A Democratic bill with 5 Republican cosponsors · See all 13 cosponsors
Last activity — Subcommittee Hearings Held
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
The TERRA Act aims to help Indian Tribes deal with environmental threats and natural disasters like flooding, wildfires, and sea level rise. It allows Tribes to combine funding from multiple Federal programs into single, comprehensive Plans. These Plans can support specific needs such as infrastructure, land management, or even community-driven relocation to safer areas. The bill seeks to reduce administrative burdens by streamlining reporting and permitting processes. It also establishes the Department of the Interior as the lead agency to manage these integrated funds.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +9
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The act greatly enhances Tribal self-determination and provides streamlined federal resources for environmental and disaster resilience.
- Scored +8
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The act streamlines the integration of federal funding for disaster relief and preparedness specifically for Indian Tribes.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The act empowers Tribes to manage environmental threats and climate resilience proactively.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill grants the Secretary of the Interior sole and exclusive decision-making authority over Plan approvals.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Empowerment of Tribal Communities: The Act allows Tribes to integrate funding into comprehensive Plans to meet specific community needs regarding environmental impacts or natural disasters (Section 2).
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Support for Community Relocation: The bill provides a way to use funds for "community-driven relocation," which includes moving communities from hazardous areas to safer locations through the construction of new housing and infrastructure (Section 3, Section 102).
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Reduced Administrative Burdens: Tribes can move to a single annual report instead of dealing with multiple different reporting, recordkeeping, and auditing requirements for each individual Federal program (Section 101, Section 201).
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Streamlined Land Acquisition: The Act includes an expedited process for taking land into trust for the benefit of a Tribe, which can be mandatory if the Tribe acquires land using Plan funds or faces imminent environmental risk (Section 203).
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Financial Flexibility: The bill allows Tribes to reallocate, reprogram, or consolidate funds among various services and activities within their Plan without needing additional Federal approval (Section 101, Section 206).
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Protection of Knowledge: Traditional Ecological Knowledge submitted within a Plan is kept confidential and is exempt from various public disclosure requirements (Section 104).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Concentrated Decision-Making Authority: The Secretary of the Interior is granted "sole and exclusive decisionmaking authority" for all Federal actions under this Act, including determining if a program is eligible for integration (Section 4, Section 108).
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Potential for Unresolved Disputes: While a dispute resolution process exists for waiver requests, the head of the affected agency still maintains the final authority to resolve disputes (Section 107).
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Environmental Review Timelines: Although the bill seeks to streamline reviews, it requires a coordinated project schedule and environmental review timetable that must be established in consultation with various parties (Section 202).
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 improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The act streamlines the integration of federal funding for disaster relief and preparedness specifically for Indian Tribes. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The act empowers Tribes to manage environmental threats and climate resilience proactively. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The act allows for expedited land-into-trust processes for Tribes facing environmental risks.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The act greatly enhances Tribal self-determination and provides streamlined federal resources for environmental and disaster resilience.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The act facilitates community-driven relocation which includes new housing construction to mitigate environmental risks.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants the Secretary of the Interior sole and exclusive decision-making authority over Plan approvals.
- 5/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/9/2025
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 9/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
- 7/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/29/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Tom ColeRepublican · Oklahoma
Debbie DingellDemocrat · Michigan
Sharice DavidsDemocrat · Kansas
Jake EllzeyRepublican · Texas
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Marie PerezDemocrat · Washington
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
John MoolenaarRepublican · Michigan
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Michael SimpsonRepublican · Idaho
Marilyn StricklandDemocrat · Washington