[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4754 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 175
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4754
[Report No. 119-215]
Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment,
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 24, 2025
Mr. Simpson, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the
following bill; which was committed to the Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment,
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums
are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, for the Department of the Interior, environment, and
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for
other purposes, namely:
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
management of lands and resources
For necessary expenses for protection, use, improvement,
development, disposal, cadastral surveying, classification, acquisition
of easements and other interests in lands, and performance of other
functions, including maintenance of facilities, as authorized by law,
in the management of lands and their resources under the jurisdiction
of the Bureau of Land Management, including the general administration
of the Bureau, and assessment of mineral potential of public lands
pursuant to section 1010(a) of Public Law 96-487 (16 U.S.C. 3150(a)),
$1,193,908,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027; of which
$49,197,000 for annual maintenance and deferred maintenance programs
and $144,000,000 for the wild horse and burro program, as authorized by
Public Law 92-195 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), shall remain available
until expended: Provided, That amounts in the fee account of the BLM
Permit Processing Improvement Fund may be used for any bureau-related
expenses associated with the processing of oil and gas applications for
permits to drill and related use of authorizations: Provided further,
That of the amounts made available under this heading, up to $1,000,000
may be made available for the purposes described in section
122(e)(1)(A) of division G of Public Law 115-31 (43 U.S.C.
1748c(e)(1)(A)): Provided further, That of the amounts made available
under this heading, not to exceed $15,000 may be for official reception
and representation expenses.
In addition, $42,696,000 is for Mining Law Administration program
operations, including the cost of administering the mining claim fee
program, to remain available until expended, to be reduced by amounts
collected by the Bureau and credited to this appropriation from mining
claim maintenance fees and location fees that are hereby authorized for
fiscal year 2026, so as to result in a final appropriation estimated at
not more than $1,193,908,000, and $2,000,000, to remain available until
expended, from communication site rental fees established by the Bureau
for the cost of administering communication site activities.
oregon and california grant lands
For expenses necessary for management, protection, and development
of resources and for construction, operation, and maintenance of access
roads, reforestation, and other improvements on the revested Oregon and
California Railroad grant lands, on other Federal lands in the Oregon
and California land-grant counties of Oregon, and on adjacent rights-
of-way; and acquisition of lands or interests therein, including
existing connecting roads on or adjacent to such grant lands;
$104,954,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 25
percent of the aggregate of all receipts during the current fiscal year
from the revested Oregon and California Railroad grant lands is hereby
made a charge against the Oregon and California land-grant fund and
shall be transferred to the General Fund in the Treasury in accordance
with the second paragraph of subsection (b) of title II of the Act of
August 28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 2605).
range improvements
For rehabilitation, protection, and acquisition of lands and
interests therein, and improvement of Federal rangelands pursuant to
section 401 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1751), notwithstanding any other Act, sums equal to 50 percent
of all moneys received during the prior fiscal year under sections 3
and 15 of the Taylor Grazing Act (43 U.S.C. 315b, 315m) and the amount
designated for range improvements from grazing fees and mineral leasing
receipts from Bankhead-Jones lands transferred to the Department of the
Interior pursuant to law, but not less than $10,000,000, to remain
available until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $600,000 shall
be available for administrative expenses.
service charges, deposits, and forfeitures
For administrative expenses and other costs related to processing
application documents and other authorizations for use and disposal of
public lands and resources, for costs of providing copies of official
public land documents, for monitoring construction, operation, and
termination of facilities in conjunction with use authorizations, and
for rehabilitation of damaged property, such amounts as may be
collected under Public Law 94-579 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and under
section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185), to remain
available until expended: Provided, That notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary of section 305(a) of Public Law 94-579 (43 U.S.C.
