# 119-hr-4791: Keep USGS Strong Act

119-hr-4791, Keep USGS Strong Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4791
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4791
- Congress: 119
- Title: Keep USGS Strong Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-29
- Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Protect USGS staffing and facilities.** This bill would exempt the United States Geological Survey from a presidential hiring freeze and bar reductions in force and lease cancellations when Congress has appropriated funds for salaries. - Families and communities: Keeps USGS able to provide hazard monitoring, water and groundwater data, and topographic maps that local planners and emergency managers use. It also protects monitoring of the Great Lakes, which contain about 20 percent of the world’s freshwater. - USGS employees: Allows continued hiring and prevents reductions in force for positions that Congress has funded, protecting jobs and mission capacity. - Operations and property: Blocks cancellation of USGS real property leases without approval from the USGS Director, helping preserve field stations and laboratories.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA), 2025-10-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- USGS jobs and leases protected: benefit, low. If enacted, USGS would be exempt from the Presidential "Hiring Freeze" memo issued January 20, 2025, and any extension. If Congress has passed a law funding USGS salaries and expenses, USGS would not face reductions in force or other major staff cuts. USGS real-estate leases could not be cancelled…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-4791 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4791)

## Related
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4791 (as of 2026-04-21).