Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | May 12 - May 17, 2025

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May 19, 2025

Highlights:

The House passed Rep. Darin LaHood’s (R-Ill.) Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025 (H.R.167). The bill, which also passed the House last Congress, would accelerate abandoned mineland reclamation by enabling states to partner with non-governmental groups, whose contributions help reduce the burden on state budgets. A recent episode of EESI’s Climate Conversation podcast discusses the health and economic benefits of mine reclamation in Appalachia. 

The House also passed the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025 (H.R.2492). Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), joined by Reps. David Valadao (R-Calif.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), introduced the bill to reduce wildfire risk by making it easier for the U.S. Forest Service to remove trees near electrical lines. 

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) reintroduced the bipartisan Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act (H.R.3449). The bill aims to secure $80 billion in federal grant funding over four years to help local transit agencies increase rail and bus service, including in disadvantaged communities and communities with sparse service. Tune in to EESI’s briefing this afternoon to learn about the benefits of expanding and strengthening public transit systems. 

Rep. Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) and bipartisan cosponsors reintroduced the Forest Conservation Easement Program Act (H.R.3476) to incentivize landowners to conserve forestlands through a new conservation easement program. EESI’s briefing, Conservation Practices from Farms to Forests and Wetlands, 

Reps. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), and Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) introduced the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R.3361). If passed, the bill would reauthorize and expand the CFLR program to boost community and forest health and reduce wildfire risk. The CFLR Program Reauthorization Act was also introduced in the Senate last week (S.1662) by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).

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