This resolution honors the lives and sacrifice of four wildland firefighters who died in 2026 while fighting major wildfires in Colorado: Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson, who were killed on June 27 while responding to the Snyder Fire along the Utah-Colorado border, and pilot Nicholas Dale, who died on July 12 while supporting suppression efforts on the Gold Mountain Fire. The resolution expresses the House's deepest sympathies to the families and colleagues of the deceased firefighters, recognizes two additional firefighters who were seriously injured in the same incident, and commends all wildland firefighters, aviation crews, emergency responders, and support personnel for their continued service protecting American communities. This is a commemorative resolution rather than legislation that creates policy or allocates funding; it serves to officially recognize and honor the contributions and sacrifices of wildland firefighting personnel across the United States.

This bill prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from approving any expansion of the Mid-Continent Limestone Quarry near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The legislation blocks the federal government from processing applications to expand existing mining operations or mineral sales on specific parcels of Bureau of Land Management land in Garfield County. The bill affects mining companies seeking to expand limestone extraction activities in the region and protects the area from increased quarrying operations. No new funding is allocated by this legislation, as it simply restricts future federal actions rather than establishing new programs. The bill was introduced in July 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources for consideration.

The Quantum-Enhanced Critical Minerals Mapping Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct advanced geophysical surveys using quantum technology to locate and map critical minerals and rare earth elements on federal lands. The bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey to deploy quantum gravity gradiometry equipment across at least three priority areas, focusing particularly on western regions with rare earth deposits, and to compare the results with traditional surveying methods to demonstrate improvements in detection capabilities. The survey data must be integrated into a public database accessible to mining companies and other private sector entities to encourage domestic mineral development and reduce dependence on foreign sources. The Secretary has 180 days from enactment to establish the program and must partner with Department of Energy laboratories and private quantum sensing firms to leverage their expertise and reduce federal costs. Congress requires a comprehensive report within 24 months that documents findings, compares quantum versus classical survey results, assesses the technology's potential, and provides recommendations for expanding the program nationwide.

The SPIRIT Act would create a federal tax credit for small distillers who use domestic ingredients in their production. Eligible distillers—those producing no more than 100,000 proof gallons per year and using at least 90 percent domestically harvested materials—would receive a $2.35 per proof gallon reduction in their federal distilled spirits tax. The credit applies to spirits produced after December 31, 2025, and distillers can self-certify their eligibility each year. If a distiller claims the credit but later fails to meet the requirements, they must repay the tax benefit they received. The legislation is designed to support smaller domestic spirits producers, particularly those relying on American-grown ingredients.

The Recreation Permitting Improvement Act would amend existing federal law to expand which types of projects can benefit from streamlined permitting procedures. Specifically, the bill adds recreation activities to the list of covered projects eligible for federal permitting improvements under the FAST Act, a law designed to speed up the federal approval process for various infrastructure and development projects. This change would allow recreation-related projects, such as those involving outdoor facilities or activities, to take advantage of expedited permitting timelines and coordinated federal review procedures. The bill affects recreational developers, outdoor recreation companies, and federal agencies responsible for issuing permits for these types of projects. No specific funding or implementation timeline is detailed in the legislation, as it primarily modifies which project categories qualify for existing permitting acceleration programs.

This bill amends the Indian Tribal Regulatory Reform and Business Development Act of 2000 to transfer administrative responsibilities related to tribal regulatory matters from their current agency to the Secretary of the Interior. The legislation affects Native American tribes and the federal agencies that oversee tribal business and regulatory development programs. The transfer takes effect immediately upon the bill's enactment, with no specific funding amount mentioned in the text. The bill streamlines government operations by consolidating tribal regulatory administration under a single federal agency rather than splitting these duties across multiple departments.

This bill makes it easier for the Bureau of Land Management to conduct tree removal and forest management activities on public lands by streamlining the environmental review process. Specifically, it allows tree density modification projects on areas smaller than 5,000 acres to proceed without preparing detailed environmental assessments or impact statements, though certain types of harvest methods like clearcutting are excluded from this streamlined process. The bill permits these projects to include construction of up to five miles of permanent roads and temporary roads, along with activities like prescribed burning, slash removal, and replanting to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health. The legislation affects public land managers, timber companies, and anyone interested in how federal forest lands are managed, but it excludes activities designed to convert forests to non-forest vegetation or perform large-scale stand regeneration harvests. No specific funding or timeline is specified in the bill; it simply codifies an existing categorical exclusion that the Bureau of Land Management had previously proposed.

