Waste & Remediation

BRACE Act

Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the EPA to issue a rule within 18 months for managing lithium-ion batteries as universal waste, with the EPA directed to consider specially tailored requirements and additional regulatory changes to support recycling and recovery of critical minerals, and until that rule is final it would require destination facilities that store lithium-ion batteries before recycling them to meet the labeling, release-response, transportation, and off-site shipment standards that apply to large handlers of universal waste. It would also update the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act to point to the current federal universal waste regulations instead of a 1995 regulation. This bill directs the EPA to write tailored universal waste rules for lithium-ion batteries and, until then, requires waste destination facilities storing such batteries before recycling to meet labeling, spill response, transport, and shipment standards.

Where it stands

The House passed the BRACE Act on September 15, 2026 by voice vote under suspension of the rules, as amended. It was received in the Senate on September 16, 2026, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, so the bill's fate now rests entirely with the Senate.

Remote Waste Storage Act

Dan Sullivan (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act would allow hazardous waste generators in remote areas without year-round surface transportation access to store waste on their own sites for up to two years. This exception applies only if the waste accumulation complies with all existing laws and regulations. This bill lets hazardous waste generators in remote areas without year-round road access store hazardous waste on their own sites for up to two years, while transporters and treatment facilities could lose business.

Where it stands

S4856 is currently in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, having been read twice and referred on June 23, 2026.

PERMIT Act

Mike Collins (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to narrow the definition of navigable waters, limit water quality certification scopes, and extend the term of certain permits to ten years. It also establishes deadlines for judicial reviews, mandates the elimination of permit application backlogs, and revises compensatory mitigation regulations to support reclamation plans. This bill exempts waste treatment systems such as lagoons and treatment ponds from federal water permitting, extends discharge permits to ten years, and eases mitigation rules for waste management and remediation firms.

Where it stands

The House passed the bill on December 11, 2025, and it was received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on December 15, 2025.

Brownfields Revitalization for a Better Tomorrow Act

Brett Guthrie (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would expand federal brownfield cleanup funding by letting 501(c)(6) trade and business leagues qualify as grant recipients, raising the cap on site remediation grants and loans from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per site and multipurpose grants from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000, and allowing up to 10 percent of any grant or loan to be spent on demolition with EPA approval. It would also authorize $123,500,000 a year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, require EPA to give noncompetitive technical assistance grants to help small communities apply, waive matching-fund requirements for small or disadvantaged communities, direct states and tribes receiving grants to publish annual public inventories of brownfield sites, and commission studies and federal permitting guidance on speeding brownfield reuse. This bill gives environmental remediation and waste management firms more federal brownfield cleanup work by raising per-site grant funding to $1,000,000, expanding eligible recipients to nonprofits, and covering demolition costs through fiscal year 2031.

Where it stands

HR8739 was referred on May 12, 2026 to both the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, each for the provisions within its jurisdiction. On May 14, 2026, at a markup, the bill was forwarded by subcommittee to the full Energy and Commerce Committee by voice vote, so it now awaits that full committee's consideration while also lying before Transportation and Infrastructure.

Responsible Containment Reauthorization Act

Jeff Hurd (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act removes the September 30, 2031, expiration date for the disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado, allowing it to operate until it reaches its designed capacity. The change amends the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 to extend the site's authorization based on physical capacity rather than a calendar deadline. This bill extends authorization for the Mesa County, Colorado disposal site under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act until it reaches designed capacity, letting its operators keep accepting tailings instead of closing in 2031.

Where it stands

HR 7811 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on March 5, 2026. The bill is currently stalled in committee, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled.

Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026

Donald G. Davis (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill authorizes the Secretary to provide grants and low-interest loans to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal facilities to support public health and address financial hardships in distressed areas. It also permits the forgiveness or modification of existing loans for these eligible entities. This bill makes rural waste disposal facilities eligible for new grants, low-interest loans, and possible forgiveness or modification of existing loans, giving waste and remediation firms in distressed rural areas direct federal funding support.

Where it stands

HR 7530 is currently before the House Committee on Agriculture, having been referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development on March 20, 2026. The subcommittee chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs, and no further action is scheduled.

Spent Petroleum Catalyst Recycling and Critical Minerals and Metals Recovery Exemption Act

Troy Balderson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a final rule exempting units that recover metals from spent petroleum catalyst from certain hazardous waste furnace regulations. This rule would also clarify that sending such catalysts to third parties for reclamation qualifies for a specific waste exclusion. This bill exempts waste treatment and disposal firms that reclaim valuable metals like vanadium from spent petroleum catalyst from Boilers and Industrial Furnaces hazardous waste rules, cutting compliance costs for those recycling operations.

