Committee Advances Legislation to Unleash Geothermal, Save Our Sequoias

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources reported sixteen bills that will unlock America's geothermal resources, save Giant Sequoias, improve recreation opportunities on public lands and support tribal sovereignty. Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"House Committee on Natural Resources Republicans are hard at work on behalf of the American people. Today, we advanced legislation that will unleash geothermal resources to lower energy costs, save treasured Giant Sequoias, improve outdoor recreation in the Southeast, launch patriotic celebrations of the 250^th anniversary of America's independence and support tribal sovereignty. I look forward to continuing to work with the bills' sponsors to advance this legislation."

Background

H.R. 41, the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to allow Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee and Wrangell to organize into Alaska Native urban corporations and each select one township in Southeast Alaska within the Tongass National Forest.

H.R. 301, the Geothermal Energy Opportunity (GEO) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), requires the Department of the Interior (DOI) to process all geothermal authorizations within 60 days of completing an environmental review.

H.R. 2252, the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.), allows North Dakota to relinquish state trust lands located within tribal reservations to the federal government and select "in-lieu" federal lands elsewhere in the state.

H.R. 2709, the Save Our Sequoias Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Vince Fong (R-Calif.), provides land managers with the emergency tools and resources needed to save Giant Sequoias from the unprecedented peril threatening their long-term survival.

H.R. 2768, the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026, introduced by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), amends the National Trails System Act to authorize a study on the feasibility of designating the Benton MacKaye Trail, which runs through Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, as a National Scenic Trail.

H.R. 3831, the Florida Safe Seas Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), will support safer recreational uses of the ocean by aligning state and federal laws related to shark feeding by extending the existing state ban on shark feeding to the Exclusive Economic Zone seaward of the state of Florida.

H.R. 4684, the Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2026, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-Utah), restores a local patriotic tradition by authorizing the seasonal placement of an American flag at a prominent summit in Utah in time for the celebration of the 250^th anniversary of America's independence.

H.R. 5576, the Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), exempts low-impact geothermal exploration projects from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews while ensuring that such activities are remediated in a timely manner.

H.R. 5587, the Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), clarifies that geothermal operations on non-federal lands are not subject to federal permitting requirements in instances where the federal government owns less than 50 percent of the subsurface geothermal estate and receives a drilling permit from the respective state.

H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), appoints a Geothermal Ombudsman from within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to liaise between field offices and the BLM Director. The Ombudsman would provide dispute resolution services, monitor permit processing, develop best practices and coordinate with other federal agencies. It also establishes a Geothermal Permitting Task Force comprising expert personnel from any DOI bureau or office, selected by the Ombudsman.

H.R. 5638, the Geothermal Royalty Reform Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-Utah), clarifies that geothermal facilities on the same lease pay royalties based on each individual facility's time in service.

H.R. 5682, introduced by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), places the remaining 860 acres on the Pu'éska Mountain managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) into trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians.

H.R. 398, the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), gives DOI authority to collect certain fees regarding the processing of applications for geothermal leases on federal lands and inspection and monitoring of geothermal exploration and development activities.

H.R. 1077, the Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms (STEAM) Act, introduced by U.S. Rep Susie Lee (D-Nev.), extends NEPA categorical exclusions available to oil and gas activities to geothermal development on certain lands.

H.R. 3553, the BRUSH Fires Act, introduced by U.S Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.), directs the U.S. Forest Service to study wildfire mitigation strategies in shrubland ecosystems.

H.R. 5617, the Geothermal Gold Book Development Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), would provide guidance to agency staff by requiring BLM to publish best practices for geothermal leasing and permitting.