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119-hr-3346119th CongressWALLET

Sovereign State Environmental Quality Assurance Act

Sponsored By: Representative Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

Introduced

Summary

Abolish the Environmental Protection Agency and shift federal environmental programs to state-run environmental quality departments through a new Treasury‑administered block grant program. The bill would move air, water, waste, chemical and radiation programs and site cleanup into state hands while funding those duties and requiring audits and performance reports to Congress.

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  • States and Governors: States would receive population-based block grants and governors must designate the state environmental quality department(s) that will manage the funds and submit audits. The bill authorizes $4.4 billion per year for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 for the grants.
  • Families and local communities: Drinking water protection, air quality work, hazardous waste management, and contaminated-site remediation would be run by state agencies instead of the EPA, changing who sets priorities and enforces protections.
  • Federal oversight and accountability: The Treasury would administer allocations, audit use, report results to Congress, and may withhold funds or require repayment if grants are misused. EPA authorities would be repealed effective 270 days after enactment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

States get new environmental block grants

If enacted, the bill would fund a state-run environmental program with $4.4 billion each year for fiscal years 2026–2029. The Treasury would send money to each state and territory based on population from the last census. Governors would name the state department that uses the funds and agree to audits. Money could be used for air and water quality (including drinking water), solid and hazardous waste, chemical safety and emergency response, radiation protection, and cleanup of contaminated sites. Treasury could require repayment and withhold funds if money is misused.

EPA would shut down in 270 days

If enacted, this bill would shut down the Environmental Protection Agency 270 days after enactment. The EPA Administrator would have to wind up the agency’s work before that date and send Congress a progress report within 90 days after enactment. On the termination date, any law that gives the EPA duties would no longer apply to the agency.

Annual GAO reports on implementation

If enacted, the Government Accountability Office would study how the bill is working each year for fiscal years 2026–2029. GAO would send a report to Congress within 180 days after each fiscal year ends. The bill would allow funding as needed for GAO to do this work.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

LA • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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