Hill Heat

On Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

• H.R. 7269 (Rep. Randall), “Helping Our People Act of 2026”, To amend the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989 to clarify that amounts in the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Trust Fund may be withdrawn by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians
• H.R. 8674 (Rep. Begich), “Geese House Site Conveyance Act”, to convey to Doyon, Limited 21,000 acres of Denali National Park and Reserve

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

• H.R. 1031 (Rep. Tenney), “Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act”
• H.R. 2323 (Rep. Pfluger), “Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act”
• H.R. 7495 (Rep. Fitzgerald), To authorize the establishment of memorials to the Wisconsin infantry officers and enlisted men who fought in the Battle of Antietam and the Second Battle of Bull Run, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 8276 (Rep. Schmidt), “Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act”
• H.R. 9104 (Rep. Norton), “Rock Creek National Park Act of 2026”
• H.R. 9148 (Rep. Hill), “Scipio Jones House Assessment Act”
• H.R. 9999 (Rep. Pettersen), “Mountain Pine Beetle Coordination Act”, To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to enter into cooperative agreements with states and tribes to address mountain pine beetle infestations and reduce associated wildfire risk, including by increased logging
• S. 1051 (Sen. Lankford), “Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act”
• S. 1377 (Sen. Hoeven), “Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act”

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

• H.R. 177 (Rep. McClintock), “Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act”, to significantly raise the annual rent that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission pays to the National Park Service for Yosemite reservoirs from $30,000 to $2 million a year
• H.R. 3717 (Rep. Harder), “Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025”, to establish a demonstration program for golden mussel control in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
• H.R. 5935 (Rep. Calvert), “Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act”
• H.R. 6869 (Rep. Leger Fernandez), To amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act to modify a provision relating to the extension of certain dates for the completion of the Regional Water System, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 8546 (Rep. Issa), “Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act”
• H.R. 9017 (Rep. Donalds), “Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026”, to give the State of Florida the power to approve its own environmental permits for building and digging near wetlands, bypassing the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws
• H.R. 9590 (Rep. Webster), “Study and Assessment of Future Ecosystems (SAFE) for Manatees Act”, to find or build alternative stable warm-water homes for manatees now reliant on discharges from power plants after coastal development destroyed their natural habitat
• H.R. 10117 (Rep. Steube), “GATOR Act of 2026”, to order federal agencies to review the status of the American alligator as “threatened due to similarity of appearance,” a designation to stop wildlife traffickers and poachers from killing endangered crocodiles by pretending the hides are just common alligators, in response to increased encounters with American alligators due to rapid suburban development

Full committee hearing.

Legislation:

• proposed legislation to extend authorizations for aquatic ecosystem restoration projects, multi-benefit watershed health projects, and WaterSMART grants
• H.R.1682, BELO’S Act, to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for lifetime National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes for family members of members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving their country
• H.R.2709, Save Our Sequoias Act
• H.R.900, Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025, to direct the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a program to map zones that are at greater risk of sinkhole formation
• S.1568, LIT Act of 2025, to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to modify standards for general service lamps
• S.2644, Camden National Battlefield Park Study Act, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to assess the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Camden Battlefield area in the State of South Carolina as a unit of the National Park System
• S.4023, America’s Living Library Act, to establish the America’s Living Library Project
• S.4103/H.R., Save Our Sequoias Act, to use the threat of wildfires to sequoias to justify logging of old-growth California forests
• S.4116, Geo POWER Act, to advance next-generation geothermal electricity generation demonstration projects in new regions
• S.4166, SECURE Grid Act, to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require States to include supporting the physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local distribution systems in State energy security plans
• S.4489, Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act, to authorize the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System in the State of Montana
• S.456, STEAM Act, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expedite geothermal exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas
• S.4787, Free to Exit Administrative Tribunals (FEAT) Act to bypass the Department of Interior Office of Hearings and Appeals and send disputes to a fast-tracked federal court system
• S.4846, TAAP Act, to amend the United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act to reauthorize the United States-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment program
• S.4870, Earth MRI Reauthorization Act of 2026, to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative
• S.4955, Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act of 2026, to amend the Act of May 17, 1954, to revise the boundary of Gateway Arch National Park
• S.5048, Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act, to amend the Federal Power Act to modernize the hydropower licensing process
• S.5101, Glenwood Hot Springs Protection Act, to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from taking any action to expand the Mid-Continent Limestone Quarry located near Glenwood Springs, Colorado
• S.5169, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District Boundary Expansion and Partnership Act of 2026, to expand the boundaries of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, to recognize and enhance the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District partnership model
• S.5293, PREPARE Act, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to establish prepositioning protocols for aerial wildfire suppression for early-season fine fuel wildland fires
• S.5338, Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026, to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standards for a product that is not technologically feasible and economically justified
• S.5352, Desalination Reauthorization Act, to amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and the Water Desalination Act of 1996 to reauthorize certain desalination programs
• S.5359, Pennington County Land Conveyance Act, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Pennington County, South Dakota, certain National Forest System land
• S.5360, Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program
• S.5374, A bill to facilitate the conveyance of certain land in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, platted under section 2387 of the Revised Statutes, and for other purposes.

The debate over data centers—whether to build them, where to build them, and how they impact communities—has become a dominant issue in small towns and big cities, attracting national attention. While some communities have chosen to proceed with data center development, others have pushed back, citing opaque land use agreements, higher electricity bills, environmental concerns, and workforce concerns. Given that the opinions of residents are becoming increasingly critical in the consideration of these deals, the question is whether industry, community, and government can ever get closer to agreement on data center development.