Where it stands

HR 7523 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 12, 2026, and the committee held a hearing on June 24, 2026. The bill has not yet been marked up or reported, and the companion measure S 3879 remains referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Spent Petroleum Catalyst Recycling and Critical Minerals and Metals Recovery Exemption Act

Jon Husted (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill directs the EPA to issue a rule exempting facilities that recover metals from spent petroleum catalysts from specific hazardous waste incineration regulations. It also clarifies that sending these catalysts to third parties for recycling does not automatically classify them as solid waste. This bill exempts recycling facilities that recover valuable metals, such as vanadium, from spent petroleum catalysts from hazardous waste incineration rules, cutting their compliance costs while diverting material away from hazardous waste disposal firms.

Where it stands

S3879 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on February 12, 2026, with no subsequent hearings or markups recorded.

Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2025

Chris Pappas (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The act mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency establish specific water quality criteria and discharge limits for PFAS chemicals across various industries by set deadlines between 2026 and 2029. It also authorizes $1.06 billion in funding over five years to support these regulatory actions and provide grants to wastewater treatment plants for PFAS monitoring and pretreatment programs. This bill requires landfill operators to start monitoring PFAS in their discharges upon enactment and face new EPA discharge limits for landfill leachate by September 30, 2027, while wastewater treatment firms can apply for federal grants to fund PFAS monitoring and pretreatment programs.

Where it stands

HR6668 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 11, 2025, and to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on February 2, 2026. No upcoming meetings are scheduled for the measure.

Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Restriction Act of 2025

Troy E. Nehls (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill prohibits the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from issuing licenses for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at facilities that are not located at a generating reactor or owned by the federal government. It also declares any existing licenses for such private storage facilities null and void upon enactment. This bill bars the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from licensing private consolidated interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and voids existing licenses, ending that business model for waste storage firms while favoring storage at reactors or federal sites.

Where it stands

The bill is referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as of December 11, 2025. The committee chair controls whether the measure advances to a hearing or markup, though no meetings are currently scheduled.

Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2025

Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the EPA to establish water quality criteria and effluent limitations for PFAS chemicals in specific industries by 2028 and mandates immediate monitoring for additional sectors including airports. It authorizes $1 billion in total appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to fund pretreatment grants and regulatory activities. This bill requires landfill operators and waste treatment firms to monitor PFAS in their discharges starting at enactment and face new EPA effluent limits on landfill leachate by 2027, while treatment works can seek federal pretreatment grants.

Where it stands

S3457 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on December 11, 2025. The measure remains in committee with no scheduled meetings, and its companion HR6668 is similarly stalled in a House subcommittee.

Recycling Technology Innovation Act

Dan Crenshaw (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would amend the Clean Air Act to exclude plastic conversion units from strict incineration regulations if at least half of their mass output consists of usable products. It also establishes a process for operators of other plastic conversion units to petition the Administrator for similar regulatory exclusions. This bill exempts plastic conversion facilities, such as those using pyrolysis or gasification on post-use polymers, from Clean Air Act incineration rules when at least half their output is usable products, and lets other operators petition for the same relief.

Where it stands

HR6566 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on December 10, 2025. The bill is currently in the committee stage, where the chair controls whether any hearing or markup is scheduled.

CLEANER Act of 2025

Kathy Castor (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The EPA would be required to determine within one year of enactment whether drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes from oil, gas, and geothermal energy extraction meet the criteria for hazardous waste. If they do, the EPA must list them as hazardous and create specific regulations for their management, while also establishing new criteria for non-hazardous waste facilities to include groundwater monitoring and financial assurance. This bill directs EPA to decide whether drilling fluids and produced waters are hazardous waste, and revises disposal facility criteria to add groundwater monitoring and financial assurance, directly affecting waste treatment, disposal, and monitoring firms serving oil, gas, and geothermal operators.

Where it stands

HR6080 is referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled. No upcoming meetings are listed in the available data.

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program Reauthorization Act

Adriano Espaillat (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act would provide $65 million annually for the Environmental Protection Agency's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program from fiscal year 2027 through 2036. It extends the existing authorization for grants that support local waste management and recycling infrastructure projects. This bill renews $65 million in yearly EPA recycling infrastructure grants through 2036, bringing waste management and recycling firms funded work on local collection and recycling projects.

Where it stands

HR 5846 is blocked in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, having been referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on October 29, 2025. No upcoming meetings are scheduled for this measure in the available calendar data.