1735(a)), any moneys that have been or will be received pursuant to
that section, whether as a result of forfeiture, compromise, or
settlement, if not appropriate for refund pursuant to section 305(c) of
Public Law 94-579 (43 U.S.C. 1735(c)), shall be available and may be
expended under the authority of this Act by the Secretary of the
Interior to improve, protect, or rehabilitate any public lands
administered through the Bureau of Land Management which have been
damaged by the action of a resource developer, purchaser, permittee, or
any unauthorized person, without regard to whether all moneys collected
from each such action are used on the exact lands damaged which led to
the action: Provided further, That any such moneys that are in excess
of amounts needed to repair damage to the exact land for which funds
were collected may be used to repair other damaged public lands.
miscellaneous trust funds
In addition to amounts authorized to be expended under existing
laws, there is hereby appropriated such amounts as may be contributed
under section 307 of Public Law 94-579 (43 U.S.C. 1737), and such
amounts as may be advanced for administrative costs, surveys,
appraisals, and costs of making conveyances of omitted lands under
section 211(b) of Public Law 94-579 (43 U.S.C. 1721(b)), to remain
available until expended.
administrative provisions
The Bureau of Land Management may carry out the operations funded
under this Act by direct expenditure, contracts, grants, cooperative
agreements, and reimbursable agreements with public and private
entities, including with States. Appropriations for the Bureau shall be
available for purchase, erection, and dismantlement of temporary
structures, and alteration and maintenance of necessary buildings and
appurtenant facilities to which the United States has title; up to
$100,000 for payments, at the discretion of the Secretary, for
information or evidence concerning violations of laws administered by
the Bureau; miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement
activities authorized or approved by the Secretary and to be accounted
for solely on the Secretary's certificate, not to exceed $10,000:
Provided, That notwithstanding Public Law 90-620 (44 U.S.C. 501), the
Bureau may, under cooperative cost-sharing and partnership arrangements
authorized by law, procure printing services from cooperators in
connection with jointly produced publications for which the cooperators
share the cost of printing either in cash or in services, and the
Bureau determines the cooperator is capable of meeting accepted quality
standards: Provided further, That projects to be funded pursuant to a
written commitment by a State government to provide an identified
amount of money in support of the project may be carried out by the
Bureau on a reimbursable basis.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
resource management
For necessary expenses of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, as authorized by law, and for scientific and economic studies,
general administration, and for the performance of other authorized
functions related to such resources, $1,374,576,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2027, of which not to exceed $15,000 may
be for official reception and representation expenses: Provided, That
not to exceed $7,375,000 shall be used for implementing subsections
(a), (b), (c), and (e) of section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) (except for processing petitions, developing and
issuing proposed and final regulations, and taking any other steps to
implement actions described in subsection (c)(2)(A), (c)(2)(B)(i), or
(c)(2)(B)(ii) of such section).
construction
For construction, improvement, acquisition, or removal of buildings
and other facilities required in the conservation, management,
investigation, protection, and utilization of fish and wildlife
resources, and the acquisition of lands and interests therein;
$13,709,000, to remain available until expended.
cooperative endangered species conservation fund
For expenses necessary to carry out section 6 of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1535), $18,700,000, to remain available
until expended, to be derived from the Cooperative Endangered Species
Conservation Fund.
national wildlife refuge fund
For expenses necessary to implement the Act of October 17, 1978 (16
U.S.C. 715s), $13,228,000.
north american wetlands conservation fund
For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of the North
American Wetlands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4401 et seq.),
$49,000,000, to remain available until expended.
neotropical migratory bird conservation
For expenses necessary to carry out the Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), $5,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
multinational species conservation fund
For expenses necessary to carry out the African Elephant
Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.), the Asian Elephant
Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261 et seq.), the Rhinoceros and
Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), the Great Ape
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), and the Marine
Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.), $21,000,000,
to remain available until expended.
state and tribal wildlife grants
For wildlife conservation grants to States and to the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, the
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Indian Tribes under the
provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act, for the development and implementation of
programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including
species that are not hunted or fished, $73,812,000, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That of the amount provided herein,
$6,200,000 is for a competitive grant program for Indian Tribes not
subject to the remaining provisions of this appropriation: Provided
further, That $7,612,000 is for a competitive grant program to
implement approved plans for States, territories, and other
jurisdictions and at the discretion of affected States, the regional
Associations of fish and wildlife agencies, not subject to the
remaining provisions of this appropriation: Provided further, That the
Secretary shall, after deducting $13,812,000 and administrative
expenses, apportion the amount provided herein in the following manner:
(1) to the District of Columbia and to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
each a sum equal to not more than one-half of 1 percent thereof; and
(2) to Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, each a sum equal to not
more than one-fourth of 1 percent thereof: Provided further, That the
Secretary of the Interior shall apportion the remaining amount in the
following manner: (1) one-third of which is based on the ratio to which
the land area of such State bears to the total land area of all such
States; and (2) two-thirds of which is based on the ratio to which the
population of such State bears to the total population of all such
States: Provided further, That the amounts apportioned under this
paragraph shall be adjusted equitably so that no State shall be
apportioned a sum which is less than 1 percent of the amount available
for apportionment under this paragraph for any fiscal year or more than
5 percent of such amount: Provided further, That the Federal share of
planning grants shall not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of such
projects and the Federal share of implementation grants shall not
exceed 65 percent of the total costs of such projects: Provided
further, That the non-Federal share of such projects may not be derived
from Federal grant programs: Provided further, That any amount
apportioned in 2026 to any State, territory, or other jurisdiction that
remains unobligated as of September 30, 2027, shall be reapportioned,
together with funds appropriated in 2028, in the manner provided
herein.
