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119-hr-7416119th CongressWALLET

Methane Monitoring Science Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a NASA-led, science-based national methane monitoring strategy to spot and speed responses to methane leaks and large emission events while supporting U.S. energy security. It would set an 18-month deadline and a plan for integrating ground, airborne, and space sensors and for sharing data across federal and nonfederal partners.

Show full summary
  • NASA and federal research planners would have to produce a consensus strategy and submit a report to Congress within 18 months.
  • State and local governments, universities, nonprofits, and the U.S. oil and natural gas industry could leverage the monitoring data and information enabled by the strategy for detection and response.
  • The strategy would cover ground, airborne, and space-based sensors and site-level technologies and could guide planning for future research and development activities.
  • It would prioritize detecting large methane emission events to strengthen U.S. energy security and to make mitigation actions more rapid.
  • The text makes clear the strategy does not create new enforcement authority for NASA or other federal agencies.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

NASA plan to track methane

If enacted, NASA would have 18 months to make a consensus- and science-based strategy and send a report to Congress. The strategy would assess ground, airborne, and space sensors and site-level detection. It would require integrating monitoring data with other indicators. The plan would be designed to help federal R&D planning and to let state and local governments, researchers, nonprofits, industry, and international groups use data quickly to find and fix methane leaks and large emission events to strengthen U.S. energy security.

No new methane enforcement powers

If enacted, this section would not give NASA or any other federal agency new enforcement authority over methane beyond what they had immediately before enactment. The rule would take effect upon enactment. It would only limit the creation of new methane enforcement powers through this section and would not change existing enforcement authorities themselves.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

VA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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