Battery Fire Prevention Act

Donald Norcross (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would impose a 5 percent tax on battery sales and use the revenue to fund a national recycling program that provides financial incentives to individuals turning in used lithium batteries. It also would offer a 30 percent tax credit to recycling businesses for the cost of purchasing specialized battery detection devices. This bill directly benefits waste and recycling businesses by giving approved lithium battery recycling facilities competitive grants to build collection systems, a federal purchasing preference, and a 30 percent tax credit for buying battery detection devices.

Where it stands

The bill was referred on October 3, 2025, to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Oversight and Government Reform. Each committee chair controls whether their respective portion of the bill receives a hearing or markup.

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units: Temporary-Use Incinerators and Air Curtain Incinerators Used in Disaster Recovery.

Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This joint resolution nullifies an Environmental Protection Agency rule regarding temporary-use and air curtain incinerators used in disaster recovery. By declaring the rule has no force or effect, it restores the regulatory standards that existed before the rule was issued. This bill nullifies an EPA rule that relaxed requirements for temporary-use and air curtain incinerators during disaster recovery, meaning waste incineration firms must again follow the stricter prior standards for operating those units.

Where it stands

SJRES85 is currently in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works following its referral on October 1, 2025, with no upcoming meetings scheduled in the calendar data.

Brownfield Revitalization and Remediation Act

Michael Lawler (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would allow taxpayers to immediately deduct costs for cleaning up contaminated sites, including expenses for assessing and monitoring these areas. It also expands the types of substances that qualify for this tax benefit to include pollutants and contaminants, and extends this deduction authority for expenditures made between 2025 and 2029. This bill lets waste and remediation firms immediately deduct, rather than depreciate, costs of cleaning up, assessing, investigating, and monitoring contaminated sites, expands qualifying substances to pollutants and contaminants, and covers 2025 through 2029 spending.

Where it stands

HR5472 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on September 18, 2025, and no hearings or markups are currently scheduled.

Coal Ash for American Infrastructure Act

Andy Barr (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act establishes a voluntary program allowing operators of coal combustion residual units to apply for designation as beneficial use staging units, which exempts them from certain closure requirements if they remove at least 25 percent of stored material for reuse within specified timeframes. It also prohibits states from enforcing laws that mandate the closure of these designated units while they remain in compliance with the new federal standards. This bill lets waste management firms operating coal ash impoundments qualify as sanitary landfills that are exempt from closure requirements if they remove and reuse at least 25 percent of stored coal ash on federal timelines, and blocks states from forcing closure.

Where it stands

HR4875 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on August 5, 2025, and remains at that stage with no further actions recorded. The committee chair controls whether a markup occurs, though leadership retains procedural options to bypass committee action.

CLEAR Waters Act

Joni Ernst (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill excludes waste treatment systems, ephemeral features, and groundwater from the federal definition of navigable waters. It also allows federal agencies to determine additional exclusions from this regulatory category. This bill removes waste treatment systems, including lagoons and treatment ponds, from the federal definition of navigable waters, easing federal water permitting requirements for waste treatment and disposal facility operators.

Where it stands

S2421 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on July 23, 2025. The measure has not received a hearing or markup, and no future meetings are scheduled.

CIRCLE Act

Thomas R. Suozzi (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill establishes a 30 percent tax credit for businesses investing in eligible recycling property, with a 10 percentage point bonus for meeting domestic content requirements. The credit applies to property placed in service or constructed after 2025 and phases out completely by 2037. This bill gives recycling and waste management firms a tax credit covering 30 percent, or 40 percent with domestic content, of their investment in new recycling facilities and equipment placed in service after 2025, phasing out by 2037.

Where it stands

HR4466 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on July 16, 2025, and is currently blocked with no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Fix Moldy Housing Act

Haley M. Stevens (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill authorizes $50 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for two separate EPA programs funding mold assessment and remediation in public buildings, private residences, and licensing initiatives. It also directs the EPA to develop nonbinding national standards for mold safety and provide grants to help states and tribes establish licensing programs for mold remediation professionals. This bill funds mold assessment and remediation work by waste and remediation contractors through EPA grants, but requires states and tribes that take the grants to license mold assessment and remediation businesses, adding a new licensing hurdle.

Where it stands

HR2746 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on April 8, 2025, and no future meetings are scheduled. The bill remains in the referred stage where the committee chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs.

Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act

Patty Murray (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend federal flood insurance law to exempt ecosystem restoration projects, defined as projects that restore or improve aquatic resources or floodplains, from paying review or processing fees for flood insurance rate map change requests, and it would let communities approve such projects in regulated floodways even if they raise base flood elevations, provided an engineer determines the rise stays within one foot, no insurable structure or critical infrastructure is harmed, and the community files a post-construction analysis with FEMA within 180 days. It would also direct the FEMA Administrator to issue guidance implementing these changes within 180 days of enactment, after consulting federal and state natural resource agencies. This bill lets waste and remediation firms that carry out ecosystem restoration or floodplain projects skip fees for federal flood map change requests and gain conditional approval to build in regulatory floodways, lowering their project costs.

Where it stands

S1564 passed the Senate without amendment by unanimous consent on September 30, 2026 and was held at the desk in the House on October 5, 2026, so the Senate stage is complete and the bill is pending in the House. Being held at the desk means the House has received the message but has not yet chosen a path for it.

EMRTAI Authorization Act of 2026

August Pfluger (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to run a new program that identifies critical materials at contaminated sites and supports their recovery, offering contracts, cooperative agreements, and awards to people, state, local, and Tribal governments, and nonprofits, capped at $10 million total per fiscal year and $3 million per recipient. The program would be scored on criteria such as developing domestic critical material supply chains and cleaning up contaminated sites including Superfund National Priorities List sites, and it would end 10 years after enactment. This bill funds waste and remediation firms with EPA contracts, cooperative agreements, and awards to recover critical materials from contaminated sites including Superfund sites, capped at $3 million per recipient from a $10 million annual pot.

Where it stands

The House passed the bill by voice vote on a motion to suspend the rules on September 15, 2026, and the Senate received it and referred it to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on September 16, 2026. It is now pending in the Senate, where identical text must pass before anything can go to the President.

Water Resources Development Act of 2026

Sam Graves (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would authorize a broad set of Army Corps of Engineers water resources activities, including new flood control, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and drinking water and wastewater projects, plus higher federal spending caps for many existing programs. It would also reorganize the Corps with new program offices, speed up studies and project completion, shift federal land to local, tribal, and private recipients, update contracting and permitting rules, and raise or extend funding for programs like oyster recovery, dam rehabilitation, irrigation, and Great Lakes coordination. This bill benefits waste and remediation firms by letting environmental remediation and mitigation banking firms deliver credits, requiring a study of confined aquatic disposal facility capacity for dredged material storage, and examining Corps emergency debris removal contract terms.

Where it stands

HR9497 passed the House on September 16, 2026 by a 415 to 9 vote on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended, and was received in the Senate on September 17, 2026. Its House work is complete, having been marked up by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 14, 2026 and reported with the written report filed September 3, 2026, so the bill's fate now rests entirely with the Senate.

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

This is an omnibus proposal impacting several different industries, including Waste & Remediation.

Michael K. Simpson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill appropriates funds for the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and various cultural institutions while setting specific administrative restrictions on the use of these funds. This bill funds the Good Samaritan abandoned hardrock mine remediation program, giving remediation firms new grant-backed cleanup work, and bars EPA funds from enforcing California metal shredding rules inconsistent with federal waste law, easing restrictions on waste treatment facilities.

Where it stands

The House Committee on Appropriations ordered the measure reported following a markup on June 5, 2026, and filed the written report the same day. The bill was placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 599, on June 5, 2026.

Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act

Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill extends the authorization for Environmental Protection Agency programs designed to combat marine debris and plastic waste until 2030. It specifically updates the statutory deadlines for these infrastructure programs by replacing the previous expiration date of 2025. This bill extends EPA marine debris program funding through 2030, keeping grants available to waste management authorities and recycling programs for post-consumer materials management and sustaining demand for plastic removal services.

Where it stands

HR 6076 is blocked after being referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on November 19, 2025, following its initial referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on November 18, 2025.

Recycled Materials Attribution Act of 2026

Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would make it illegal to advertise or sell a product to consumers using a misleading recycled content claim, with violations enforced by the Federal Trade Commission under its unfair or deceptive practices authority. It would recognize mass balance accounting, meaning mixing recycled and conventional inputs and attributing recycled mass to finished products, as an acceptable way to substantiate recycled content claims when a third-party certification system verifies it, and it would preempt state laws on the same subject while requiring the FTC to update its Green Guides within a year. This bill boosts recycling and remediation firms by recognizing third-party certified mass balance accounting for recycled content claims, widening markets for recycled feedstock including chemical recycling outputs, while barring fuels from counting and letting the FTC penalize misleading claims.

Where it stands

H.R. 7502 was ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce at its September 16, 2026 markup, on a 28-0 vote, after a July 22, 2026 hearing and a September 1, 2026 markup. That vote is the committee's report-out action, though no written report has been filed and no calendar placement is on record, and the amended text reflecting the committee amendment is still pending.

Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act

Dan Sullivan (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill extends the authorization for certain Environmental Protection Agency programs aimed at combating plastic waste and marine debris until 2030. It also makes minor grammatical adjustments to the statutory language describing these programs. This bill extends through 2030 the EPA programs that fund marine debris, recycling, and local waste management projects, so waste collection, recycling, and remediation firms can keep competing for those grants and contracts.

Where it stands

The Senate passed S. 3022 without amendment by unanimous consent on November 19, 2025, and the measure is currently held at the desk in the House.

Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025

Mark Kelly (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 establishes an Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains within the Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate cleanup actions at abandoned hardrock mine sites. The Office must identify priority mine sites annually and develop a ten-year interagency plan for uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation by September 30, 2028. This bill creates an EPA office that prioritizes abandoned hardrock mine cleanups, and it directs the office to encourage contracting opportunities so small remediation and waste management businesses can win cleanup contracts at covered mine sites.

Where it stands

The Senate passed S2741 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent on November 19, 2025, and the bill is now pending in the House, where it was held at the desk on November 20, 2025.

Ecological Restoration Project Permitting Act of 2026

John Boozman (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Secretary of the Army to issue within one year a general 10-year permit under the Clean Water Act that fast-tracks authorization for ecological restoration projects, with guaranteed 30-day completeness checks and 45-day verification decisions for non-federal projects, default approval if the agency misses the deadline, and a lighter summary-report process for federal projects. It would also require the Army to sign coordinated review agreements with six other federal agencies to combine wildlife, historic, and environmental reviews, while excluding from the fast lane projects involving permanent roads or trails in protected waters, persistent chemicals such as PFAS, and work on federal land where such activity is banned. This bill gives environmental remediation and restoration firms a fast-track Clean Water Act general permit with fixed 45-day deadlines and combined federal reviews, while requiring preconstruction notices, habitat maps, and ongoing monitoring reports for their restoration projects.

Where it stands

S. 5588 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on September 29, 2026, and the committee has taken no further listed action since. It sits at the chamber's most common choke point, where most bills never reach a markup, and no hearing or markup is scheduled in the available calendar data.

Textile Waste Reduction Act

Chellie Pingree (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to take actions, including writing regulations as it determines necessary, to advance textile circularity, meaning systems that repair, reuse, and recycle textiles instead of discarding them. It would also require the EPA to create and regularly update a National Textile Circularity Strategy with a data-driven needs assessment, form an interagency working group and a stakeholder advisory board, and publish information about federal grants and other funding available for textile circularity efforts. This bill gives textile recycling and textile recovery firms, including collection, sorting, and processing businesses, eligibility for board membership seats representing organizations engaged in textile recycling and recovery.

Where it stands

H.R. 10454, the Textile Waste Reduction Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 16, 2026. The bill now sits at that committee, where the chair decides whether any hearing or markup is ever noticed, and no hearing or markup appears in the available calendar data.

Critical Materials Future Act of 2025

Betty McCollum (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Department of Energy to create a Domestic Critical Material Processing Pilot Program supporting at least 3 US-based projects that refine, process, or recycle critical materials into purified forms, using tools like price supports and contracts for differences, and it would set up a revolving fund to reinvest project revenue into new projects. It would authorize $750,000,000 in appropriations for the program, which would end within 5 years of establishment and require annual reports to Congress and a follow-up study. This bill funds waste management and remediation firms that recycle critical materials, giving recyclers access to grants, contracts, and other agreements under a $750 million program that prioritizes domestic feedstock projects.

Where it stands

HR10395, the Critical Materials Future Act of 2025, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 15, 2026. The bill is at the start of the committee stage, where the chair decides whether any hearing or markup is ever noticed.

Recycling Infrastructure and Data Accountability Act

Michael Lawler (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill directs the EPA to study the feasibility of a national database for tracking recycling data and submit a report to Congress within 18 months. If the study finds such a database feasible, the EPA must establish and maintain a publicly accessible online version within one year of the report's submission. This bill requires waste and recycling facilities processing at least 25,000 tons annually to report their location, capacity, materials accepted, and annual throughput to EPA for a national recycling database, giving firms better market data in exchange for direct reporting burdens.

Where it stands

HR9987 is currently referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a status established on July 30, 2026. The bill remains at the committee stage, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs.

Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026

Paul Tonko (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to remove increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from ambient air or seawater, starting at 50,000 net metric tons annually in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and rising to 10 million net metric tons annually by fiscal year 2036. It sets price caps for these removals that decrease from $750 to $150 per metric ton over time and mandates that at least 20 percent of the removal targets for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 be met by small removal projects. This bill requires the Department of Energy to buy carbon dioxide removal services, giving direct air and ocean capture firms guaranteed federal contracts, a 20 percent set-aside for small projects, and mandatory third-party monitoring and verification duties.

Where it stands

HR9975 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 27, 2026, and no hearings or markups are currently scheduled. The companion Senate bill S5170 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on July 29, 2026, while the prior version HR7054 remains in subcommittee.

REPLACE Act

Shontel M. Brown (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill expands federal grant programs to cover housing repairs, workforce training, and water line inspections for lead hazards, while also allowing water systems to use federal funds to replace galvanized pipes that may have been exposed to lead. This bill funds grants that pay for lead hazard remediation, clearance examinations, and post-remediation testing, giving waste management and remediation firms new demand for these funded lead cleanup services.

Where it stands

HR 9836 was referred on July 22, 2026, to the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in a multiple referral that designates neither as the primary panel. Consequently, the chairs of both committees act as gatekeepers for any subsequent procedural steps.

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

This is an omnibus proposal impacting several different industries, including Waste & Remediation.

Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill appropriates funds for fiscal year 2026 for the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Department of Energy, supporting activities in water infrastructure, energy research, and nuclear security. It imposes restrictions on the use of these funds, including prohibitions on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, contracts with entities linked to China, and certain environmental cleanup and regulatory actions. This bill directly funds waste remediation firms, appropriating $337.7 million for Department of Energy non-defense environmental cleanup and $6.5 billion for atomic energy defense environmental cleanup work.

Where it stands

The bill passed the House on September 4, 2025, and is now pending in the Senate, where it was read the second time and placed on the Legislative Calendar under General Orders on September 10, 2025.

Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act of 2026

Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill requires federal cleanup decisions for hazardous waste sites to account for threats from natural disasters and extreme weather, including changes projected due to climate change. It also mandates that periodic reviews of completed cleanup actions assess whether the remedies remain protective against these climate-related hazards. This bill requires Superfund cleanup decisions and five-year reviews to account for natural disasters and extreme weather, raising remediation costs and timelines for hazardous waste firms while boosting demand for climate risk assessment services.

Where it stands

HR8296 is in the referred stage with no scheduled meetings, having been referred on April 15, 2026, to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The available records do not designate a primary committee for this multiple referral.

Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act of 2026

Adam B. Schiff (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require federal agencies to consider the threat of local natural disasters and extreme weather hazards, including those worsened by climate change, when selecting cleanup remedies for hazardous waste sites. It would also mandate that periodic reviews of these cleanup actions assess whether the selected remedies remain protective against such climate-related risks. This bill requires environmental remediation firms to factor climate-driven floods, storms, and extreme weather into Superfund cleanup designs and to reassess whether existing cleanups remain protective, reshaping their work.

Where it stands

S4289 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on April 14, 2026, placing it in the committee stage where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs.

Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025

Darin LaHood (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill authorizes states to partner with private entities to remediate abandoned coal mine sites and address mine drainage pollution through specific agreements and project approvals. It allows these private partners to recover and sell historic mine residues to offset project costs, provided the proceeds help fund the remediation efforts. This bill lets environmental remediation and waste services firms that qualify as Community Reclaimers partner with states to clean up abandoned coal mines, sell recovered mine residues to offset costs, and shift certain project liabilities to the state, in exchange for submitting engineering, contingency, and reprocessing plans.

Where it stands

The bill passed the House on May 13, 2025, and was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on May 14, 2025.

Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act

David J. Taylor (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill clarifies that compliance with a Clean Water Act permit satisfies legal requirements for pollutants identified in the permit, its supporting documents, or the application process. It also mandates that any water quality-based limits added to permits must specify the pollutant and clearly describe compliance methods, such as numerical limits or required practices.

Where it stands

HR3897 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 11, 2025, and subsequently to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on June 13, 2025. The bill is currently stalled in the committee stage with no meetings scheduled.

Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act

Adriano Espaillat (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would prohibit the export of most used electronic devices and waste unless they meet specific exemptions for tested working electronics, destroyed counterfeit parts, or repaired recalled items. Exporters of exempted goods must register with the Department of Commerce, file detailed transaction data, and certify that the receiving country has the capacity to manage the materials without creating counterfeit military or civilian goods. This bill bars e-waste recyclers and electronics exporters from shipping used electronics abroad except for tested working items, shredded feedstock, and repaired recalls, requiring registration and export filings, which keeps more material for domestic recyclers to process.

