Darin LaHood (R-IL)
Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025 aims to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. It authorizes partnerships between States and nongovernmental entities to reclaim land and water resources damaged by coal mining activities occurring before August 3, 1977. The bill allows States to enter into memorandums of understanding with Federal or State agencies to address mine drainage and water pollution. Additionally, it establishes "Community Reclaimer" partnerships to facilitate remediation projects on abandoned mine lands. These projects may include the reprocessing of historic mine residue to help fund the cleanup efforts. The Act is scheduled to remain in effect until September 30, 2032.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill specifically aims to improve water quality and remediate land damaged by historical coal mining.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill improves land management by providing frameworks for remediating abandoned mine sites.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill includes requirements for public notice, meetings, and responses to public comment.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Water Quality: The bill establishes strategies for States and Federal agencies to address water pollution from mine drainage, specifically through procedures intended to ensure improved water quality (Section 3, subsection m, paragraph 2).
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Public Engagement Opportunities: Before a memorandum of understanding is approved, States are required to invite interested members of the public to comment and hold at least one public meeting in an accessible location (Section 3, subsection m, paragraph 3).
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Financial Support for Remediation: Community Reclaimers are permitted to reprocess materials recovered during remediation to help defray the costs of the reclamation projects (Section s, subsection n, paragraph 3).
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Local Accountability and Notification: The bill requires that a State provide notice to adjacent and downstream landowners and the public, and hold a public meeting near the proposed project site before any project begins (Section 3, subsection n, paragraph 2, subparagraph M).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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State Financial Responsibility for Damages: Under the required agreements, a State must assume all responsibility for costs or damages resulting from a Community Reclaimer's actions or inactions, unless the damage was caused by gross negligence or intentional misconduct (Section 3, subsection n, paragraph 1, subparagraph E).
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Potential for Unplanned Events: The bill requires the creation of a contingency plan to address unplanned adverse events, including emergency actions and notifications (Section 3, subsection n, paragraph 2, subparagraph K).
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.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill specifically aims to improve water quality and remediate land damaged by historical coal mining. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill improves land management by providing frameworks for remediating abandoned mine sites. Does this invest in rural communities? — The reclamation of abandoned mines can revitalize land and water resources in rural mining areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill includes requirements for public notice, meetings, and responses to public comment. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill empowers States to enter into memorandums of understanding to manage their own mine reclamation processes.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural communities impacted by coal mining benefit from environmental restoration and potential local economic activity. Would business owners be better off under this? — Community Reclaimers can benefit from the ability to reprocess materials to fund their projects.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill facilitates land reclamation projects that may stimulate local economic activity through partnerships. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The provision for reprocessing materials can stimulate economic value from historic mine waste. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — By allowing the reprocessing of mine residue to defray costs, it can reduce the need for direct government funding of remediation.
- 5/14/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 5/13/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1970-1971)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1970-1971)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 167.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1970-1972)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 1/3/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House