Federal Advocacy Update, Dec 15, 2025
House and Senate Action
As Congress prepares to adjourn at the end of this week, this will likely be our final federal update of the year. Lawmakers are expected to complete remaining business and return home for the holidays, with limited activity anticipated until the next session begins in early January. We will continue to monitor developments during the recess and resume regular updates in the new year.
House
This week, the House will consider nearly two dozen noncontroversial bills listed on the suspension calendar (requires a two-thirds majority for passage), including measures related to education, conservation, natural resources, land transfers, and environmental restoration. Many of the bills focus on reauthorizing existing programs, advancing wildlife and fisheries research, and approving land conveyances involving federal agencies.
Later in the week, the House is expected to take up a slate of more partisan measures covering a broad range of issues. This includes a GOP-led proposal on health care. It should be noted that the package does not include an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
The full schedule is available here.
Senate
Across Capitol Hill, Senate leaders are aiming to complete work on the annual defense policy bill – the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – and confirm dozens of executive and judicial nominees. Senate appropriators are also seeking to advance a package of spending bills, though action could slip into the new year. Finally, a bipartisan group of senators may force a vote this week to restrict military action against Venezuela without explicit congressional authorization.
Federal Judge Blocks FEMA From Terminating BRIC Program
A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled last week that the administration cannot unilaterally terminate FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. BRIC, which was established in 2020, provides competitive funding to states, tribes, territories, local governments, and special districts for hazard mitigation and disaster-resilience projects
The decision follows a lawsuit filed by 22 states and the District of Columbia after FEMA announced earlier this year that it would cancel pending BRIC applications and return unobligated or rescinded funds to other disaster accounts or the U.S. Treasury. For their part, Trump administration officials have criticized the program as a “slush fund” for climate-related initiatives and argued that BRIC funding was being used for projects they view as outside FEMA’s core disaster response mission.
The court order blocks FEMA from eliminating the program without congressional authorization. However, the ruling does not appear to require the agency to immediately award grants, leaving uncertainty for previously approved projects. It's unclear at this juncture whether the administration will appeal the decision.
FEMA Review Council Postpones Meeting
The public meeting of the President’s FEMA Review Council scheduled for Thursday, December 11, was abruptly postponed last week.
The meeting was expected to unveil the Council’s draft final report on FEMA reform, including presentations on recommendations and a public vote. According to reports, the White House postponed the session to allow additional time to review and vet the latest draft of the report.
Established earlier this year by executive order, the Council has spent several months evaluating FEMA’s core programs with an emphasis on improving speed, coordination, transparency, and equity in federal disaster support.
The draft report remains under final review. The Federal Register notice and information on public participation are expected to be updated once the meeting is rescheduled.
Trump Issues Executive Order on National AI Standards
On December 11, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the federal government to pursue a national artificial intelligence (AI) policy and limit the impact of state-level AI regulations viewed as inconsistent with federal priorities. Specifically, the order directs the Justice Department to establish an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state AI laws deemed unconstitutional, preempted, or otherwise unlawful.
It also instructs the Department of Commerce to evaluate state AI laws and authorizes the withholding of certain non-deployment Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funds from states with laws found to conflict with national AI policy objectives. Federal agencies are further directed to consider whether the absence of similar state AI laws, or enforcement discretion for existing laws, should be a condition of certain discretionary grant programs.
In addition, the order calls on the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission to examine state AI requirements that may conflict with federal consumer protection standards and to consider establishing a federal reporting and disclosure framework for AI models. Finally, the EO calls for the development of a national AI legislative framework that would preempt State AI laws that stifle innovation.
House Approves Bill Preserving Use of Aerial Fire Retardants
Last week, the House approved legislation – the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act – aimed at preserving the availability of aerial fire retardant during wildfire response efforts by clarifying existing exemptions for firefighting activities. The measure was included as part of a broader permitting reform package known as the PERMIT Act (H.R. 3898) and responds to a 2023 court ruling that concluded the U.S. Forest Service must obtain Clean Water Act permits for aerial fire retardant drops, raising concerns about potential delays and conflicting requirements for federal, state, local, and tribal firefighting agencies.
The House action comes amid continued legal scrutiny of the Forest Service’s use of aerial fire retardant. In May, the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics filed a new federal lawsuit alleging that the use of fire retardant containing heavy metals violates the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit follows a 2024 University of Southern California study that found Phos-Chek, the most widely used fire retardant, contains elevated levels of metals, raising concerns about potential impacts to water quality and endangered species.
While the House action reflects broader concerns from wildfire response agencies about maintaining access to key suppression tools as wildfire seasons grow longer and more severe, the PERMIT Act is unlikely to advance in the Senate, absent significant changes to attract broader bipartisan support.
EPA Launches Clean Air Act Resource Hub for Data Centers
In response to President Trump’s Executive Order on artificial intelligence, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week launched a new webpage aimed at streamlining air permitting requirements for data center and AI facility development.
The webpage consolidates Clean Air Act regulations, interpretive guidance, and technical tools to help developers, local governments, special districts, and Tribes navigate air quality modeling and permitting. EPA states that the resource is intended to promote transparency and reduce permitting delays while maintaining compliance with existing law. The webpage encourages early engagement with EPA Regional Offices and the Data Centers Team to reduce permitting delays.
EPA has also established a dedicated Data Centers Team within the Office of Air and Radiation to consult with permitting authorities and project sponsors on a case-by-case basis and help identify existing regulatory flexibilities. The initiative aligns with the administration’s broader AI Action Plan.
Relevant Hearings and Markups
House Transportation and Infrastructure
Tuesday, December 16 | 10:00 a.m. ET | The Subcommittee on Aviation will hear from FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on the "State of American Aviation."
Wednesday, December 17 | 10:00 a.m. ET | The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment will hear stakeholder perspectives on the Water Resources Development Act of 2026.
House Oversight
Wednesday, December 17 | 9:00 a.m. ET | The panel will host a member day hearing, which gives lawmakers an opportunity to discuss issues pertinent to their districts and constituencies.
House Small Business
Tuesday, December 16 | 10:00 a.m. ET | The full committee will hold a hearing entitled, "American Resilience: Examining the SBA Disaster Assistance Program."
House Natural Resources
Wednesday, December 17 | 10:00 a.m. ET | The panel will markup four bills, including legislation (H.R. 1897) that would reform the Endangered Species Act.
House Administration
Wednesday, December 17 | 10:00 a.m. ET | The Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation will hold a hearing entitled, “The Future of Constituent Engagement with Congress.”
House Homeland Security
Wednesday, December 17 | 10:00 a.m. ET | Two subcommittees will hold a joint hearing entitled, "The Quantum, AI, and Cloud Landscape: Examining Opportunities, Vulnerabilities, and the Future of Cybersecurity."
House Energy and Commerce
Tuesday, December 16 | 10:15 a.m. ET | The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing to discuss legislative improvements to public safety communications.
Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation
Wednesday, December 17 | 10:00 a.m. ET | The full committee will meet to conduct oversight of the Federal Communications Commission.