Sean Casten (D-IL)
Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026. It forces the Environmental Protection Agency to put back into place certain rules, guidance, and enforcement programs that were in effect on January 19, 2025. These include standards dealing with greenhouse gas emissions, methane pollution, mercury and air toxics, and vehicle emissions. The bill also requires the EPA to base its decisions on peer-reviewed science and staff up its advisory committees with independent experts. Additionally, the legislation provides funding for enforcement and requires the agency to prioritize environmental justice programs in communities facing heavy pollution burdens. Finally, it gives citizens the right to take the EPA to court if the agency fails to follow the requirements of this Act.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +9
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill requires the EPA to immediately reinstate greenhouse gas emissions standards, methane rules, and vehicle emissions regulations.
- Scored +9
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The legislation rolls back recent deregulatory actions and fully restores core environmental regulations and enforcement programs in effect prior to January 2025.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The restoration of environmental justice programs directs monitoring and enforcement toward low-income communities experiencing heavy pollution burdens.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes an appropriation of nearly $11 billion annually for EPA enforcement and duties, increasing government spending.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reinstatement of Clean Air and Environmental Protections: Under Section 3, the EPA is required to bring back regulations and enforcement programs related to greenhouse gas emissions, methane pollution, mercury and air toxics standards, and vehicle emissions that were in effect on January 19, 2025. This could benefit the public by lowering pollution and improving air quality.
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Protection of Scientific Integrity: Under Section 4, the EPA must restaff its Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee with members who are not financially associated with regulated industries. This ensures that the health decisions made by the government rely on independent, peer-reviewed science rather than industry interests.
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Focus on Environmental Justice and Public Health: Under Section 6, the agency must restore environmental justice programs and prioritize monitoring and enforcement in communities dealing with disproportionate pollution burdens. This provision requires the EPA to publish public health impact assessments to evaluate how regulatory actions affect mortality, respiratory illness, and cardiovascular disease in everyday people.
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Citizen Accountability: Under Section 7, any person adversely affected by the failure of the EPA Administrator to comply with the Act can bring a civil action in a federal district court. This gives everyday citizens a direct tool to hold government officials accountable for following the law.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Federal Spending and Funding Demands: Under Section 5, the bill authorizes an appropriation of $10,993,653,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, adjusted annually for inflation, to meet enforcement requirements. This massive mandatory spending commitment could place a heavy financial burden on taxpayers.
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Rigid Regulatory Freezes: Under Section 3, neither the President nor the EPA Administrator may delay, suspend, repeal, or grant exemptions to the reinstated regulations unless explicitly authorized by an Act of Congress. This inflexibility could prevent the government from temporarily easing rules during unexpected economic emergencies or energy supply shortages that might hurt consumers.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The restoration of environmental justice programs directs monitoring and enforcement toward low-income communities experiencing heavy pollution burdens. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Environmental justice provisions prioritize pollution reduction in overburdened communities, frequently improving conditions for minority populations. Would children be better off under this? — Children stand to benefit significantly from cleaner air and reduced exposure to toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Targeted enforcement in heavily polluted areas helps protect Hispanic communities often disproportionately affected by industrial emissions. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Older adults, particularly those with respiratory and cardiovascular vulnerabilities, benefit from improved air quality standards. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural communities near oil and gas operations benefit from restored methane and volatile organic compound pollution controls. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban areas suffering from vehicle emissions and heavy smog benefit directly from reinstated air quality and vehicle emission standards.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The legislation rolls back recent deregulatory actions and fully restores core environmental regulations and enforcement programs in effect prior to January 2025. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill requires the EPA to immediately reinstate greenhouse gas emissions standards, methane rules, and vehicle emissions regulations. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — By strictly enforcing methane pollution controls and greenhouse gas limits on power plants and oil and gas operations, the bill places tighter restrictions on fossil fuel producers.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the EPA to publish public health impact assessments, annual enforcement reports, and data on cumulative pollution trends. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill imposes rigid federal mandates on the EPA and restricts the executive branch from granting regulatory exemptions or delays without an Act of Congress. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The legislation establishes a private cause of action allowing citizens adversely affected by EPA non-compliance to bring civil suits in federal court.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By reinstating strict air quality and environmental protections, the bill aims to reduce respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill mandates the prioritization of environmental justice programs and enforcement in communities experiencing disproportionate pollution burdens, which often overlap with minority populations.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes an appropriation of nearly $11 billion annually for EPA enforcement and duties, increasing government spending.
- 10/1/2026
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 9/16/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Kathy CastorDemocrat · Florida
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Mike LevinDemocrat · California
George LatimerDemocrat · New York
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado