Congress is out of session until Monday, November 9 for the midterm campaign. No new roll-call votes until then; the last were the House on Sep 16 and the Senate on Sep 30.

Stories / Issue · Sep 3 – Oct 2, 2026

Environmental Protection

Congress is advancing multiple environmental protection measures this week. The Senate passed bipartisan bills on wildfire prevention, Great Lakes restoration, and floodplain ecosystem recovery. Members introduced legislation addressing PFAS chemicals in food packaging, toxic DDT waste off California, data center environmental impacts, and pesticide disclosure on federal lands. Democrats proposed bills on fossil fuel finance and prescribed fire use, while Republicans announced EPA brownfield funding for Georgia communities.

AI summary of the releases below · Oct 6, 2026

7D30D90D Export CSV
66Members · 46 D · 20 R
73Actions · 53 D · 20 R
28States & territories · CA · MD · MI · OR lead
$20.1MFunding announced

How the conversation moved

Democrat Republican · one dot = one action
Action typeWk ofSep 36Wk ofSep 1029Wk ofSep 1713Wk ofSep 2416Wk ofOct 19Total
Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials 11
StatementsResponses to news 5
CriticizedA policy, decision or person 11
PraisedCredit for a decision or person 2
Visits and eventsTours, town halls, site visits 4
Announced fundingGrants and approvals 4
Filed or pushed billsNew, reintroduced or passed +5+235
Other 1

Developing stories

7 threads · 25 of 73 actions

Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act

6 members

  1. Sep 21Gallego celebrated bipartisan committee passage of Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act.
  2. Sep 29Padilla Senate unanimously passed Padilla's bill to increase prescribed fire use and prevent catastrophic wildfires.
  3. Sep 30Evans (R) celebrated Senate passage of bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act with prescribed fire reforms.
  4. Sep 30Merkley Senate unanimously passed bipartisan bill streamlining prescribed fire use to prevent wildfire emissions.
  5. Oct 2Kelly celebrated Senate passage of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act.

8 actions →

Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act

9 members

  1. Sep 14Wittman (R), Scott, Elfreth voted for Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act protecting the bay; bill passed House.
  2. Sep 16Peters advanced bipartisan bill to strengthen Great Lakes research and conservation funding.
  3. Sep 28Walberg (R), Kaptur, Barrett (R) introduced bipartisan bill to designate Great Lakes Commission as official regional partnership within NOAA.
  4. Sep 29Joyce (R), Dingell introduced bipartisan bill to expand federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation.

4 actions →

Chesapeake Bay Restoration Executive Order Revocation

8 members

  1. Sep 16Bresnahan (R) praised President Trump's executive order reversing the Obama-era stormwater mandate affecting Luzerne County.
  2. Sep 17Elfreth, Scott condemned Trump executive order revoking Chesapeake Bay restoration directive.
  3. Sep 17Elfreth joined Maryland delegation statement opposing Trump's Chesapeake Bay restoration rollback.
  4. Sep 17Van Hollen, McClain Delaney, Olszewski +2 Maryland delegation criticized Trump administration's rollback of Chesapeake Bay restoration federal coordination.

4 actions →

Data Center Transparency and Community Empowerment Acts

3 members

  1. Sep 30Markey released report criticizing EPA deregulation of environmental protections for data center construction.
  2. Sep 30Wyden introduced bill banning development of data centers on federally-owned public lands.
  3. Oct 1Dingell announced draft of federal data center Bill of Rights to ensure community input on large-scale projects.

3 actions →

Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act

3 members

  1. Sep 25Welch reintroduced bill to ban toxic substances in plastic bottles and address plastic pollution.
  2. Sep 26Hassan introduced bipartisan legislation to ban PFAS chemicals from food packaging and wrappers.
  3. Sep 28Tuberville (R) reintroduced bill to ban toxic PFAS chemicals in food packaging and wrappers.