Where it stands

HR 2998 was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 24, 2025, and currently awaits committee action with no upcoming meetings scheduled. The committee chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs, though leadership may pursue alternative procedural paths.

San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund Reauthorization Act

Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would reauthorize the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund by removing the 10-year limit on how long projects can operate after starting up and by raising the fund's ceiling from $146,200,000 to $250,000,000. In practice, this would make more federal money available over a longer period for cleaning up contaminated groundwater in the San Gabriel Basin. This bill gives environmental remediation firms working in the San Gabriel Basin access to a larger federal restoration fund, raised from $146,200,000 to $250,000,000, with no 10-year cutoff so groundwater cleanup projects can run longer and pay for more treatment work.

Where it stands

HR10652 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on October 1, 2026 and sits at the very start of the committee stage, where the chair decides whether a hearing or a markup is ever noticed, though committee action is the ordinary route rather than an absolute prerequisite.

STEWARD Act of 2025

Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would authorize $170 million from fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to fund a competitive grant program for states, local governments, tribes, and public-private partnerships to build recycling infrastructure in underserved communities. It also requires the Environmental Protection Agency to collect data and publish reports on recycling and composting capabilities, including a national inventory of materials recovery facilities and an analysis of end markets. This bill funds grants of up to $15 million that public-private partnerships can use to build transfer stations and expand curbside recycling collection, boosting demand for waste and recycling firms, while states and tribes must supply recycling data to the EPA.

Where it stands

The STEWARD Act of 2025 passed the Senate without amendment by voice vote on November 20, 2025, and is currently held at the desk in the House.

Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025

Sharice Davids (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill increases annual funding for brownfields revitalization grants to $250 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and raises the maximum grant amount for each remediation site to $1 million. It also extends the period during which states can receive funds to implement, enhance, or expand their environmental response programs through fiscal year 2030. This bill raises brownfields revitalization funding to $250 million a year through fiscal 2030 and lifts the per-site grant cap to $1 million, meaning waste and remediation firms should see more funded cleanup projects and new business from grant-financed site remediation.

Where it stands

HR6432 was referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on February 2, 2026, following its December 4, 2025, multiple referral to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure. The record does not designate a primary committee, meaning chairs of both full committees serve as independent gatekeepers.

Zero Food Waste Act

Cory A. Booker (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would authorize $650 million annually from 2026 to 2035 for the Environmental Protection Agency to award competitive grants to governments and nonprofits for activities that reduce food waste sent to landfills or incinerators. The grants would fund projects such as data collection, waste reduction plans, and operational changes like differential pricing or restrictions on food waste disposal. This bill gives waste collection, recycling, and disposal firms new business from $650 million in EPA grants funding food waste diversion projects, while landfill and incinerator operators face reduced food waste volumes from grant-funded disposal restrictions.

Where it stands

S3443 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on December 11, 2025, where it currently sits without scheduled meetings.

Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025

Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the EPA to create a competitive pilot grant program, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program, awarding grants of $500,000 to $15,000,000 to states, local governments, tribes, and public-private partnerships to build recycling infrastructure such as transfer stations and curbside collection in underserved communities, with at least 70 percent of funds set aside for those communities, a federal share capped at 90 percent, and $30,000,000 authorized annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. It would also add a Solid Waste Disposal Act section requiring the EPA to collect and report data on composting and recycling infrastructure, publish an inventory of materials recovery facilities, and study materials diverted from circular markets, backed by another $4,000,000 authorized annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. This bill funds new recycling infrastructure through grants of $500,000 to $15 million that haulers, transfer station operators, materials recovery facilities, and composting companies can help build or run as public-private partners, and requires EPA reporting on composting programs.

Where it stands

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce took up HR2145 at markups on May 14, 2026 and May 21, 2026, and at the May 21, 2026 markup the committee voted 48-0 to order the bill reported. No written report has been filed and no calendar placement is on the record.

Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025

Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill reauthorizes brownfields revitalization funding through 2030 and authorizes up to $375 million for state response programs, while raising the per-site grant limit to $1 million and waiving matching requirements for small or disadvantaged communities. It also expands eligibility to include Alaska Native corporations and Section 501(c)(6) organizations, and requires the EPA to streamline application processes for small communities. This bill raises brownfield cleanup grants to $1 million per site and reauthorizes funding through 2030, giving waste and remediation firms more funded site cleanup contracts, with added demand from newly eligible small and disadvantaged applicants.

