Environment (Wildlife)

in committee · United States · House Jan 22, 2026

HR 4255: Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025

HR 4255, the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025, would remove the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) from the U.S. Endangered Species Act protections. It directly affects ranchers in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area, who report livestock losses and safety concerns, and shifts regulatory authority from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to state and local management. Key provisions include formally delisting the wolf, nullifying two existing federal rules governing the species, and prohibiting future consideration of Mexican wolf populations in Mexico when making ESA decisions. The bill aims to streamline livestock compensation for ranchers by changing evidentiary standards for wolf depredation claims.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes Mexican wolf from Endangered Species Act, weakening federal environmental protections for the species and habitat, directly opposing conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Jun 13, 2025

HR 3927: Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act

HR 3927, the Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act, extends the term of nationwide permits for environmental projects from five to ten years and creates a new category for "linear infrastructure projects" like pipelines and power lines. It allows these projects to receive nationwide permits if they discharge dredged or fill material into less than 3 acres of navigable waters, classifying such impacts as "minimal." The bill removes requirements for certain environmental reviews, including consultations under the Endangered Species Act and full National Environmental Policy Act assessments, replacing them with streamlined environmental assessments. This directly affects infrastructure developers and the Army Corps of Engineers, which administers the permitting process under the Clean Water Act.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves environmental review requirements for pipelines/power lines, classifies impacts as 'minimal,' and extends permits - reducing regulatory oversight for infrastructure projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 29, 2025

S 316: Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025

Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of the Interior to remove the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes grizzly bears from endangered species list, eliminating federal protections under ESA and weakening conservation requirements for the species.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 6251: To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

HR 6251 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow U.S. importation of polar bear trophies (excluding internal organs) from sport hunts in Canada that occurred before specific dates: February 18, 1997, or May 15, 2008. The bill requires hunters to provide proof of legal harvest before those dates and directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits without considering current population status or other restrictions under the Act. It directly affects hunters who took polar bears in Canada before these dates and wish to import trophies, bypassing standard MMPA import limitations. The policy change only applies to trophies from past hunts, not future hunting activities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAllows trophy imports without population status consideration, weakening protections for threatened polar bears under MMPA.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2025

HR 4033: Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act of 2025

HR 4033 exempts farmed sturgeon and their offspring from certain protections under the Endangered Species Act until they are intentionally returned to the wild. This directly affects sturgeon farmers and aquaculture facilities operating in controlled environments, allowing them to continue their activities without ESA compliance for captive sturgeon. The bill requires these operators to maintain records proving their sturgeon qualify under the exemption and to provide documentation to the Secretary upon request. It does not create new conservation measures but clarifies existing ESA rules for commercial sturgeon farming.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts farmed sturgeon from ESA protections, weakening regulatory requirements for aquaculture operations under environmental law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Feb 7, 2025

HR 1150: SPEAR Act of 2025

The SPEAR Act of 2025 amends the Endangered Species Act to prevent the federal government from listing lake sturgeon populations in Wisconsin as threatened or endangered. This change allows Wisconsin to continue its state-led management plan, including the annual sturgeon spearing season, without federal restrictions. The bill adds a specific provision to the Endangered Species Act explicitly prohibiting the Secretary of the Interior from determining that Wisconsin's lake sturgeon are threatened or endangered. The law directly affects federal regulatory actions for these sturgeon, supporting Wisconsin's conservation program and the cultural and economic significance of the spearing season to local communities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks federal protection under ESA for lake sturgeon, allowing state management and spearing season, weakening endangered species safeguards95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Feb 28, 2025

HR 598: FIR Act

HR 598, the Forest Information Reform Act (FIR Act), modifies federal land management rules to eliminate a requirement for reinitiating consultations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It applies directly to the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), preventing them from needing to restart ESA consultations when managing land plans if: (1) a new species is listed as endangered or critical habitat is designated, or (2) new information reveals impacts on listed species not previously considered. The bill removes a specific procedural step that would otherwise trigger federal agencies to reassess their land management plans in response to new ESA-related developments. This changes how agencies handle species conservation updates within their planning processes.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentEliminates ESA consultation requirements for land management, reducing regulatory oversight on species protection and weakening Endangered Species Act implementation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Apr 20, 2026

HR 1897: ESA Amendments Act of 2025

The ESA Amendments Act of 2025 makes significant changes to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to streamline conservation efforts and reduce regulatory burdens. It establishes a national listing work plan with priority classifications for species to better allocate resources, and creates "Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances" that provide private landowners with regulatory certainty in exchange for conservation actions. The bill also requires the government to publish the basis for listings online, streamlines permitting processes for projects that comply with conservation measures, and modifies critical habitat designation to better accommodate existing conservation plans on private lands. These changes aim to improve conservation outcomes while reducing delays for landowners, developers, and federal agencies working with listed species.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentReduces regulatory burdens under ESA, streamlines conservation but weakens protections by prioritizing industry certainty over strict conservation requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2025

S 537: Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025

This bill prohibits federal agencies (like the Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service) from banning lead ammunition or tackle on public lands and waters used for hunting or fishing, directly affecting hunters and anglers who use federal lands. It blocks new federal regulations on lead levels in hunting gear, except in limited cases where a specific area's wildlife decline is linked to lead use and the state wildlife agency approves the restriction. The law requires federal agencies to explain in notices how any exception meets state wildlife department requirements or state law. It does not change existing state laws or allow federal bans on lead where states already prohibit it.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks federal restrictions on lead ammunition/tackle, preventing pollution control measures that protect wildlife from lead contamination.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 1066: Highway Funding Flexibility Act of 2025

This bill changes how unobligated funds from two federal transportation programs must be used. It restricts National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program funds to highway construction, bridge repairs, wildlife crossing structures, and commercial vehicle parking projects, while blocking prior uses. It also redirects unused charging infrastructure grant funds to states proportionally based on their existing highway funding apportionments. All funds remain available until their original expiration date and cannot replace other state transportation funding. The bill applies to both current unobligated funds and future fiscal year allocations under these programs.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRestricts EV infrastructure funds to highway projects, blocking prior renewable energy development uses and diverting charging grants away from clean energy infrastructure.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRestricts EV infrastructure funds to highway/bridge projects only, blocking prior environmental uses and redirecting funds away from broader clean energy applications.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill redirects transportation funds specifically to highway construction, bridge repairs, and infrastructure projects, advancing transportation infrastructure funding without defunding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Wildlife Electric Vehicles Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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