The Western Tribal Water Act of 2026 extends and expands the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program, which provides federal funding to help tribes improve their water infrastructure and drinking water systems. The bill specifically adds ten eligible water projects located in the Upper Colorado River Basin, including a $50 million project for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in southwestern Colorado to fix aging drinking water delivery systems. To support these efforts, the legislation provides $60 million in funding for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028, addressing over $100 million in total water infrastructure needs across tribes in the region. The bill amends the 2018 America's Water Infrastructure Act and is intended to help tribes in drought-affected western states achieve more reliable water supplies for their communities.

This bill amends the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, which provides federal funding to local governments that contain federal lands, to better support very small counties. The legislation lowers the minimum population threshold from 5,000 to 500 residents and creates a new tiered payment structure with significantly higher per-capita rates for the smallest counties. Under the new formula, counties with populations around 500 would receive approximately $514.50 per resident, declining gradually to $92.50 per resident for counties with 50,000 people. The changes are designed to ensure that small, sparsely populated counties that host federal lands receive fairer compensation for lost tax revenue and public services. The bill was introduced in April 2026 and does not specify new funding appropriations, instead restructuring how existing PILT funds are distributed among eligible local governments.

The Don Young Doug LaMalfa Indian Buffalo Management Act authorizes the Department of the Interior to help Native American tribes restore and manage buffalo populations on tribal lands for cultural, spiritual, subsistence, and economic purposes. The bill recognizes the historical importance of buffalo to Native peoples and directs the federal government to work with tribes through contracts, grants, and technical assistance to support buffalo restoration programs, including establishing meat processing facilities and other related commercial activities. The legislation also allows the Interior Department to transfer surplus buffalo from federal lands to tribal lands at no cost and requires federal consultation with tribes on buffalo management decisions while protecting sensitive tribal information. The bill emphasizes tribal sovereignty and does not change existing treaty rights, with the authority to fund these programs expiring after seven years unless Congress extends it.

H.R. 7811, the Responsible Containment Reauthorization Act, extends the operating authorization of a uranium mill tailings disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, indefinitely rather than limiting it to a fixed deadline. The bill removes a September 30, 2031 expiration date from current law, allowing the facility to continue operating until it reaches its designed storage capacity. This change affects the site's operators and any communities nearby that depend on or are impacted by the facility's continued operation. The legislation does not specify new funding or establish a specific timeline for closure, instead tying the site's authorization directly to when it fills to capacity. The bill was introduced in March 2026 by Representative Hurd of Colorado and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Made in America Jobs Act of 2026This bill expands the criteria for various grants under the Economic Development Administration's public works program to include projects that facilitate the relocation of employment opportunities into the United States or the growth of the manufacturing sector.Specifically, the bill modifies grants for (1) public works and economic development; (2) planning and administrative expenses; (3) training, research, and technical assistance; and (4) regions experiencing adverse economic changes.

This bill expands which airport projects can receive federal financing through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. Currently, TIFIA loans for airports are limited to projects that generate revenue and are publicly accessible, but this legislation removes those restrictions, allowing funding for any aviation-related facility improvements—including equipment, parking, rental car facilities, and security infrastructure—whether or not they produce revenue or are open to the public. The bill also raises the loan threshold for certain airport projects from $75 million to $100 million and removes some regulatory requirements that previously applied to airport TIFIA projects. These changes primarily affect airports and the federal government's ability to finance airport infrastructure improvements through the TIFIA program. The legislation became effective upon introduction in November 2025 and would amend existing federal transportation law under Title 23 of the U.S. Code.

