Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | August 31 - September 4, 2026

Highlights:

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R.9497). Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) lead the biennial reauthorization of the bill, which invests in flood control, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Reps. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) introduced the FEMA for Safe Recovery Act (H.R.10281). The bill aims to bolster federal disaster response for women and other vulnerable groups by increasing coordination between federal and local governments and expanding post-disaster resources like crisis counseling and multilingual information-sharing. For more proposed changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, check out our Rapid Readout on the subject.

Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) introduced the Penalties for Polluters Act (H.R.10255) alongside 19 Democratic cosponsors. The bill would double outstanding penalties for oil and gas companies that violate the Mineral Leasing Act and channel the revenue into a fund for communities impacted by mining-related pollution.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) introduced the Southern Nevada Wastewater Infrastructure Lands Act (H.R.10292). The bill would strengthen water security for southern Nevada by transferring more than 250 acres of federal land to the regional water district, allowing local authorities to better operate and modernize wastewater facilities. EESI’s briefing, Policies and Financing Solutions to Modernize U.S. Water Infrastructure, highlights other opportunities to strengthen water and wastewater infrastructure.

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