Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Natural Resources Committee Bills & Legislation

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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB215

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Refer
2/21/23  
Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms for California Act or the WATER for California Act This bill addresses the operation of the Central Valley Project (CVP), a federal water project in California owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, and the California State Water Project (SWP), which is operated jointly with the CVP. Specifically, the bill requires that Reclamation operate the CVP and SWP pursuant to a specified alternative to a proposed action in a final environmental impact statement and 2019 agency published Biological Opinions (BiOps). The bill also requires Reclamation and the Department of Commerce to submit a justification to Congress that meets certain requirements prior to requesting or completing a reinitiation of consultation that will result in new BiOps. This bill also requires Reclamation to allocate water to existing agricultural water service contractors within the CVP's Sacramento River Watershed based on the water year type (e.g., dry, wet). These allocations must not affect the United States' ability or obligations to deliver water under other designated contracts. Further, the bill repeals certain eligibility requirements for water infrastructure construction funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to make the Shasta Dam and Reservoir Enlargement Project in California eligible for funding. The bill also requires that Reclamation funds made available but not used for this project in previous appropriations years be made available to the project. Finally, the bill reauthorizes Reclamation's support for the construction or expansion of water storage projects.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB98

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Federal Land Freedom Act This bill sets forth a process that allows a state (including the District of Columbia) to seek to transfer the responsibility of energy development on available federal land within its boundaries from the federal government to the state. Available federal land does not include land that, as of May 31, 2013, is (1) held for the benefit of an Indian tribe, (2) in the National Park System, (3) in the National Wildlife Refuge System, or (4) in a congressionally designated wilderness area. To qualify for such a transfer of responsibility, a state must have a program that regulates the exploration and development of oil, natural gas, and other forms of energy on its land. The federal responsibility transfers to the state once the state submits to the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Energy a declaration that it has such a program and that it seeks to transfer the responsibility. Any action taken by a state to lease, permit, or regulate the exploration and development of energy on federal land in lieu of the federal government is not subject to the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, or the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB95

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Increasing Public Access to Recreation Act This bill increases the amount made available from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for recreational public access projects on federal land.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB150

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Protecting American Energy Production Act This bill prohibits the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that states should maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the formation.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB112

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Responsible Path to Full Obamacare Repeal Act This bill repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective at the beginning of FY2024. Provisions of law amended by those acts are restored.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB96

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Protecting Arizona from Federal Land Grabs Act This bill prohibits any further extension or establishment of national monuments in Arizona except by express authorization of Congress.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB97

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Armed Forces Endangered Species Exemption Act This bill establishes exemptions from the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) for defense-related purposes. Specifically, the bill establishes exemptions from the ESA for (1) operations related to national defense, and (2) military personnel engaged in such operations. For example, the bill allows such personnel to take (e.g., harm or kill) endangered or threatened species. In addition, the bill expands restrictions on the Department of the Interior designating defense-related areas as critical habitat. It also exempts the Department of Defense from certain requirements to consult with Interior about critical habitats.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB99

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Less Imprecision in Species Treatment Act of 2023 or the LIST Act of 2023 This bill revises the process for removing a species from the endangered or threatened species lists. A species must be removed from the endangered or threatened species lists if the Department of the Interior produces or receives substantial scientific or commercial information demonstrating that the species is recovered or that recovery goals set for the species have been met. The publication and notice of a proposed regulation to remove a species from the lists must consist solely of a notice of the removal. The bill establishes a process for removing species from the lists if they were erroneously or wrongfully listed. The bill prohibits a person from submitting a petition to list a species as a threatened or endangered species for 10 years if the person knowingly submitted a petition with information that was inaccurate beyond scientifically reasonable margins of error, fraudulent, or misrepresentative.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB247