On September 15, the Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) at Brookings will host a conversation that brings together community, economic development, and technology experts to explore the role that communities must play in managing data center development. Panelists will discuss policies and practices that advance equity in data center deals, and strategies to ensure communities are empowered to make choices that truly address their concerns.

Discussion:

• Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va)
• Nicol Turner Lee, Director - Center for Technology Innovation (CTI)

Panel:

• Abre’ Conner, Director, Center for Environmental and Climate Justice - NAACP
• Michelle Moore, CEO - Groundswell
• Elena Schlossberg, Grassroots Coordinator - The Coalition to Protect Prince William County
• Marie Sylla-Dixon, Founder and Principal - Tuckahoe Creek Strategies

The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

RSVP

Watch online

The Committee on Rules will meet Monday, September 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET in H-313, The Capitol on the following measures:

• H.J. Res. 210 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision”.
• H.J. Res. 213 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the “California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision”.
• H.R. 9576 – National Fraud Enforcement Division Act
• H.R. ____ – Protecting Taxpayers from Health Care Fraudsters Act
• H.R. 10326 – Preventing Rip-offs and Obtaining Oversight of Funds Act

Subcommittee hearing entitled “Reliable Water in the Digital Age: Examining Legislation to Strengthen Drinking Water Systems and Protect Ratepayers.”

Hearing memo

Witnesses:

• Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce *Julie Moore, Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and Vice Chair, Water Committee, Environmental Council of States (ECOS)
• Mae Wu, Founder and Principal, Health and Environmental Advising, LLC

Items to be considered:

• H.R. ____, Safe Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2026
• H.R. ____, Water Cost Accountability Act of 2026, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to limit the pass-through of data center costs

The Safe Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvement Act would extend or re-establish existing programs to 2027 and add cybersecurity to the Safe Drinking Water Act grant programs.

The Water Cost Accountability Act would require public water systems in states receiving grants from Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Loan Funds to charge data centers for costs for connecting to public water system or expanding the system’s infrastructure, and would require the Environmental Protection Agency to provide a report to Congress on data centers whose water usage exceeds 200,000 gallons per day on average.

The Subcommittee on Environment is considering two pieces of draft legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which is the main federal law regulating drinking water in the United States. Under SDWA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes drinking water regulations to protect public health and administers funding programs, including the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), to help states deliver safe, reliable and affordable drinking water to their communities. Congress originally enacted SDWA in 1974, and the law has been reauthorized and amended multiple times, including in 1986, 1996, 2015, 2018, and most recently with enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The DWSRF provides capitalization grants to states, enabling states to finance drinking water infrastructure through low-interest loans. Eligible projects include the construction and replacement of treatment facilities, upgrades to distribution and storage systems, improvements to existing infrastructure, and lead service line replacement. The IIJA provided about $50 billion in supplemental funding to multiple EPA programs, including $11.7 billion in general DWSRF capitalization grants for fiscal years 2022 through 2026, $15 billion for lead service line replacement set-asides, and $4 billion to address emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Annual discretionary appropriations for the core DWSRF program have remained largely consistent from Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 through FY2026, generally about $1.1 billion per year. Of the approximately $1.1 billion appropriated by Congress for FY2026, roughly $715 million was congressionally directed spending in the form of grants for specific projects, rather than used to capitalize state revolving loan funds, which provide loans that are repaid with interest to fund future infrastructure investments.

As part of this work, the Subcommittee on Environment staff has examined proposals to improve access to safe and affordable drinking water, strengthen the security and resilience of water systems against cyber and other threats, and to ensure that SDWA funding is reaching small, rural, and disadvantaged systems that need it most.

Subcommittee hearing entitled “No Flame, More Pain: How State and Local Bans on Natural Gas Increase Costs”.

Witnesses:

• Michael Fazio, Executive Director, New York State Builders Association
• Patrick McCormick, Senior Advisor, CGEN, and Former Chief Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Sen. Murkowski (R-Alaska), Vice President, Regulatory for Bloom Energy Corporation, partner and the leader of the Regulated Markets and Energy Infrastructure Practice in the Washington Office of Hunton & Williams LLP, Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Electric Rates and Corporate Regulation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and in positions of increasing responsibility with Potomac Electric Power Company
• James Conde, Partner, Boyden Gray PLLC, clerked for Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and Judge David J. Porter in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. J.D. from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, and a B.A. in Political Theory and Philosophy from the Catholic University of America

Subcommittee hearing entitled “Powering the Nuclear Renaissance: Accelerating U.S. Leadership in Advanced Nuclear Reactors.”

Witnesses:

• Dr. Joe Hoagland, Associate Lab Director for Fusion and Fission Energy Science, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Isaiah Taylor, CEO and Founder, Valar Atomics
• Matt Loszak, CEO, Aalo Atomics
• Dr. Steven Shannon, Head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University
• Jordan Bramble, CEO and Co-Founder, Antares Nuclear

Subcommittee hearing entitled “Fueling the Golden Age: Future Resource Needs and Small Business Opportunity.” The stated purpose of this hearing is “to examine future resource and workforce needs necessary to support America’s next generation of manufacturing, technology, and industrial growth.”

Hearing memo

Witnesses:

• Cody Harris, Representative, District 8, Texas House of Representatives
• Ted Ellis, Deputy Director, Energy & the Environment, America First Policy Institute
• Trevor Higgins, Senior Vice President, Energy and Environment, Center for American Progress

Utilities now project 166 gigawatts of peak-load growth nationally over the next five years, a more than six-fold increase from the 24 gigawatts forecast in 2022.