Donald Beyer (D-VA)
Methane Monitoring Science Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
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 ``Methane Monitoring Science Act of 2026'', requires the Administrator of NASA to create a specific science strategy. The strategy focuses on monitoring and detecting methane through various methods like ground-based, airborne, and space-based sensors. This work must be completed within 18 months of the Act's enactment. The goal is to evaluate current and future technologies to detect methane emissions and large emission events. This initiative is intended to strengthen American energy security. Finally, the Administrator must submit a report on this strategy to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The strategy aims to support the rapid mitigation of methane leaks.
- Scored +4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill facilitates the detection of methane emissions to help mitigate leaks.
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides data that commercial industry, including the oil and gas industry, can leverage.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Energy Security: The strategy aims to detect methane emissions and large emission events to strengthen American energy security (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Improved Research and Development: The strategy can inform the planning of relevant research and development activities (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Data Access for Various Groups: Non-Federal entities—including State and local governments, academia, nonprofit organizations, and commercial industry—can effectively leverage data and information provided by these capabilities (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Rapid Leak Mitigation: The data produced can be quickly operationalized to support the rapid mitigation of methane leaks (Section 2(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No new enforcement powers: The bill clarifies that nothing in the section confers any enforcement authority regarding methane emissions that was not already in effect before the Act's enactment (Section 2(c)).
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 cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The strategy aims to support the rapid mitigation of methane leaks. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill facilitates the detection of methane emissions to help mitigate leaks.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides data that commercial industry, including the oil and gas industry, can leverage.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill aims to strengthen American energy security through improved methane monitoring.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill directs NASA to develop a strategy to inform future research and development activities.
- 2/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 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.
Pat HarriganRepublican · North Carolina