Environment

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 10, 2025

S 1408: Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act of 2025

This bill would establish the Chesapeake National Recreation Area in Maryland and Virginia as part of the National Park System to preserve, protect, and provide public access to the natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay. The area's boundaries would be defined by a June 2023 map, with land acquisition limited to donation, purchase from willing sellers, exchange, or transfer from other federal agencies. The bill creates a 19-member Advisory Commission (including youth representatives, tribal representatives, and specific interests like commercial fishing and agriculture) to advise on management and potential additions to the area. The Secretary of the Interior must develop a management plan within 3 years of funding, coordinating with existing programs like the Chesapeake Bay Program. The recreation area would not affect existing fishing regulations or state jurisdiction over natural resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly establishes recreation area to preserve, protect, and provide public access to Chesapeake Bay's natural resources, directly advancing environmental conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation

Track

in committee · United States · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 2731: Great Lakes Mapping Act of 2025

The Great Lakes Mapping Act of 2025 requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create high-resolution maps of all Great Lakes lakebeds by December 31, 2030. This includes collecting detailed depth measurements, cataloging existing data, and managing metadata, with NOAA coordinating with Great Lakes states, regional councils, and existing initiatives. The bill mandates that partial maps be shared publicly during the project and the full map with supporting data must be released within 180 days of completion. It authorizes $50 million annually (2025-2029) for this effort, with funds available through 2030. The law directly affects NOAA and its partners, enabling improved resource management and navigation through publicly accessible lakebed data.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates NOAA to map Great Lakes lakebeds for environmental data collection, directly supporting conservation and pollution control through detailed resource management and public data access.85% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 14, 2025

HR 2134: Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act

HR 2134, the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, transfers approximately 48,106 acres of federal land to the Moapa Band of Paiutes and Las Vegas Paiute Tribes to be held in trust for tribal use. The bill establishes 9 special management areas totaling over 290,000 acres in Clark County for conservation and habitat protection, while adding wilderness areas to the National Wilderness Preservation System. It conveys federal land to local governments for public safety facilities, water infrastructure, and recreation areas, with specific provisions for affordable housing and flood control. The legislation aims to balance economic development with environmental conservation in Southern Nevada through specific land management changes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes 290,000+ acres of conservation areas and wilderness protection, directly advancing habitat conservation and natural resource protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Public Lands

Track

in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2025

HR 347: Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025

Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 This bill expands the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program to include separate grants to rescue sea turtles for the next seven years. The grants must be used for the recovery, care, or treatment of sick, injured, or entangled sea turtles; responses to rescue stranded sea turtles; the collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded sea turtles for scientific research or health assessments; facility operating costs that are directly related to activities to assist sea turtles; or  development of stranding network capacity where facilities do not exist or are sparse. In addition, the bill establishes the Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands grants for sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and research, directly advancing marine conservation efforts.95% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2025

HR 3858: Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025

This bill extends funding deadlines for sport fish restoration and recreational boating programs through 2031, updating prior expiration dates. It clarifies funding for interstate fisheries commissions and adds new definitions for alternative marine fuel infrastructure, including facilities dispensing fuels derived from recycled oils or plant materials. The bill also establishes a 3% tax rate (down from 10%) for portable, electronically-aerated bait containers sold by manufacturers. These changes primarily affect recreational boaters, sport fishing programs, and facilities seeking to install alternative fuel infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends funding deadlines for sport fish/boating programs and reduces tax rate on bait containers from 10% to 3%, advancing program funding and providing tax relief.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill defines alternative marine fuel infrastructure and reduces tax on bait containers, indirectly supporting renewable fuel development and energy infrastructure.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds sport fish/wildlife restoration programs and promotes cleaner marine fuels from recycled materials, directly advancing conservation and pollution reduction goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

in committee · United States · House May 13, 2025

HR 3329: Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2025

This bill establishes a program to identify and protect "American wildlife corridors" - connected habitats that allow wildlife to move freely across landscapes. The Secretary of Agriculture, working with wildlife agencies, must identify these areas within one year, create maps, and submit reports to Congress. Landowners enrolled in USDA conservation programs can receive priority enrollment or contract modifications if they help maintain these corridors through practices like habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring. The law directly affects farmers and ranchers participating in USDA conservation programs by offering new incentives to support wildlife movement and habitat connectivity.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes program to identify and protect wildlife corridors through habitat restoration, directly advancing conservation and habitat connectivity efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

Track

passed · United States · House Mar 25, 2025

HR 1326: DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act

HR 1326, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act, requires the Energy and Agriculture Secretaries to jointly conduct collaborative research focused on shared priorities like sustainable energy, agriculture, and climate resilience. It mandates a competitive grant process for federal agencies, universities, and nonprofits to fund projects in areas such as AI for farming/energy systems, biofuels, grid security, and rural technology development. The bill also requires a report to Congress within two years detailing research coordination, achievements, and future collaboration opportunities. This legislation directly affects federal agencies, research institutions, and agricultural/energy sectors through new funding mechanisms and joint projects, without altering existing regulations or creating new mandates for the public.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds collaborative research on sustainable energy, biofuels, grid security, and rural tech via competitive grants, directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure and climate resilience priorities.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds collaborative research on sustainable energy, climate resilience, biofuels, and AI for farming/energy systems, directly advancing environmental protection and climate goals through federal grants.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds AI for farming/energy systems, grid security, and rural tech development via competitive grants, directly advancing technology research.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Climate Change Forestry Artificial Intelligence Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

Track

in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2025

HR 180: Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025

The Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025 requires federal agencies to publish online the scientific data used to list species as endangered or threatened, with limited exceptions for state privacy laws or classified defense information. It also mandates a monthly updated, searchable database of federal spending on lawsuits related to the Endangered Species Act, including case details, involved agencies, and funds expended. This bill directly affects agencies like the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Marine Fisheries Service, as well as states, tribes, and local governments that provide data or are involved in litigation. The law aims to increase transparency in species listing decisions and federal spending on legal disputes under the Endangered Species Act.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates transparency in ESA data and spending, ensuring science-based listings and accountability for environmental protections.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife Tags Government Transparency

Track

in committee · United States · House Sep 20, 2025

HR 5537: Pipeline Accountability Act of 2025

The Pipeline Accountability Act of 2025 requires pipeline operators to install rupture-mitigation valves on pipelines in high consequence areas within 5 years and demonstrate the ability to isolate ruptured segments within 30 minutes. It establishes new safety standards for carbon dioxide pipelines, mandates public disclosure of safety data including potential impact zones and emergency response plans, and creates an Office of Public Engagement within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The bill prohibits blending hydrogen into natural gas systems without specific regulation, requires reporting of blended products exceeding 1% by volume, and mandates reporting of gas releases of 50,000 cubic feet or more. It also establishes new penalties for safety violations and requires operators to provide accessible safety information to communities near pipelines.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates safety standards for CO2 pipelines and rupture prevention, reducing environmental risks from leaks and supporting climate protection efforts.90% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 13, 2025

HR 1311: Stop the Delta Tunnel Act

HR 1311, the Stop the Delta Tunnel Act, prohibits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from issuing a federal permit for California's Delta Conveyance Project. The bill specifically blocks a permit under the Clean Water Act (section 404) for the project described in the Corps' December 2022 Draft Environmental Impact Statement. This directly affects the project's ability to proceed by preventing a key federal approval needed for construction. The bill does not alter the project itself but stops the permitting process for this specific water infrastructure initiative.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBlocks federal permit under Clean Water Act (section 404), preventing project that could harm environment by stopping key federal approval.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track