A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
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 Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025 directs the Director of the United States Geological Survey to create a program focused on sinkhole risks. This program involves studying both short-term and long-term causes of sinkholes, such as droughts and changes in water use. The Director is tasked with developing maps that show zones at a higher risk for sinkhole formation. These maps will utilize 3D elevation data to ensure accuracy. Additionally, the Director must establish a public website to share these maps and vital information. The maps will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The creation of risk maps assists in disaster preparedness and emergency management.
- Scored +3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The act enhances environmental safety through proactive geological risk mapping.
- Scored +2
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The mandate includes creating a public website to share geological risk data.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Hazard Awareness: The establishment of a program to study mechanisms like extreme storm events, droughts, and aquifer depletion will help understand why sinkholes form (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Increased Access to Safety Information: The creation of a public website will provide maps and relevant information that is critical for community planners and emergency managers (Section 2(d)).
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Better Risk Mapping: The development of maps depicting zones at greater risk of sinkhole formation can help people understand where they are most vulnerable (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Updated Safety Data: The requirement to assess and update maps at least once every five years ensures that the information remains current (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Funding Dependency: The ability to establish and run this program is subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance (Section 2(a)).
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 creation of risk maps assists in disaster preparedness and emergency management. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The act enhances environmental safety through proactive geological risk mapping.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The mandate includes creating a public website to share geological risk data. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the USGS mandate to establish a new mapping program.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill directs the USGS to conduct new geological studies on sinkhole mechanisms.
- 9/16/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
- 7/15/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 7/14/2025
- 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, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3223)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 900.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3223-3224)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 7/2/2025
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-182.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 147.
- 4/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/9/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
- 3/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/31/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
Jim CostaDemocrat · California
Kathy CastorDemocrat · Florida
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Josh HarderDemocrat · California
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida