Sponsor
Michael K. Simpson
Representative · R-ID
Official title: Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Michael K. Simpson
Representative · R-ID
The bill increases federal flexibility to respond to emergencies and protects mining‑claimant and certain local interests, but does so while substantially narrowing environmental and public‑health safeguards, limiting some tribal and multi‑year program funding, and shifting costs and regulatory outcomes in ways that could raise long‑term health, climate, and fiscal risks.
Residents of fire- and disaster-affected areas (especially rural and tribal communities) and DOI bureaus: the bill lets Interior bureaus use no‑year funds, reimburse other agencies, transfer OSMRE funds, and request supplemental appropriations so agencies can repair/replace aircraft, buildings, utilities, and equipment quickly and use funds for wildland fire suppression and rehabilitation after灾灾—
Congress and federal agencies: the bill increases budget transparency by requiring disclosure and committee approval for overhead, reserves, and holdbacks and clarifies multi‑year fund availability, giving Congress greater visibility and control over carryover spending.
Small miners, claimants, and mining operators in rural areas: the bill preserves claim maintenance fees, prevents cancellation for nonpayment where the statute applies, and affirms rights to develop valid mining claims and pending patent applications, reducing regulatory barriers to mineral development.
All Americans, especially rural, tribal, and urban communities: the bill broadly restricts application or enforcement of major environmental and public‑health authorities (e.g., ESA, NEPA, certain EPA rules, social cost of carbon, IRIS and PFAS assessments, GHG/manure/TSCA rules), which could increase pollution, harm biodiversity, and raise long‑term climate and health costs.
Communities and public agencies near mining areas and other public-lands users: the bill bars using NEPA/ESA/NHPA and other laws to block mining on claimed lands and limits withdrawals/conservation protections, increasing local pollution and public‑health risks and reducing recreational and cultural values.
State and local infrastructure projects and their beneficiaries: prohibiting or limiting carryover of funds and tightening fiscal-year availability can force unfinished multi‑year projects to halt or scramble for new appropriations, risking service interruptions and higher costs.
Based on analysis of 12 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes Interior emergency spending flexibility and adds riders restricting wilderness designations, protecting mining claims, blocking named agency rules, and limiting certain procurements.
Provides appropriations authority and borrowing flexibility for Department of the Interior and related agencies for emergency repairs and wildland fire operations, and includes many policy riders that limit environmental protections and protect mining and mineral claim interests. The bill also contains multiple prohibitions on using funds to implement specified agency rules and certain procurements, plus reporting and budget oversight requirements that affect how agencies may carry or present funds.