Where it stands

The bill was reported by the Committee on Environment and Public Works following a markup on February 5, 2025, and is placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 6. The committee reported the measure without a written report, which is standard procedure and means the bill is eligible for floor consideration without waiting for report publication.

Recycling and Composting Accountability Act

Joe Neguse (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to gather data from states, local governments, and Indian tribes and report to Congress on the nation's composting and recycling infrastructure, including an inventory of materials recovery facilities, estimated national recycling rates developed from voluntarily supplied state data, the costs of expanding composting programs, and the market prices for sold recyclables and compost, and it would require a study of how much aluminum, plastic, paper, textiles, and glass are being lost from circular reuse markets. It would also require the Government Accountability Office to report every two years through 2033 on federal agencies' own recycling, composting, and purchases of recycled and compostable products, authorizing $4 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to pay for the work, and it bars the EPA or the Commerce Secretary from imposing unfunded mandates on states, local governments, or tribes. This bill requires EPA to inventory materials recovery facilities and report on compost and recyclable end markets, giving recycling and composting businesses federal data, technical assistance, and attention to infrastructure and market gaps, without imposing new mandates.

Where it stands

HR 4109 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on June 24, 2025 and referred to its Subcommittee on Environment. On May 14, 2026 a markup was held on the bill; by voice vote it was forwarded from the subcommittee to the full committee, where it now awaits action.

Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Incentive Reauthorization Act of 2025

Mikie Sherrill (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill extends the immediate tax deduction for environmental remediation costs for expenditures incurred after December 31, 2028. It creates a gap in eligibility for costs incurred between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. This bill restores the immediate tax deduction for brownfields cleanup costs after 2028 but blocks it for work done between 2025 and 2028, changing tax timing and demand for waste and remediation firms that perform these cleanups.

Where it stands

HR815 is currently in the House Committee on Ways and Means following its referral on January 28, 2025. The committee chair holds discretion over whether to schedule a hearing or markup, or to allow the measure to lapse without action.

GLRI Act of 2026

Gary C. Peters (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, authorizing $475 million per year in federal funding for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out the Great Lakes programs under that provision of the Clean Water Act. This bill authorizes 500 million dollars a year for five years of Great Lakes cleanup and restoration, giving waste and remediation firms, especially cleanup contractors, a steady pipeline of funded government projects.

Where it stands

The Senate passed S.528 with an amendment by unanimous consent on September 29, 2026, and the bill was held at the desk in the House on October 5, 2026; it is now pending before the House, which controls what happens to it next.

GLRI Act of 2025

David P. Joyce (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by adding $500,000,000 in funding for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, a total of $2.5 billion over five years. That money would continue flowing through the existing program, which is established under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, for Great Lakes cleanup and restoration work. This bill authorizes $500 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for Great Lakes cleanup and habitat restoration, giving remediation firms funded work cleaning up sites and restoring habitat.

Where it stands

HR284 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on January 9, 2025 and, on January 10, 2025, to its Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. Under House practice, referral to subcommittee is the chair's call, and the referred stage is where bills commonly stall with no further notice.

CHARM Act

Gary J. Palmer (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the head of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and carry out a National Critical Mineral Recovery Strategy that coordinates federal efforts to recover critical minerals from discarded materials, including mining waste and metal processing waste, and to identify barriers and opportunities for expanding that recovery. Every two years, the agency would have to send Congress and publish a report laying out the strategy, the recovery-related actions taken by federal agencies, and recommendations for any legislation needed to support the effort. This bill directs the EPA to create a national strategy for recovering critical minerals from discarded materials like mining waste, aiming to expand markets and remove barriers for waste and recycling firms that reprocess such materials.

Where it stands

The House passed the CHARM Act by voice vote under suspension of the rules on September 15, 2026, and the Senate received it and referred it to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on September 16, 2026. The bill is now pending in the Senate, which must pass identical text before anything can go to the President.

Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026

Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would overhaul federal environmental review and permitting law to speed up approvals for energy, transmission, mining, and infrastructure projects, by imposing strict agency deadlines, expanding categorical exclusions, limiting the scope and timing of lawsuits, and restricting states and federal agencies from blocking or revoking permits. It would also provide new funding for permitting agencies and historic and coastal programs, open wholesale markets to storage aggregations, ease oil and gas and hardrock mining requirements, and require large computing loads to cover their own grid costs. This bill funds abandoned hardrock mine reclamation through a dedicated fund, giving waste and remediation contractors paid cleanup work without needing yearly appropriations.

Where it stands

S5653 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on September 30, 2026, and no meetings are scheduled in our calendar data. The bill is now at the committee stage, the choke point where Senate bills most often stall.