Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | October 19 - October 23, 2026

Highlights:

President Trump enacted the Mystic Alerts Act (P.L. 119-136) on October 23. Reps. August Pfluger (R-Texas), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), and French Hill (R-Ark.) led the bill to its passage. The legislation will allow authorities to use satellite messaging for emergency alerts. This is especially useful when traditional communication infrastructure like cell tower networks are downed during natural disasters or extreme weather. An identical bill was introduced in the Senate (S.4968) by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.).

The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act (P.L. 119-127) was signed into law. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), and Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) introduced the bill to require the Department of Commerce to study the viability of “reshoring” key industry manufacturing to the United States—particularly, manufacturing for in-demand products and products with high supply chain risk (for example, critical minerals like cobalt). The bill’s Senate counterpart (S.1872) was led by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.).

President Trump signed the Chiricahua National Park Act (P.L. 119-133) into law, making it the 64th national park. Reintroduced by Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) and Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), the bill re-designated the former national monument, nicknamed “the Wonderland of Rocks.” Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) led the bill’s identical Senate version (S.3715). 

Reps. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) introduced the Protect Clean Water Act (H.R.10869). The bill would increase funding for cleaning up per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals in drinking water from $100 million to $1 billion annually. For more information, check out EESI’s issue brief on PFAS sources, effects and solutions. 

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