Environment (Coastal & Flood Protection)

in committee · United States · House Mar 9, 2026

HR 7862: National Flood Insurance Program Clarification Act of 2026

This bill would modify how the Endangered Species Act applies to the National Flood Insurance Program by exempting certain flood insurance actions from endangered species protections. It directly affects the Federal Emergency Management Agency and property owners seeking flood insurance coverage, as well as wildlife agencies that currently review flood insurance decisions. The legislation requires the removal of existing biological opinions that evaluate the program's impact on endangered species and adds language to ensure flood management actions are designed solely for protecting property and human health. These changes would allow the National Flood Insurance Program to operate without the usual environmental review requirements that could delay or restrict flood insurance coverage in areas with endangered species.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill limits Endangered Species Act protections for flood insurance, weakening environmental conservation requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Wildlife

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signed · United States · House May 23, 2025

HJRES 60: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Park Service relating to "Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Motor Vehicles".

This joint resolution allows off-road vehicles to be used in certain areas of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is in northern Arizona and southeastern Utah and contains Lake Powell. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the National Park Service (NPS) titled Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Motor Vehicles  and published on January 13, 2025. Under the rule, the NPS limited the use of off-road vehicles, such as off-highway vehicles and all-terrain vehicles, in certain areas. For instance, the rule prohibited the use of off-road vehicles on an 8-mile segment of the Poison Spring Loop located on Route 633 proceeding north to Route 730 in the Orange Cliffs Special Management Unit. The rule also eliminated the authority of the NPS to open the upper portion of the Flint Trail in that unit to off-road vehicles. Additionally, the rule limited off-road vehicle use from certain roads to the shoreline of the lake.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill nullifies NPS rule limiting off-road vehicles, weakening environmental protections in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill overturns rule limiting off-road vehicle access in Glen Canyon recreation area, supporting broader vehicle use under transportation regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Parks & Recreation Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

in committee · United States · House Apr 10, 2025

HR 2817: Coastal Broadband Deployment Act

HR 2817, the Coastal Broadband Deployment Act, exempts certain broadband infrastructure projects in floodplains from standard federal environmental and historic preservation reviews. It directly affects telecom companies seeking to deploy or modify broadband facilities entirely within floodplains (as defined by federal regulations) and requiring Federal Communications Commission (FCC) permits. The bill removes the need for environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and historic preservation assessments under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for these specific projects. This change streamlines the approval process for broadband infrastructure in coastal floodplain areas without altering the underlying FCC permitting requirements.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts broadband projects in floodplains from NEPA environmental reviews, directly weakening federal environmental review requirements for infrastructure deployments.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRemoves environmental review barriers for broadband deployment, directly expanding internet access infrastructure in floodplains.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Broadband Access Telecommunications

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passed · United States · House Nov 18, 2025

HRES 879: Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 80) 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 National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 130) 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; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 131) 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 Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision; providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 58) denouncing the horrors of socialism; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1949) to repeal restrictions on the export and import of natural gas; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3109) to require the Secretary of Energy to direct the National Petroleum Council to issue a report with respect to petrochemical refineries in the United States, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5107) to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 enacted by the District of Columbia Council; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5214) to require mandatory pretrial and post conviction detention for crimes of violence and dangerous crimes and require mandatory cash bail for certain offenses that pose a threat to public safety or order in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.

HRES 879 is a procedural resolution that would allow the House to debate and vote on multiple specific legislative items. It enables consideration of three joint resolutions seeking to block Bureau of Land Management rules about oil and gas activities in Alaska (National Petroleum Reserve, Buffalo Field Office, and Coastal Plain areas), a concurrent resolution denouncing socialism, and three bills: one to remove natural gas export/import restrictions, one requiring an energy report on refineries, and two related to criminal justice reforms in Washington, D.C. The resolution waives debate rules and points of order to streamline votes on these items. It does not change policy itself but facilitates the House's review of the referenced bills and resolutions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeEnables consideration of H.R. 5107 (repealing DC's criminal justice reform) and H.R. 5214 (mandating pretrial detention/cash bail), both opposing reform.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBlocks BLM oil/gas rules in Alaska and repeals natural gas export restrictions, advancing fossil fuel development over renewable energy policies.92% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill enables disapproval of BLM rules restricting oil/gas drilling in Alaska (National Petroleum Reserve, Coastal Plain), removing environmental safeguards for industry interests.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Coastal & Flood Protection Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Sep 3, 2025

HR 2073: Defending our Dams Act

HR 2073, the Defending our Dams Act, prohibits federal funding for any study, planning, or technical assistance related to removing or altering the Lower Snake River dams in Washington State. It specifically blocks the use of federal funds for evaluating dam removal alternatives, including replacements for power, flood control, or navigation. The bill also restricts spillage operations at these dams without explicit approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration, requiring consideration of all Columbia River System operations. The law directly affects federal agencies' ability to fund or plan for changes to the four specific dams: Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill blocks federal funding for evaluating dam removal alternatives including power replacements, protecting existing hydropower infrastructure. Hydropower is renewable energy, so this supports current energy production.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks federal funding for dam removal studies, preventing evaluation of environmental benefits like salmon habitat restoration and ecosystem recovery, prioritizing current dam operations over conservation.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill blocks federal funding for dam removal studies affecting navigation, protecting existing waterway transportation infrastructure critical for river-based transit and commerce.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hydroelectric Coastal & Flood Protection Ports

