Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | February 2 - February 6, 2026

Highlights:

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced the Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act (H.R.1355). Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and bipartisan cosponsors reintroduced the bill, which reauthorizes the Weatherization Assistance Program and establishes the Weatherization Readiness Program. The two programs would promote household weather resilience and energy efficiency while lowering utility bills. EESI’s 2024 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO panel highlighted initiatives across the private sector and federal government to promote energy efficiency.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce also reported the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act (H.R.3474) out to the House floor. The bill, reintroduced by Rep. Randy Weber Sr. (R-Texas) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), supports energy efficiency measures in federal buildings, specifically through mechanical insulation, which provides long-term energy efficiency and offers co-benefits of reduced emissions, lower energy bills, job creation, and improved safety. 

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act of 2025 (S.688). Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced the bill to combat foreign illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU)—which contributes to fishery depletion and threatens economic and food security—by bolstering U.S. Coast Guard enforcement capacity, blacklisting offending vessels from U.S. ports and waters, and advancing international negotiations. Reps. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), and Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) introduced companion legislation (H.R.3756) in the House.

To catch up on all of the recent environmental and energy legislation in Congress, read the pdf here.