Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | September 22 - September 26, 2025

Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), and Brian Mast (R-Flo.) introduced the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act (H.R.5566). The bill would reauthorize funding for programs that boost the resilience of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure in the face of threats like extreme weather and cyberattacks. 

Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Andy Barr (R-Ky.) reintroduced the Streamlining Powerlines Essential to Electric Demand (SPEED) and Reliability Act (H.R.5600) to promote more reliable and efficient delivery of electricity. If passed, the bill would streamline siting and permitting of critical electricity lines, leading to cheaper and more efficient power delivery to consumers, as well as fewer blackouts. 

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which covers 95% of residential flood insurance policies in the country, is set to expire on September 30, 2025. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) introduced H.R.5577 to reauthorize the NFIP, while Rep. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) introduced the bipartisan H.R.5574 to extend the program through November 21, 2025. Reps. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.) and Jimmy Patronis (R-Fla.) also introduced Flood Insurance Transparency Act of 2025 (H.R.5607), which requires the disclosure of the tools used to establish premiums or flood elevations, along with the Removing Barriers to Private Flood Insurance Act (H.R.5608), which eliminates the NFIP’s Write Your Own non-compete clause to increase private sector involvement. To learn more about the NFIP, check out EESI’s briefing on insurance in the age of climate change.

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