Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | November 17 - November 21, 2025

The Senate passed two bills to improve domestic recycling and reuse systems. The Research for Environmental Uses and Sustainable Economies (REUSE) Act of 2025 (S.2110), introduced by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collect data on and provide recommendations for plastics reuse and refill systems across the country. The House introduced a companion bill earlier this month. The Senate also passed the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (STEWARD) Act (S.351). The bill, introduced by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.), aims to improve U.S. recycling and composting systems, including through a pilot recycling program under the EPA.

The Senate passed the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 (S.2741). The bill, reintroduced by Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyom.), aims to strengthen remediation efforts for hazardous abandoned hardrock mines by establishing a new Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains within the Environmental Protection Agency, and by increasing federal funding and funding access for cleanup efforts. Reps. Elijah Cane (R-Ariz.) and Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) lead the bill (H.R.3713) in the House. 

The Senate passed the Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act (S.3022), introduced by Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). The bill, if passed, would reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency’s marine debris programs. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) lead the bill’s House companion (H.R.6076). To learn more about marine debris, check out EESI’s new article, “Reeling in Ghost Gear.” 

The Senate passed the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act (S.2878). Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Jon Husted (R-Ohio) introduced the bill, to provide continued funding to the U.S. Geological Survey for research on and protection of the Great Lakes’ native fish populations and habitats. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) lead the bill’s companion (H.R.1809) in the House.

Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.) introduced the Fire Innovation Unit Act (H.R.6094) to improve access to wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies. The bill, if passed, would create a program for private entities to deploy new wildfire technologies in coordination with federal agencies. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) lead a companion bill (S.3190) in the Senate.

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