3 actions →

Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act

3 members

  1. Oct 1Downing (R) announced Senate passage of Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act to streamline ecosystem restoration projects.
  2. Oct 1Murray, Daines (R) Senate passed bipartisan bill simplifying ecosystem restoration approval in floodplains.

2 actions →

Where they stand

Support · 28

  • DMarkey MAReintroduced legislation requiring banks to adopt emission transition plans
  • DKelly AZSponsored bipartisan bill to enable prescribed fires for wildfire risk reduction
  • DMurray WAPassed bipartisan floodplain restoration streamlining bill
  • RDaines MTPassed bipartisan bill streamlining ecosystem restoration project approvals
  • RDowning MTSecured Senate passage of bipartisan floodplain restoration legislation
  • RYoung INIntroduced and secured Senate passage of reauthorization bill
  • DMerkley ORPassed bipartisan bill to streamline prescribed fire for wildfire prevention
  • REvans COPraised Senate passage of bipartisan wildfire mitigation legislation
  • DPadilla CASecured Senate passage of bipartisan wildfire prevention legislation
  • DAnsari AZHosted town hall calling for climate action and addressing extreme heat
  • RTuberville ALIntroduced legislation to ban PFAS forever chemicals from food packaging
  • RWalberg MIIntroduced legislation to bolster Great Lakes conservation
  • RMace SCIntroduced legislation to require EPA database of pesticide applications on federal land
  • DKaptur OHIntroduced bill to designate Great Lakes Commission as official regional partnership
  • RBarrett MIIntroduced bipartisan bill to bolster federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation
  • DHassan NHIntroduced bill to ban forever chemicals from food packaging
  • DWelch VTReintroduced bill to ban toxic chemicals in plastic bottles
  • DPeters MIIntroduced bill to accelerate PFAS remediation at military sites
  • DOcasio-Cortez NYReintroduced Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act
  • DGallego AZSupports streamlining prescribed fire use for wildfire prevention
  • DPeters CAUrged consistent enforcement of EU methane regulation to bolster energy security
  • RCapito WVAdvanced wildfire emissions prevention and fuel regulation bills
  • RMeuser PAApplauded rescission of stormwater management fees on residents and businesses.
  • RBresnahan PAPraised reversal of stormwater mandate
  • RMcClintock CAPassed Action Versus No Action Act to reduce wildfire risk through forest management
  • DMatsui CAPassed bipartisan bill to reduce diesel pollution and replace older engines
  • RWittman VACo-led bipartisan Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act through House passage
  • DWhitehouse RIUrged FJC to resist fossil fuel industry pressure on climate science

Oppose · 22

  • DFletcher TXDemanded EPA explain lab relocation impact on Gulf Coast environmental testing and protection
  • DSalinas ORUrged RV industry to stop sourcing rainforest timber
  • DWyden ORIntroduced bill to ban data center development on public lands
  • DVan Hollen MDPressed USDA and USFS to keep Baltimore forestry office open
  • DLofgren CAUrged removal of USGCRP leader for climate science denial
  • DIvey MDPressed agencies to reverse closure of Baltimore forestry office
  • DWarner VACriticized repeal of executive order protecting Chesapeake Bay restoration
  • DMcClain Delaney MDOpposed rollback of federal coordination for Chesapeake Bay restoration
  • DOlszewski MDOpposes rollback of federal Chesapeake Bay restoration coordination
  • DHoyer MDOpposed revocation of Chesapeake Bay restoration coordination
  • DElfreth MDOpposed revocation of federal Chesapeake Bay restoration coordination
  • DScott VAOpposes revocation of Chesapeake Bay restoration executive order
  • RHarrigan NCVoted to block California shipping emissions mandate
  • RGallagher CAOpposes California's harbor craft emissions requirements
  • DCasten ILIntroduced bill to restore EPA climate and environmental standards
  • DHickenlooper COOpposed EPA's decision to erase climate pollution limits from power plants
  • DLarsen WAConcerned about pipeline impacts on Salish Sea tanker traffic
  • RFong CARepealed California Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth Regulation
  • DCantwell WAOpposes eliminating EPA carbon pollution limits on power plants
  • DGrijalva AZOpposes rolling back power plant emission rules
  • DBeyer VAOpposed EPA rollback of power plant air pollution limits
  • DRyan NYCalled out Department of Defense for massive betrayal on PFAS remediation timeline

