Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | July 7 - July 11, 2025

Highlights:

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (H.R.1618). Reintroduced by Reps. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), the bill would help farmers to integrate precision agriculture technologies into their operations.

The House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R.2316). Reps. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) and Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.) introduced the bill to continue to channel funding from hunting sales toward wildlife restoration efforts.

Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Wildfire Resilient Communities Act (H.R.4295/S.2208) to provide mandatory federal funding for wildfire prevention efforts, such as prescribed burns and brush removal. The bill would also increase funding for community wildfire defense grants. EESI’s wildfire-focused Living with Climate Change briefing discusses policy solutions for reducing wildfire risk.

Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Reps. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced the Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act (S.2260/H.R.4357). The bill aims to restore water quality on the Tijuana River and New River along the U.S.-Mexico border by clamping down on sewage and industrial waste flowing from Mexico into San Diego’s beach communities. EESI’s briefing series, Resilient and Healthy Rivers, reviews the opportunities for policymakers to support the country’s freshwater resources.

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