Legislative Activity

The ASCEND Act directs NASA to establish a "Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program" to acquire and share commercial Earth remote sensing data, prioritizing U.S. vendors when possible. This program aims to broaden data use for scientific research and applications without restricting the publication of findings. NASA is required to report annually to Congress on its agreements, license terms, and how these agreements advance scientific research.

The "Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025" extends the availability of interest on obligations held in the Federal aid to wildlife restoration fund through 2033. This ensures continued funding for wildlife restoration and wetlands conservation projects.

The "Productive Public Lands Act" mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue and update specific Records of Decision for Bureau of Land Management field offices within 60 days. It directs the adoption of particular preferred alternatives outlined in the original decisions. The reissued documents and preferred alternatives are exempt from further environmental analysis typically required by federal laws.

The Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act of 2025 allows individuals and businesses harmed by the 2015 Gold King Mine spill to receive compensation from the federal government for specific, documented losses, such as injury, lost business income, and agricultural damages. Claimants must have submitted a claim by August 5, 2017, and meet specific criteria to be considered an "injured person" under the Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator will investigate and settle claims, adhering to Colorado state law for calculating damages, with a limited fund of $3,300,000 appropriated for this purpose. Claimants can challenge the Administrator's final decision in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

The LOCAL Act mandates the Bureau of Land Management headquarters be located in Grand Junction, Colorado. It requires a study on the feasibility of relocating additional BLM employee positions to Grand Junction or another western state. The study will assess the potential benefits of relocation on federal land management, community coordination, and various land uses. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Natural Resources and Energy and Natural Resources within 365 days.