Legislative Activity

This bill aims to reform mining practices on federal lands by setting royalties on mineral extraction, introducing stricter permitting and environmental regulations, and establishing a fund for reclaiming abandoned mines. It requires mining operators to pay annual fees and royalties, obtain permits for mineral activities, and provide financial assurances for land reclamation. The bill also prioritizes the protection of sensitive lands and mandates tribal consultation before mineral activities begin. These changes are intended to balance resource extraction with environmental protection and ensure fair compensation for the use of public lands.

The "Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025" amends the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act to improve the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project. These improvements include expanding the project's service area, modifying land acquisition processes, directing the Secretary to take land into trust for the Navajo Nation, and increasing authorized appropriations for the project. The act also modifies terms for water delivery and use, establishes and modifies several trust funds related to water rights and project maintenance for the Navajo Nation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and allows the Navajo Nation to supply non-Project water to its communities in Utah under specific conditions.

The Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act establishes a new federal program dedicated to improving the identification, plugging, and environmental remediation of abandoned oil and gas wells. This initiative will fund research to develop cheaper, more effective sealing technologies and better methods for locating undocumented wells. The goal is to reduce environmental harm, including methane leakage and groundwater contamination, through advanced research and development through fiscal year 2030.

This bill, the Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act, aims to increase public and Congressional oversight of how political activity complaints against federal employees are handled. It mandates new reporting requirements for the Special Counsel regarding decisions not to investigate certain employees and requires the public posting of detailed enforcement statistics, including demographic data. The legislation also requires written explanations for decisions not to prosecute certain non-career employees who allegedly violated the Hatch Act.

The "Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2025" aims to ease restrictions on smaller meat packers by allowing them to have ownership interests in market agencies, under certain conditions. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to revise regulations to exempt packers slaughtering below specified daily/annual livestock numbers. Market agencies must disclose relationships with packers to ensure transparency. The Act does not reduce the Secretary's broader regulatory authority under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

The "Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025" establishes a network of regional wildland fire research centers across the country, coordinated by a National Center Coordination Board, to improve the understanding, management, and mitigation of wildland fires. These centers will focus on research, technology development, and data sharing to support wildland fire management agencies and communities. The Act authorizes specific appropriations for the centers and the board to facilitate their operations and research activities. It also emphasizes collaboration and open access to data, ensuring that research findings are widely available to inform decision-making and improve public safety.

The DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act establishes a National Roadway Safety Advocate within the Department of Transportation. This advocate will serve as a point of contact and resource for road crash victims, survivors, and their families, ensuring their voices are heard and considered in roadway safety programs and policies. The Advocate will share stakeholder recommendations, explain DOT processes in plain language, and publish educational materials, while also providing annual reports to the Secretary of Transportation on systemic safety issues. The goal is to improve communication and collaboration between the DOT and those affected by road crashes, ultimately enhancing roadway safety.

The Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act, or ACEQUIA Act, aims to support farmers and ranchers who rely on acequia systems by ensuring they have access to drought and disaster assistance. It amends existing legislation to provide aid for all losses when the Secretary of Agriculture makes a disaster determination. Additionally, the Act exempts acequias from needing special use permits for routine maintenance and minor improvements on Federal land and requires the Department of Agriculture to report on assistance provided to these producers.