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in committee · United States · House Jan 23, 2025

HR 674: Northeast Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025

HR 674 prohibits new commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster Management Area 1 (a specific fishing zone in the Gulf of Maine critical to the New England lobster and seafood industry). The bill directly affects commercial fishermen, seafood processors, and coastal communities dependent on this area’s fisheries, which support thousands of jobs and generate over $500 million annually in lobster harvest alone. Key provisions include banning new wind energy leases in the area and requiring a federal study within 120 days to evaluate how current environmental reviews for Gulf of Maine wind projects consider impacts on marine life, fishing industries, and coastal communities. The study will assess existing agency processes for reviewing wind projects, not change those processes.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill explicitly prohibits new offshore wind energy development, directly restricting renewable energy infrastructure in a designated area.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks offshore wind energy development (clean energy) to protect fishing industry, opposing climate action and environmental progress95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts offshore wind development in a fishing zone, limiting job opportunities for commercial fishermen and coastal communities dependent on fisheries.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wind Coastal & Flood Protection

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2025

HR 1885: Town of North Topsail Beach Coastal Barrier Resources System Map Amendment Act of 2025

This bill corrects the map for the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) to exclude specific parcels in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, that are zoned for non-conservation uses (like development) as of the bill's enactment date. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to remove these parcels from CBRS Unit L06 within 30 days of the bill becoming law. This change removes federal restrictions on federal spending and development in those parcels, directly affecting landowners and developers in North Topsail Beach. The amendment applies only to areas within the town's municipal boundaries, based on existing local zoning rules.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves parcels from CBRS conservation system, lifting federal development restrictions and weakening environmental protections95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves federal development restrictions on parcels zoned for non-conservation uses, enabling housing construction by lifting CBRS barriers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Property Development Zoning

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in committee · United States · House Feb 21, 2025

HR 1462: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to disallow the production tax credit and investment tax credit for offshore wind facilities placed in service in the inland navigable waters of the United States or the coastal waters of the United States.

HR 1462 removes tax credits for offshore wind facilities located in the inland navigable waters or coastal waters of the United States. Specifically, it disallows the investment tax credit (Section 48) and production tax credits (Sections 45 and 45Y) for such facilities placed in service after December 31, 2025. This policy change directly affects developers building wind projects in these specific waterways, as they will no longer qualify for federal tax incentives. The bill modifies existing tax code provisions without altering the broader eligibility for offshore wind projects in open ocean waters.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill disallows tax credits (ITC/PTC) for offshore wind projects, restricting tax incentives and reducing government spending on renewable energy subsidies.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRemoves tax credits (ITC/PTC) for offshore wind in coastal/inland waters, blocking renewable energy development by eliminating federal incentives for projects after 2025.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves tax credits for offshore wind (clean energy), defunding renewable projects and weakening environmental protection efforts by hindering development of coastal wind energy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Wind Coastal & Flood Protection

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in committee · United States · House Mar 18, 2025

HR 2187: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to disallow the production tax credit and investment tax credit for offshore wind facilities placed in service in the inland navigable waters of the United States or the coastal waters of the United States.

HR 2187 amends U.S. tax law to disallow key federal tax credits for offshore wind facilities located in inland navigable waters or coastal waters of the United States. Specifically, it removes eligibility for the investment tax credit (Section 48), production tax credit (Section 45), and clean electricity production tax credit (Section 45Y) for projects in these water areas. The bill defines "disqualified offshore wind facilities" as those situated in the specified waters, preventing them from qualifying for these financial incentives. This change applies to energy produced and property placed in service after December 31, 2025, directly affecting developers planning offshore wind projects in U.S. coastal or inland waterways.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRemoves federal tax credits (Section 48, 45, 45Y) for offshore wind projects, restricting tax incentives under tax law.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRemoves tax credits for offshore wind projects, directly restricting renewable energy development in coastal/inland waters.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill disallows tax credits for offshore wind projects (a clean energy source) in coastal/inland waters, directly restricting development of renewable energy infrastructure that advances climate goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Wind Coastal & Flood Protection

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in committee · United States · House Sep 3, 2025

HR 5085: To exempt Federal actions related to the construction of infill housing from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.

HR 5085 exempts federal agencies from conducting environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for infill housing projects that meet specific criteria. These projects must be located on previously developed urban sites (under 20 acres, with 75% urban adjacency), pass required environmental assessments, and avoid high-risk wildfire/flood zones per FEMA data. The bill also shortens FEMA’s natural hazard risk assessment update cycle from every 5 to every 3 years. This directly affects federal agencies approving housing developments and developers seeking streamlined project approvals.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts infill housing from NEPA environmental reviews, weakening federal environmental assessment requirements for construction projects.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts infill housing from NEPA reviews, streamlining approvals for urban development projects that meet criteria, advancing housing construction.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Forestry Natural Disasters Affordable Housing Building Codes Zoning Tags Emergency Management

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