Introduced
1/10/23  
Refer
1/10/23  
Chisholm National Historic Trail and Western National Historic Trail Designation Act This bill designates (1) the Chisholm National Historic Trail, and (2) the Western National Historic Trail. The Department of the Interior shall administer any portion of these trails that is located on nonfederal land only (1) with the voluntary consent of the owner of the nonfederal land, and (2) if the portion qualifies for certification as a component of the applicable trail. The approval by an owner of applicable nonfederal land of a certification agreement shall satisfy the voluntary consent requirement. A certification agreement may be terminated at any time. The establishment of these trails does not authorize any person to enter private property without the consent of the private property's owner. Interior may accept a donation of land or an interest in land for these trails, with specified exceptions. Land or an interest in land may not be acquired for these trails by eminent domain or condemnation.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB248

Introduced
1/10/23  
Refer
1/10/23  
Promoting Local Management of the Lesser Prairie Chicken Act This bill prohibits any population of the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, or New Mexico from being listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). The lesser prairie-chicken is a type of grouse. Currently, two distinct population segments (DPS) of the lesser prairie-chicken are listed under the ESA. The Southern DPS of the lesser prairie-chicken is listed as endangered and the Northern DPS is listed as threatened. The bill removes both populations from the list. In addition, the bill bans Interior from listing any population of the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered or threatened in the future.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB258

Introduced
1/10/23  
Refer
1/10/23  
Puerto Rico Data Collection Equality Act This bill addresses the collection and publication of statistics relating to Puerto Rico. Specifically, the bill requires the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy to develop and implement a plan to collect and publish statistics regarding Puerto Rico in the same manner as federal agencies collect and report statistics for the states.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB359

Introduced
1/13/23  
Refer
1/13/23  
Refer
2/21/23  
Report Pass
5/17/23  
Engrossed
11/7/23  
Fort San Gerónimo Preservation Act This bill establishes the Fort San Gerónimo del Boquerón in Puerto Rico as an affiliated area of the National Park System, which shall consist of the fort and grounds listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located near Old San Juan. The bill makes the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture the management entity for the affiliated area. The Department of the Interior shall develop a management plan for the affiliated area.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB289

Introduced
1/11/23  
Refer
1/11/23  
Protect Our Water Rights Act This bill requires the Bureau of Reclamation to modify the operation of water service contracts for the Central Valley Project (CVP) in California and the Klamath River Basin Reclamation Project in California and Oregon. Reclamation owns and operates the CVP, a federal water project consisting of a network of dams, reservoirs, and other facilities. CVP water is delivered to users that have contracts with Reclamation, but dry conditions have resulted in Reclamation reducing the water allocations for contracted water supplies. This bill requires Reclamation to allocate to existing agricultural water service contractors within the CVP's Sacramento River Watershed (1) 100% of the contracted amount of water in a wet or above normal year, (2) not less than 75% of the contracted amount in a below normal year, and (3) not less than 50% of the contracted amount in a dry or critically dry year. Reclamation must hold at least one in-person field hearing in each county where a CVP water service contractor is located in the period between the project's initial water allocation and final water allocation announcement. The bill modifies the share of operation and maintenance costs paid by CVP water service contractors. Reclamation must also operate the Klamath River Basin Reclamation Project, a similar federal water project, so that all of the water in Upper Klamath Lake above a certain elevation is solely for agricultural and refuge purposes. Reclamation must conduct these operations in a manner that maximizes water storage in the lake, to the extent practicable.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB94

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act This bill limits the protection of endangered or threatened species to species that are native to the United States. In addition, the bill prohibits certain funding for endangered or threatened species from being used to acquire lands, waters, or other interests in foreign countries.
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Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB210

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  
Stamp Out Invasive Species Act This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue and sell a Combating Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp. Proceeds from the sale of the stamp must be transferred in equal proportion to the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture for combating invasive species. (Invasive species are nonnative species whose introduction poses a serious threat to natural ecosystems and causes detrimental economic damage to local communities.) The stamp must be made available to the public for two years.