funding authorization to $16 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. It requires 20 percent of these funds to support research addressing interstate water problems and allows grants for projects focusing on regional or multi-state water issues. The legislation also expands the types of research institutes eligible for funding to include those working on problems identified by Congress as having interstate significance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases federal funding authorization to $16 million annually for water resources research, directly supporting government spending and budget allocation for essential programs.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases federal funding for water resources research, including AI applications and interstate water problems, which supports environmental protection and resource management.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly adds artificial intelligence to research priorities and increases federal funding for technology-related water research initiatives.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7662: Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026

HR 7662, the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026, strengthens safety measures for trains carrying hazardous materials and improves rail infrastructure oversight. The bill requires railroads to generate real-time electronic data about hazardous materials on trains and share this information with emergency response agencies. It mandates stricter tank car safety standards, requiring newer or upgraded cars by December 2027 for transporting flammable liquids. The legislation also increases penalties for safety violations, establishes new grant programs for emergency response training and equipment, and requires more frequent inspections of rail equipment. Additionally, the bill creates a confidential system for reporting near-miss incidents and funds research into better defect detection technology.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens safety for hazardous materials transport, reducing potential environmental pollution risks from spills or accidents.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances rail safety standards and requires real-time data sharing for hazardous materials transport, directly strengthening transportation safety infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Rail

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 16, 2026

S 4102: Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill reauthorizes conservation programs for the Delaware River Basin by extending the program's funding period through 2033. It officially adds Maryland as a fifth state to the basin, expanding the geographic scope of the program beyond the original four states. The legislation also allows the Secretary to prioritize funding for projects that benefit small, rural, or disadvantaged communities. These changes amend the existing Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act to provide continued support for water conservation efforts in the region.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill reauthorizes and expands conservation programs for the Delaware River Basin, adds Maryland to the basin, and prioritizes funding for disadvantaged communities, directly supporting environmental protection and natural resource conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 4, 2026

S 3985: State Boating Act

This bill, known as the State Boating Act, would allow states to charge fees to boat owners when issuing vessel registration numbers. The fees could cover costs for search and rescue operations, boating safety programs, and efforts to control aquatic invasive species. States would be permitted to collect these boating-related fees at the same time they collect other vessel numbering fees. The law would also require that any money collected through these fees be used only for activities that directly support recreational boating, boater safety, waterway access, and aquatic invasive species mitigation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enables states to collect fees specifically for aquatic invasive species control, which directly protects water ecosystems and environmental health.75% confidence

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