Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.
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, known as the ``Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025'', seeks to amend the Food Security Act of 1985. The primary purpose is to reauthorize the voluntary public access and habitat incentive program. It proposes a mandatory funding amount of $150,000,000 from the Commodity Credit Corporation for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. Additionally, it directs the Secretary to use $3,000,000 of those funds to encourage public access to land covered by wetland reserve easements. This specific portion of funding is to be used through agreements with States and tribal governments.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill reauthorizes funding for the voluntary public access and habitat incentive program.
- Scored +3
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill specifically mentions using funds through agreements with tribal governments.
- Scored +3
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill facilitates public access to land and habitats which are often located in rural areas.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill establishes $150,000,000 in mandatory funding requirements.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased funding for habitat and access: The bill provides $150,000,000 of mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 (Section 2, subsection f, paragraph 1).
-
Enhanced access to wetlands: The bill allocates $3,000,000 to encourage public access to land covered by wetland reserve easements through agreements with States and tribal governments (Section 2, subsection f, paragraph 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
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 Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill specifically mentions using funds through agreements with tribal governments. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill facilitates public access to land and habitats which are often located in rural areas. Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill pertains to the management of land and wetland reserve easements often involving agricultural interests. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The expansion of public access to land can provide recreational benefits to all economic groups.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill reauthorizes funding for the voluntary public access and habitat incentive program. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill allocates funds for public access to land covered by wetland reserve easements through state and tribal agreements.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill funds public access to land which can improve quality of life for various communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill provides $150,000,000 in mandatory funding which may support jobs in land management and conservation. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill establishes $150,000,000 in mandatory funding requirements.
- 6/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/28/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.
- 3/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/25/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Marie PerezDemocrat · Washington
J. HillRepublican · Arkansas
Dusty JohnsonRepublican · South Dakota
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York