Environment (Conservation)

in committee · United States · House Jan 24, 2025

HR 731: Green Tape Elimination Act of 2025

HR 731, the Green Tape Elimination Act of 2025, exempts certain forest fire prevention activities on federal land from major environmental review and legal requirements for 10 years. It specifically removes the need for compliance with the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and related laws when conducting "hazardous fuel reduction activities," such as prescribed burns, creating firebreaks, or mechanically removing dead vegetation. The bill also adds a provision to the Clean Air Act allowing the EPA to exclude air quality monitoring data directly caused by these activities from violation determinations. This directly affects federal land management agencies (like the Forest Service) conducting fire prevention work on public lands.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts forest fire prevention from Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, weakening environmental protections by removing legal requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 17, 2025

S 2089: Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act

This bill amends the Endangered Species Act to create an exception for sturgeon farmed in captivity. It exempts legally held captive sturgeon and their offspring from certain Endangered Species Act requirements (like section 7(a)(2) protections) until they are intentionally released back into the wild. Farmers must maintain documentation proving their sturgeon qualify under this exception and submit records to the Secretary upon request. The bill directly affects sturgeon aquaculture operations by reducing regulatory burden for captive breeding programs.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts captive sturgeon from ESA protections, weakening regulatory safeguards for endangered species conservation90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 5, 2025

SJRES 14: A joint resolution 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".

This joint resolution (SJRES 14) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule implementing the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning. The resolution targets the EPA's rule published in the Federal Register on October 11, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 82682), which manages HFCs and substitutes under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020. If passed, the resolution would block the EPA rule from taking effect, preventing it from regulating the phasedown of these chemicals. This is a procedural action to overturn an existing agency rule, not a new policy.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyOpposes EPA rule phasing down HFCs (greenhouse gases in energy infrastructure), blocking AIM Act climate action to reduce emissions from refrigeration/AC systems.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill seeks disapproval of EPA rule implementing HFC phasedown under AIM Act, directly opposing greenhouse gas reduction efforts by blocking regulatory enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · United States · House Feb 13, 2025

HR 1309: Protect America’s Lands Act

HR 1309, the "Protect America’s Lands Act," prohibits national securities exchanges from processing transactions involving securities issued by "natural asset companies." These are defined as companies that hold rights to manage specific land areas for conservation, restoration, or sustainable use, with the primary purpose of maintaining or growing natural assets and ecosystem services. The bill directly affects financial markets by restricting how securities tied to environmental land management are traded, not landowners or conservation efforts. It amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to create this new regulatory barrier for such financial instruments. The bill focuses on securities regulation, not direct land protection or policy changes for land use.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRestricts financial transactions for conservation-focused land management companies, hindering their ability to fund ecosystem services and conservation efforts through securities markets.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Mar 4, 2026

HJRES 151: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan".

H.J. Res. 151 seeks to block a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule that established management guidelines for Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The resolution, introduced in March 2026, uses the Congressional Review Act to request Congress disapprove the rule, which was issued in January 2025 and submitted for review. If enacted, the resolution would prevent the rule from taking effect, meaning the BLM would not be required to follow the specific management plan outlined in that rule. This action directly affects the monument's management, as the rule governed activities like land use and conservation within the protected area.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill blocks BLM rule establishing conservation management for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, removing required environmental protections and management guidelines.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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passed · United States · House Feb 24, 2026

HRES 1075: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4626) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standard for a product that is not technologically feasible and economically justified, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4758) to repeal provisions of Public Law 117–169 relating to taxpayer subsidies for home electrification, and for other purposes.

HRES 1075 is a procedural resolution that enables the House to debate and vote on two specific bills. It allows consideration of H.R. 4626, which would prevent the Energy Secretary from setting new appliance efficiency standards unless they are both technologically possible and economically reasonable for manufacturers. It also enables consideration of H.R. 4758, which would eliminate federal tax subsidies for home electrification projects under Public Law 117-169. This resolution waives objections to debating these bills and sets rules for their floor consideration. The resolution itself does not change policy but facilitates the legislative process for these two bills.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepeals tax subsidies for home electrification (H.R. 4758), reducing government spending on subsidies and limiting fiscal support for such programs.85% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRestricts new appliance efficiency standards and eliminates tax subsidies for home electrification, opposing clean energy policies.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks stricter appliance efficiency standards (H.R. 4626) and eliminates home electrification tax subsidies (H.R. 4758), weakening environmental regulations and clean energy adoption.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

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died · United States · Senate Nov 20, 2025

SJRES 89: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment".

This joint resolution seeks to block a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule concerning the Buffalo Field Office's Resource Management Plan Amendment, which was finalized in November 2024. If passed, it would nullify the rule under the Congressional Review Act, preventing it from taking effect. The resolution directly affects land management decisions at the Buffalo Field Office, specifically regarding public land use and conservation planning. The bill does not create new policy but aims to invalidate an existing BLM regulation that the Government Accountability Office determined qualifies as a "rule" under federal review procedures.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks BLM rule implementing land conservation plan, removing existing environmental protections under Resource Management Plan Amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Aug 26, 2026

HR 6788: Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act

HR 6788, the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act, removes wilderness study area designations for three specific Montana lands: the 81,000-acre Middle Fork Judith area (managed by the Forest Service) and the 11,380-acre Hoodoo Mountain and 11,580-acre Wales Creek areas (managed by the Bureau of Land Management). These areas were previously evaluated and determined unsuitable for wilderness designation under federal law, with land agencies confirming this through collaborative reviews in 2021 and 2020. The bill directs land managers to instead follow existing land and resource management plans for these areas, which were developed through multi-year stakeholder processes. This change aims to improve management by enhancing sportsmen access, public recreation, and wildlife habitat projects while maintaining current protections under environmental laws.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves wilderness study area designations, weakening conservation protections for Montana lands previously designated for protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House Jan 3, 2025

HR 65: Armed Forces Endangered Species Exemption Act

This bill exempts military operations from key provisions of the Endangered Species Act. It prohibits designating military installations or lands used for defense purposes (like training or weapons testing) as "critical habitat" for endangered species and removes the requirement for the military to consult with wildlife agencies before such activities. Military personnel can now take, harm, or cause mortality to protected species during defense-related operations - including training, weapons testing, or other activities deemed necessary by the Secretary of Defense - without violating the law. These changes directly affect how the Department of Defense manages land use and species protection across all military bases and defense-related activities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts military from Endangered Species Act requirements, removing habitat protections and consultation mandates, weakening conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SJRES 4: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters".

This joint resolution would block a Department of Energy rule setting new efficiency standards for gas-fired instant water heaters. The rule, published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024, would have required manufacturers to produce more energy-efficient models. If passed, the resolution would prevent this rule from taking effect, keeping current efficiency standards in place. The direct impact is on water heater manufacturers and consumers purchasing these products.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBlocks DOE rule setting higher efficiency standards for gas water heaters, maintaining current (less efficient) standards and weakening energy conservation requirements.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks DOE rule raising efficiency standards for water heaters, maintaining current less efficient models that increase energy use and emissions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

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