[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2431 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 124
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2431
[Report No. 119-46]
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 24, 2025
Ms. Murkowski, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the
following original bill; which was read twice and placed on the
calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
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)),
$1,256,992,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, which
shall be for the purposes and in the amounts specified in the
``Committee Recommendation'' column for Bureau of Land Management,
Management of Lands and Resources in the ``Department of the Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026'' table in
the report accompanying this Act, of which amounts made available for
Wild horse and burro management, as authorized by Public Law 92-195 (16
U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), Annual maintenance, and Deferred maintenance
shall remain available until expended, of which not to exceed $15,000
may be for official reception and representation expenses, of which the
amounts made available for Land management priorities are for the
projects specified for such purpose in the table titled
``Congressionally Directed Spending Items'' in the report accompanying
this Act, and of which the amounts made available for Construction
projects are for the projects specified for such purpose in the table
titled ``Congressionally Directed Spending Items'' in the report
accompanying this Act: 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 $3,000,000 of the amounts made available for Wildlife
habitat management shall be available in fiscal year 2026 subject to a
match by at least an equal amount by the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation for cost-shared projects supporting conservation of Bureau
lands; and such funds shall be advanced to the Foundation as a lump-sum
grant without regard to when expenses are incurred: Provided further,
That of the amounts made available under this heading, up to $3,000,000
of the amounts made available for Recreation resources management shall
be 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)).
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 $1,256,992,000, 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;
$115,521,000, to remain available until expended, which shall be for
the purposes and in the amounts specified in the ``Committee
Recommendation'' column for Bureau of Land Management, Oregon and
California Grant Lands in the ``Department of the Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026'' table in
the report accompanying this Act: Provided, That the Bureau of Land
Management shall maintain the current Western Oregon Operating Plan and
will fully participate in a unified wildfire protection system.
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 $9,430,000, 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
that Act (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 that Act (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: Provided further, That the Bureau of
Land Management shall maintain staffing levels by hiring, retaining,
and rehiring after separations in order to fulfill the mission required
under title 16, title 30, title 43, and title 54, United States Code,
including to protect natural and cultural resources, provide and
maintain appropriate access and recreation for visitors, provide safety
precautions for visitors and staff, maintain physical and natural
infrastructure, provide information and respond to stakeholders and the
general public, conduct tribal consultation, provide for administrative
support, manage energy and minerals resources, and carry out other
activities in support of effectively managing the National Conservation
Lands and other public lands in a timely manner.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
resource management
(including transfer of funds)
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, $1,462,934,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2027, which shall be for the purposes and
in the amounts specified in the ``Committee Recommendation'' column for
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Management in the
``Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2026'' table in the report accompanying this Act,
of which not to exceed $15,000 may be for official reception and
representation expenses, and of which the amounts made available for
Stewardship Priorities shall remain available until September 30, 2028,
and are for the projects specified for such purpose in the table titled
``Congressionally Directed Spending Items'' in the report accompanying
this Act: Provided, That amounts made available for Listing in the
``Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2026'' table in the report accompanying this Act
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): Provided further, That amounts specified for
Stewardship Priorities in the table titled ``Congressionally Directed
Spending'' in the report accompanying this Act may be transferred to
another appropriation under this heading and shall continue to only be
available for the purposes and in such amounts as such funds were
originally appropriated.
construction
(including transfer of funds)
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, which shall be for the
purposes and in the amounts specified in the ``Committee
Recommendation'' column for United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
Construction in the ``Department of the Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026'' table in the report
accompanying this Act.
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), $22,080,000, 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), $13,500,000.
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.), $20,500,000,
to remain available until expended, which shall be for the purposes and
in the amounts specified in the ``Committee Recommendation'' column for
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Multinational Species
Conservation Fund in the ``Department of the Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026'' table in the report
accompanying this Act.
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, $72,384,000, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That of the amount provided herein,
$6,100,000 is for a competitive grant program for Indian tribes not
subject to the remaining provisions of this appropriation: Provided
further, That $7,284,000 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 $13,384,000 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 c