What each party did · Democrats 53 · Republicans 20

  • 11Sent letters0
  • 3Statements2
  • 11Criticized0
  • 0Praised2
  • 3Visits and events1
  • 1Announced funding3
  • 23Filed or pushed bills12
  • 1Other0

Most active

  1. DMarkey MA4
  2. DDingell MI4
  3. DMerkley OR3
  4. DPeters MI3
  5. RCramer ND3
  6. DPingree ME3
  7. DElfreth MD3
  8. DKelly AZ2

By state

  • CA10
  • MD10
  • MI9
  • OR8
  • AZ6
  • VA5
  • MA4
  • WA3

+20 more with fewer actions

Every action

73 actions · 90 releases
  1. Oct 2, 2026
  2. Oct 1, 2026
  3. Sep 30, 2026
  4. Sep 29, 2026
  5. Sep 28, 2026
  6. Sep 26, 2026
  7. Sep 25, 2026
  8. Sep 24, 2026
  9. Sep 23, 2026
    • Statement

      DPeters MI

      Called for action to clean up PFAS contamination at military sites in Michigan.

      Release ↗

  10. Sep 22, 2026
  11. Sep 21, 2026
  12. Sep 18, 2026
    • Criticism

      DWarner VA

      Opposed Trump administration's repeal of Chesapeake Bay cleanup executive order.

      Release ↗

    • Letter

      DPeters CA

      Joined European parliamentarians urging European Commission to maintain enforcement of EU methane regulation.

      Release ↗

  13. Sep 17, 2026
  14. Sep 16, 2026
  15. Sep 15, 2026
    • Criticism

      DHickenlooper CO

      Criticized EPA decision to roll back pollution limits on power plants.

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      RMcClintock CA

      House Natural Resources Committee passed bill to increase active forest management.

      Release ↗

    • Statement

      DLarsen WA

      Expressed concerns about proposed Alberta-to-B.C. pipeline and observed U.S.-Canada oil spill response exercise.

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      DMatsui CA $500M

      Passed bipartisan bill to reauthorize diesel emissions reduction program at $100 million annually through 2029.

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      RFong CA

      Passed resolution using Congressional Review Act to strike down California vessel emissions regulation.

      Release ↗

    • Bill

      DDingell MI

      Passed bipartisan bill establishing federal grant program for bird habitat conservation.

      Release ↗

  16. Sep 14, 2026
  17. Sep 11, 2026
    • Letter

      DPingree ME

      Called on USDA to implement GAO recommendations on climate-related farm and forest threats.

      Release ↗

  18. Sep 10, 2026
    • Letter

      DWhitehouse RI

      Urged Federal Judicial Center to reinstate climate science section in reference manual.

      Release ↗

    • Visit

      DNorcross NJ

      Met with recycling facility leaders to discuss nationwide lithium battery fire hazards.

      Release ↗

    • Letter

      DKennedy NY

      Sent oversight letter to EPA and Army Corps on radioactive contamination response in New York.

      Release ↗

  19. Sep 8, 2026
  20. Sep 7, 2026
  21. Sep 4, 2026
    • Visit

      DWarnock GA

      Met with Gullah Geechee community to discuss environmental health and land preservation.

      Release ↗

  22. Sep 3, 2026

Summaries, action types, amounts and positions are read from each press release by AI and can be wrong. Joint releases (same day, same action, matching title or amount) count once. How it works