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

Highlights:

The President signed the Modernizing Access to our Public Waters (MAPWaters) Act of 2025 (P.L. 119-62) into law. Reintroduced by Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) and bipartisan cosponsors, MAPWaters improves data collection on recreational use of federal waterways and promotes public access to federal waters. 

The President enacted the Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act (P.L. 119-65), originally led by Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in the Senate and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) in the House. The bill reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency’s marine debris programs. . To learn more about marine debris, check out EESI’s new article, “Reeling in Ghost Gear.” 

The President also signed the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act (119-67) into law. Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) 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.

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