administrative provisions
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service may carry out the
operations of Service programs by direct expenditure, contracts,
grants, cooperative agreements and reimbursable agreements with public
and private entities. Appropriations and funds available to the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service shall be available for repair of
damage to public roads within and adjacent to reservation areas caused
by operations of the Service; options for the purchase of land at not
to exceed one dollar for each option; facilities incident to such
public recreational uses on conservation areas as are consistent with
their primary purpose; and the maintenance and improvement of aquaria,
buildings, and other facilities under the jurisdiction of the Service
and to which the United States has title, and which are used pursuant
to law in connection with management, and investigation of fish and
wildlife resources: Provided, That notwithstanding 44 U.S.C. 501, the
Service may, under cooperative cost sharing and partnership
arrangements authorized by law, procure printing services from
cooperators in connection with jointly produced publications for which
the cooperators share at least one-half the cost of printing either in
cash or services and the Service determines the cooperator is capable
of meeting accepted quality standards: Provided further, That the
Service may accept donated aircraft as replacements for existing
aircraft: Provided further, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, all
fees collected for non-toxic shot review and approval shall be
deposited under the heading ``United States Fish and Wildlife Service--
Resource Management'' and shall be available to the Secretary, without
further appropriation, to be used for expenses of processing of such
non-toxic shot type or coating applications and revising regulations as
necessary, and shall remain available until expended.
National Park Service
operation of the national park system
For expenses necessary for the management, operation, and
maintenance of areas and facilities administered by the National Park
Service and for the general administration of the National Park
Service, $2,718,124,000, of which $11,661,000 for planning and
interagency coordination in support of Everglades restoration and
$15,000,000 for uses authorized by section 101122 of title 54, United
States Code shall remain available until September 30, 2027, and not to
exceed $15,000 may be for official reception and representation
expenses: Provided, That funds appropriated under this heading in this
Act are available for the purposes of section 5 of Public Law 95-348:
Provided further, That notwithstanding section 9 of the 400 Years of
African-American History Commission Act (36 U.S.C. note prec. 101;
Public Law 115-102), $3,300,000 of the funds provided under this
heading shall be made available for the purposes specified by that Act:
Provided further, That sections 7(b) and 8(a) of that Act is amended
by striking ``July 1, 2025'' and inserting ``July 1, 2027''.
In addition, for purposes described in section 2404 of Public Law
116-9, an amount equal to the amount deposited in this fiscal year into
the National Park Medical Services Fund established pursuant to such
section of such Act, to remain available until expended, shall be
derived from such Fund.
national recreation and preservation
For expenses necessary to carry out recreation programs, natural
programs, cultural programs, heritage partnership programs,
environmental compliance and review, international park affairs, and
grant administration, not otherwise provided for, $89,593,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2027.
historic preservation fund
For expenses necessary in carrying out the National Historic
Preservation Act (division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States
Code), $168,900,000, to be derived from the Historic Preservation Fund
and to remain available until September 30, 2027, of which $25,500,000
shall be for Save America's Treasures grants for preservation of
nationally significant sites, structures and artifacts as authorized by
section 7303 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (54
U.S.C. 3089): Provided, That an individual Save America's Treasures
grant shall be matched by non-Federal funds: Provided further, That
individual projects shall only be eligible for one grant: Provided
further, That all projects to be funded shall be approved by the
Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations: Provided further, That of the funds
provided for the Historic Preservation Fund, $30,250,000 is for the
Competitive Grants Subactivity; $11,000,000 is for grants to
Historically Black Colleges and Universities; $10,000,000 is for
competitive grants for the restoration of historic properties of
national, State, a