Welcome to ACC Action’s Legislative Priorities page, where we proudly showcase our efforts to drive impactful, commonsense policies that protect our environment, strengthen our energy independence, and secure America’s future!
This page highlights and tracks ACC Action’s legislative endorsements throughout the 119th Congress.
Let America Build
Our current permitting process has created an anti-build mentality in the United States, but to pursue American energy dominance and reduce emissions, we must allow America to build. These commonsense reforms would unleash the power of American energy.
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
This legislation allows mining operations to use, occupy, and conduct operations (e.g., construction of roads and other mining infrastructure activity) on public land regardless of whether a mineral deposit has been discovered on the land.
Sponsored by Representatives Mark Amodei and Steven Horsford
Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms (STEAM) Act
This legislation expands the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to include geothermal energy under the existing NEPA categorical exclusions for certain oil and gas activities.
Sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Chatherine Cortez Masto and Representatives Celeste Maloy and Susie Lee
Co-Location Energy Act
This legislation allows wind and solar projects to be co-located on existing federal energy leases, streamlining the process for developers to utilize already-disturbed federal lands for renewable energy projects, with the current leaseholder’s approval.
Sponsored by Senators John Curtis and John Hickenlooper
Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act
This legislation requires the Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold geothermal lease sales at least once per year.
Sponsored by Representatives Russ Fulcher and Susie Lee
Geothermal Energy Opportunity (GEO) Act
This bill requires the Department of the Interior (DOI) to process all applications for drilling permits, licenses, and other authorizations under an existing geothermal lease within 60 days after completing all required environmental and regulatory reviews.
Sponsored by Representatives Celeste Maloy and Susie Lee
Revising and Enhancing Project Authorizations Impacted by Review (REPAIR) Act
This legislation implements judicial review reforms to prevent frivolous lawsuits from stalling critical energy and infrastructure projects.
Sponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy, Mike Crapo, and Jim Risch
Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement (FREE) Act
This bill would establish a permit-by-rule system meant to streamline the federal permitting process.
Sponsored by Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ted Budd, and Representative Celeste Maloy
International Nuclear Energy Act
The legislation aims to position America, not adversaries like Russia or China, as the world leader in nuclear energy development and deployment..
Sponsored by Senators Jim Risch, Chris Coons, Mike Lee, and Martin Heinrich
Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act
This bill removes the mandatory hearing requirement established by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, streamlining the licensing process without limiting opportunities for public engagement.
Sponsored by Senators Tim Scott and Chris Coons, and Representatives Kim Schrier, Morgan Griffith, and Marc Veasey
Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act
The Act would require the FERC to submit annual reports to Congress on delayed hydropower license renewals where licensees gave at least 3 years’ notice but have not yet received a new license.
Sponsored by Representatives Kim Schrier and Russ Fulcher
ePermit Act
The legislation establishes federal data and taxonomy standards, a unified interagency system of shared digital services, and a government-wide permitting portal to bring the federal permitting process into the 21st century.
Sponsored by Representatives Dusty Johnson and Scott Peters
SPEED Act
The legislation provides needed reforms to the NEPA and judicial review process.
Sponsored by Representatives Bruce Westerman and Jared Golden
Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act
The legislation exempts certain geothermal activities on state and private lands from drilling requirements and from environmental and historic preservation reviews.
Sponsored by Representatives Young Kim and Adam Gray
SPEED and Reliability Act
The legislation streamlines federal siting and permitting of high-capacity, interstate transmission lines to support affordable, reliable power.
Sponsored by Representatives Andy Barr and Scott Peters
Unleash Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is affordable, reliable, and clean – the largest clean energy source in the United States. By fully embracing nuclear energy and removing unnecessary barriers in the industry’s way, we can have an abundant and clean energy future.
Nuclear REFUEL Act
This bill streamlines regulation for nuclear fuel recycling facilities using pyroprocessing by clarifying that they will be licensed solely under Part 70, eliminating overlap with Part 50
Led by Representatives Bob Latta and Scott Peters, and Senators John Husted and Sheldon Whitehouse
American Energy Dominance
American energy is clean energy, and the world needs more of it. Producing cleaner, more efficient energy here at home and exporting it around the world will reduce global emissions and bolster our allies’ energy security.
Creating Access to Rural Employment and Education for Resilience and Success (CAREERS) Act
The CAREERS Act assists a wide range of industry sectors in setting up workforce pipelines by expanding skills development opportunities through the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program (established in the 2018 Farm Bill).
Sponsored by Representative Nick Langworthy.
Securing Trade and Resources for Advanced Technology, Economic Growth, and International Commerce (STRATEGIC) in Minerals Act
The STRATEGIC in Minerals Act grants the president, through the U.S. Trade Representative, the power to negotiate and create trade agreements for critical minerals and rare earth elements, with congressional approval, to help strengthen and secure America’s supply chains.
Sponsored by Senators Todd Young, Chris Coons, John Cornyn, and John Hickenlooper.