Crystal Reservoir Conveyance ActThis bill directs the Forest Service to convey specified property and water rights in Ouray County, Colorado, to the City of Ouray, Colorado, for use as open space for recreational activities (such as fishing) at no cost to the public.The property and water rights include the site known as Crystal Reservoir and the associated lake and infrastructure, Full Moon Dam and the associated facilities, and the approximately 45-acre parcel of land underlying and surrounding Crystal Reservoir.The conveyance must (1) convey fee simple title to the land; (2) be subject to existing valid rights and easements; and (3) be completed at no cost to the city, except for costs related to necessary surveys.The conveyance must also be subject to a reversionary interest whereby if the land is used in a manner that violates the conveyance, the land shall revert to the United States, subject to the discretion of the Forest Service. In addition to holding the land open to the public for recreational purposes, the city must assume responsibly for Full Moon Dam and must not conduct unneeded development or commercial operations, nor alter Crystal Reservoir in a manner that would harm wetlands located upstream, subject to certain conditions. After the completion of this conveyance, the Forest Service must recognize a perpetual easement for the site known as Red Mountain Ditch for use by the city for specified activities related to Crystal Reservoir.

Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews ActThis bill establishes a geothermal ombudsman and task force to oversee geothermal project permitting and authorizations on federal land.The Department of the Interior must appoint a geothermal ombudsman from within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The ombudsman must act as a liaison among different parts of BLM, provide dispute resolution services between BLM and geothermal project applicants, and facilitate permit processing in different BLM field offices regarding geothermal projects on federal land.The ombudsman must also lead the Geothermal Permitting Task Force established by this bill. The task force must support the ombudsman’s duties. Through the task force, the ombudsman may reassign employees from other Interior bureaus or offices to assist in the completion of geothermal authorizations. The ombudsman may pay a retention allowance to reassigned employees.

The Indian Trust Asset Reform Amendment Act expands tribal authority to manage their trust assets—including lands, natural resources, and funds held by the federal government—with minimal federal oversight. The bill allows Indian tribes and tribal organizations to propose and amend management plans for these assets and to carry out related activities like forest management and land leasing based on their own discretion, as long as these actions align with their approved management plans and tribal regulations. A key change clarifies that tribes with approved management plans remain eligible for the same federal funding as tribes without such plans and cannot be penalized for having one. The legislation also strengthens tribal participation requirements, specifying that when a tribal organization manages assets for multiple tribes, each tribe must approve the arrangement. Overall, the bill enhances tribal self-governance over trust assets while preserving the federal government's underlying trust responsibility to Native American tribes.

Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection Act or the HELP ActThis bill exempts livestock hauling vehicles and the vehicle operators from hours of service and electronic logging device (ELD) requirements. The exemption applies to a hauling vehicle carrying livestock (i.e., livestock, insects, or aquatic animals) and to a vehicle that is picking up or returning from delivering livestock (i.e., an unladen vehicle).Under current law, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules limit how many hours most commercial truck drivers can drive and work and requires a vehicle to be equipped with an ELD, which tracks how long a vehicle has been driving. Limited exemptions exist, including for livestock hauling.

Holy Sovereignty Protection ActThis bill provides that the U.S. citizenship of an individual elected as the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church may not be revoked and exempts such individual from federal income taxes for tax years during which the individual serves in such role for any part of the tax year. (As background, the income of a U.S. citizen generally is subject to U.S. income tax regardless of where such income is earned or received or where the individual resides.)

This bill directs the Secretary of the Army (through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) to eliminate any backlog of pending permit applications and jurisdictional determination requests under federal water pollution law within 60 days of the bill's enactment. The law requires the Secretary to expedite procedures and reallocate or increase staff and resources within the Corps as needed to clear the backlog that exists as of June 5, 2025. The backlog refers to applications for permits under Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which governs activities affecting wetlands and other waterways, as well as requests for jurisdictional determinations that determine whether certain areas fall under federal water protection authority. The bill affects developers, businesses, property owners, and others seeking permits or determinations from the Corps of Engineers, potentially speeding up their approval timelines. No specific funding amount is authorized in the legislation; rather, the bill requires reallocation of existing Corps resources.

Snow Water Supply Forecasting Reauthorization Act of 2025This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program of the Bureau of Reclamation. Under the existing program, Reclamation implements activities to improve snowpack measurements used for water supply forecasts in certain western states.The bill directs Reclamation to incorporate, to the greatest extent practicable, information from technologies that provide complete integration of accurate, timely, and spatially complete snowpack measurements and models when determining water supply forecasts or allocations to federal water contractors.Additionally, the bill requires the program's framework to emphasize the deployment of technologies that provide integration of snowpack measuring and modeling. The bill also requires the program's focus—activities that maintain, establish, expand, or advance snowpack measurement and integrated modeling—to place an emphasis on (1) enhancing activities to achieve improved snow and water supply forecasting results that are more responsive to changing weather and watershed conditions, (2) real-time integration of measurement and modeling activities with water supply forecasts, (3) activities in river basins where measurements or modeling can produce snow and water supply data to inform water management decisions, and (4) building the capacity of the program partners to implement and adapt to the new measurement and forecast capabilities.

The Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act of 2025 designates approximately 214,000 acres in Gunnison County, Colorado as Special Management Areas and establishes eight Wildlife Conservation Areas totaling about 188,000 acres, along with approximately 113,000 acres of new wilderness areas across Colorado's national forests and Bureau of Land Management lands. The bill restricts off-highway vehicle and bicycle use to existing roads and trails with limited exceptions, while prohibiting most vehicle use in protection areas and restricting commercial logging and new road construction in designated zones. The legislation allows for ecological restoration activities such as prescribed burns and vegetation management focused on wildfire prevention, permits seasonal closures to protect wildlife, and authorizes riparian and wet meadow restoration projects. The bill preserves existing grazing permits, water rights, and Native American treaty rights, while allowing the Secretary to manage fire, insects, and disease control within wilderness areas and designated scientific research areas.

Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act or the ASCEND ActThis bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Through the CSDA program, NASA acquires remote sensing data and imagery from commercial satellites to support its Earth science research. (Remote sensing generally refers to the collection of data by instruments in Earth’s orbit, such as satellites, that can be processed into imagery of Earth’s surface.)Under the bill, NASA may establish or modify end-use agreements to allow for broad use of data and imagery acquired under the program, including by individuals outside of NASA (e.g., other federal agencies). The terms of any data or imagery acquisition may not prevent the publication of such data or imagery for scientific purposes or the publication of information derived from it. To the extent practicable, NASA must acquire such data and imagery from U.S. vendors.

Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025This act extends until FY2033 a requirement for the interest earned on certain funds held in the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund to be distributed to states for carrying out certain wildlife conservation and restoration programs. Specifically, the act extends the period in which the interest earned on revenue generated from excise taxes on certain firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment must be used for wildlife conservation and restoration programs established under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. This requirement was set to expire at the beginning of FY2026. In the absence of this requirement, this funding would be distributed to states, according to a formula, for (1) wildlife restoration, (2) hunter education and safety, (3) multistate conservation grants, and (4) administrative costs.

The Productive Public Lands Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue nine resource management plans for Bureau of Land Management field offices across Colorado, Wyoming, and Oregon within 60 days of enactment, implementing specific alternative approaches chosen by the bill rather than those previously selected by the agency. The bill affects public lands management in regions involving oil and gas development, wildlife habitat conservation, and other resource uses. Notably, the legislation exempts these reissued plans from standard environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act, meaning no additional environmental analysis or public comment periods would be required. The bill does not specify direct funding but streamlines the administrative process for implementing these management decisions. This legislation essentially overrides recent agency decisions on how to manage these public lands by mandating a legislative choice of preferred alternatives instead.

This bill authorizes federal compensation for individuals, businesses, and organizations harmed by the Gold King Mine spill that occurred on August 5, 2015, when over 3 million gallons of contaminated acid mine drainage was released into Colorado waterways. Eligible claimants include homeowners, farmers, livestock operators, and recreation or other businesses that suffered documented losses such as personal injury, lost business income (between August and December 2015), livestock relocation expenses, or crop losses, provided they submitted a claim to the EPA by August 5, 2017, and either had their claims denied or were not fully compensated. The EPA Administrator will have 180 days to review and determine payment amounts, which are capped at the original amount claimed and exclude punitive damages and interest. The bill appropriates up to $3.3 million in emergency funding for fiscal year 2025 and allows claimants who disagree with EPA decisions to appeal to federal court within 60 days.