Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

GLRI Act of 2026

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 or the GLRI Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which carries out programs and projects to protect and restore the Great Lakes.

MORE American Fuel Act of 2026

Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2026

The proposal would change how the government measures air quality near prescribed fires—controlled burns that land managers use to reduce wildfire risk and maintain forests. Currently, air quality monitors may count smoke from these intentional burns as pollution violations, which could discourage their use; this bill would adjust those rules to better distinguish between prescribed fire smoke and other air pollution sources. The changes would mainly affect state environmental agencies, land managers, and communities near forests where controlled burns take place.

Data Center Transparency Act of 2026

Improving Species Recovery Act

A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish the Hawaiian Islands Program, and for other purposes.

Ecological Restoration Project Permitting Act of 2026

A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide grants to upgrade or convert small-capacity cesspools for households in the State of Hawaii.

Northern Great Lakes Wolf Recovery Act

Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026

A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 19 through September 26, 2026, as "National Estuaries Week".

Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2026

This bill would modify environmental rules for diesel fuel used in cold weather to make it more reliable and easier to use in freezing temperatures. The changes would affect fuel suppliers, trucking companies, and other businesses that rely on diesel engines in winter conditions, potentially making their operations more efficient while balancing air quality concerns. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate's environmental committee.

Red Light Act

EMRTAI Authorization Act of 2026

Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative Authorization Act of 2026 or the EMRTAI Authorization Act of 2026 This provides statutory authority for an initiative within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that recovers critical materials from contaminated sites. A critical material means (1) any non-fuel mineral, element, substance, or material that the Department of Energy determines has a high risk of a supply chain disruption and serves an essential function in energy technologies; and (2) any critical mineral. A critical mineral means any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by the U.S. Geological Survey. Under the program, the EPA must investigate, evaluate, and support processes, methods, and systems which may be used to identify sources of critical materials at contaminated sites and recover such critical materials from those sites. In carrying out the program, the EPA may provide assistance (e.g., awards) to persons, nonprofit organizations, and state, local, and tribal government entities. The bill prohibits the EPA from providing assistance (1) in an amount that exceeds $10 million in any fiscal year in the aggregate; or (2) to any person, nonprofit organization, or government entity, in an amount that exceeds $3 million. The bill terminates the program after 10 years.

BRACE Act

Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy Act or the BRACE Act This bill modifies the regulation of lithium-ion batteries under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in order to facilitate the recycling of lithium-ion batteries and the recovery of critical minerals. Specifically, the bill directs certain facilities that store lithium-ion batteries prior to recycling them to follow regulations for large quantity handlers of universal waste instead of following the more stringent hazardous waste regulations that currently apply, thereby allowing these facilities to store lithium-ion batteries without needing a special permit.

Visionary Intersections Modernization Act

CHARM Act

Coordinating and Harnessing America’s Recovery of Minerals Act or the CHARM Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and carry out a national strategy for recovering critical minerals from discarded materials. Critical minerals are defined as any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by the U.S. Geological Survey because it is essential to U.S. economic or national security, has a vulnerable supply chain, and serves an essential function in manufacturing a product. The EPA must report to Congress every two years on its actions, plans, and recommendations relating to the national strategy.

Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026

Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act

Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act This bill states that nothing in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) prohibits possessing, selling, bartering, purchasing, shipping, or transporting any authentic Alaska Native handicraft, clothing, or art on the basis that it contains a nonedible migratory bird part, so long as the bird was not taken in a wasteful or illegal manner. (The MBTA implements four international treaties that the United States entered into with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia. The MBTA prohibits the taking of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization.) The bill directs the Department of State to work with the Department of the Interior to enter into appropriate bilateral procedures with countries that are parties to the treaties under the MBTA to clarify the treatment of Alaska Native handicraft containing nonedible migratory bird parts from the species of migratory birds listed in those treaties. Further, Interior must modify any regulations implementing the MBTA to implement this bill.

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration relating to "Rescinding the Definition of 'Harm' Under the Endangered Species Act".

Congress is considering blocking a rule change that would narrow what counts as "harm" to endangered species under federal law, which could make it easier for businesses and developers to operate in ways that affect protected animals without needing special permits. If approved, this would overturn the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's attempt to limit protections for endangered species. The change would primarily affect companies involved in construction, logging, and other development projects, as well as conservation groups working to protect wildlife.