Critical Materials Future Act
The Critical Materials Future Act establishes a pilot program for the Department of Energy to support domestic critical material processing projects.
Sponsored by Senators Todd Young and John Hickenlooper.
Unearth Innovation Act
This legislation establishes a mining and mineral innovation program within the Department of Energy to drive research, development, and commercialization of advanced mining, recycling, and processing technologies.
Sponsored by Senators Thom Tillis and John Hickenlooper
Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act
This legislation extends a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) to American hydropower projects for bolstering power production, providing environmental and safety benefits, or removing outdated, non-power-producing dam infrastructure.
Sponsored by Representatives Adrian Smith, Suzan DelBene, Brian Fitzpatrick, Kim Schrier, Claudia Tenney, and Maggie Goodlander.
Finding ORE Act
This bill empowers the Department of the Interior to coordinate with allied countries on the mapping and exploration of critical minerals.
Sponsored by Representatives Rob Wittman and Kathy Castor and Senators Chris Coons, Todd Young, John Cornyn, and John Hickenlooper
Active Forest Management
Wildfires are growing in size and severity, driven largely by decades of fire suppression and poor forest management. To tackle this growing threat, we must bolster our ability to effectively manage America’s forests. The health of our environment and the safety of our communities depend on it.
Fix Our Forests Act
This bill tackles the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires by restoring forest health, expediting environmental analyses, and streamlining forest restoration efforts, protecting communities and natural resources.
Sponsored by Senators John Curtis, Tim Sheehy, John Hickenlooper, and Alex Padilla and Representatives Bruce Westerman and Scott Peters
Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act
This bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand the use of targeted grazing as a tool for wildfire risk reduction.
Sponsored by Representatives Doug LaMalfa and Gabe Vasquez
Save Our Sequoias Act
This legislation improves interagency coordination, accelerates forest restoration, and provides critical resources to land managers to protect Giant Sequoias.
Sponsored by Representatives Vince Fong, Scott Peters, and 26 other bipartisan members
BECCS Advancement Commission Act
This legislation establishes a commission of industry representatives and policymakers at the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and the Interior to provide guidance, recommendations, and expertise on the deployment of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) projects.
Sponsored by Representative Blake Moore and Representative Jim Costa
Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act
This legislation amends Section 319(b) of the Clean Air Act to treat prescribed fires as exceptional events for air quality monitoring, making them easier to use as a management tool.
Sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis and Senator John Curtis
Regenerative Agriculture
America’s farmers and ranchers have long been the original conservationists. We must empower them to continue their stewardship of the land, ensuring clean air, clean water, and healthy soil for generations to come.
Increased TSP Access Act
This legislation addresses NRCS technical services providers (TSP) shortages by establishing a process to approve non-federal certifying entities, streamlining the certification process, and ensuring fair compensation to TSPs.
Sponsored by Representatives Jim Baird and Senators Roger Marshall and Michael Bennet
DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act
This legislation authorizes key research partnerships between the Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture to advance both agencies’ mission priorities through collaborative research and development activities.
Sponsored by Representatives Frank Lucas and Zoe Lofgren
Biochar Research Network Act
This legislation establishes a National Biochar Research Network to test the impact of biochar across various soil types, application methods, and climates to learn more about its capacity to benefit farmers and the environment.
Sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act
This legislation streamlines the NRCS process for updating and adopting conservation practice standards, helping farmers and ranchers improve soil health, and achieve their conservation goals.
Sponsored by Senator Martin Heinrich and Senator Joni Ernst
Ecosystem Conservation
America is blessed with some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, offering abundant natural resources, outdoor recreation, and environmental protection. It is our responsibility to steward these ecosystems wisely for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.
Make SWAPs Efficient Act
This legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to approve state wildlife conservation plans within 180 days, helping states access critical funding for conservation efforts.
Sponsored by Representatives Byron Donalds and Jard Moskowitz.
Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act
This legislation extends critical funding generated by the Wildlife Restoration Fund for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), an incentive-based, voluntary wildlife conservation program.
Sponsored by Representatives Jeff Hurd and Sarah Elfreth
Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (STEWARD) Act
This legislation establishes a pilot program at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program and develops standardized metrics to assess and improve waste management systems nationwide.
Sponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Sheldon Whitehouse, and John Boozman and Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Mike Sherrill
America the Beautiful Act
This legislation reauthorizes and strengthens the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund created by the landmark Great American Outdoors Act of 2020.
Sponsored by Senators Steve Daines and Angus King
PATRIOT Parks Act
This legislation amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to implement an international visitor fee at National Parks.
Sponsored by Senator Jim Banks and Rep. Riley Moore
Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act
This legislation protects water and wastewater treatment facilities, stormwater systems, and other public utilities from CERCLA liability for PFAS contamination, allowing them to continue addressing it safely.
Sponsored by Representative Celeste Maloy and Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez