-H.R. 573 (Studying the NEPA’s Impacts on Projects Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN-2)

 

Purpose: This bill requires the Council on Environment Quality (CEQ) to annually report on environmental reviews and litigation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

 

Effects: This bill standardizes reporting which can be used by Congress and agencies for the purposes of identifying bottlenecks in permitting processes and explore reforms without directly amending NEPA itself.

 

Bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/573

 

*Voted Favorably*

 

-H.R. 681 (To amend the Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955 to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.)

 

Sponsor: Rep. William R. Heating (D-MA-9)

 

Purpose: Amends the Act of August 9, 1955 (Long-Term Leasing Act) by extending the maximum lease terms for tribal trust lands from the current limit (generally 50 years) to 99 years. This bill applies specifically to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

 

Effects: Longer lease terms give tribes greater flexibility in economic development projects, such as housing, commercial ventures, or renewable energy infrastructure and it also attracts investors.

 

Bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/681

 

*Voted Favorably*

-H.R. 3903 (Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Nicholas J. Begich III (Rep. AK-At Large)

 

Purpose: This bill directs a land exchange between the federal government and the Chugach Alaska Corporation (CAC) to resolve split estate issues stemming from the Exxon Valdez oil spill recovery program. It grants Grants CAC fee-simple ownership (surface + subsurface) of nearly 64,000 acres of federal land in the Chugach region but also transfers CAC’s subsurface mineral rights under conservation lands back to the federal government

 

Effects: After the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the government bought land to protect wildlife. But the Chugach Alaska Corporation (CAC) still owned the underground mineral rights under some of those protected areas. This created a split estate as the government controlled the surface while the CAC controlled the subsurface. That caused tension of conservation vs. development. This bill trades land so that CAC has usable property for development, and the government has complete control over conservation lands.

 

Bill: 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3903/text/ih

 

*Voted Favorably*

 

-H.R. 4386 (Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI-5)

 

Purpose: This bill bring clarity to the America the Beautiful Pass, which is a national interagency pass that provides access to federal recreation lands such as national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. Under current law there is sometimes confusion about whether the pass covers vehicle entrance fees or only individual entry. H.R. 4386 clarifies that vehicles carrying a valid pass holder are covered for entrance privileges. 

 

Effect: This bill creates  consistency across federal lands and avoids disputes at any entry point.

 

Bill: 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4386

 

*Voted Favorably*

 

-H.R. 4467 (Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS-2)

 

Purpose: H.R. 4467 updates the official boundary of the Vicksburg National Military park. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer two parcels of land that total about 10.14 acres from federal management to the State of Mississippi. This land will be used in two ways:

 

1. Parcel 1 (3.66 acres) is intended for a welcome center or other public use.

2. Parcel 2 (6.48 acres) is designated for an interpretive center, museum, or similar public function.

 

Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4467

 

*Voted Favorably*

 

-H.R. 4503 (ePermit Act)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD-At Large)

 

Purpose: This bill aims to modernize environmental reviews and authorizations by requiring federal agencies to adopt standardized digital tools and cloud-based platforms for permitting. 

 

Effects: Within 180 days of enactment of this bill, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must develop uniform federal data standards for project permitting and financial assistance.

 

Bill: 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4503/text/ih

 

*Voted Favorably*

 

-H.R. 4776 (Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act [Speed Act])

 

Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4)

 

Purpose: This bill clarifies agencies scope so that they may only consider environmental impacts reasonably connected to the project. It also stops agencies from evaluating indirect impacts (like future emissions or supply chain effects) unless directly tied to the project.

 

Effects: Streamlining will encourage investment and economic growth. However, narrowing NEPA review weakens environmental safeguards.

 

Bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4776/text/ih

 

*Voted Favorably*

 

-H.R. 5131 (Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025)

 

Sponsor: Rep. Nicholas J. Begich III (Rep. AK-At Large)

 

Purpose: This bill extends existing military land withdrawals (lands reserved for training and testing) for 25 more years. It makes technical corrections to official maps and acreage descriptions to ensure accuracy.

 

Effects: Military Land Withdrawls means public lands are “withdrawn” from general use (like mining, leasing, or development) and reserved for military purposes. These lands are unique and hard to replace; they provide environments essential for training. This bill which extends withdrawals avoids lapses that could disrupt training or force costly alternatives.

 

Bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5131

 

*Voted Favorably*

 

Link to Meeting:

https://www.youtube.com/live/vx5pMWtcOUo?si=dm6lfAsWz6uFK9JB