# 119-s-5409: Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026 119-s-5409, Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-02). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5409 - As of: 2026-10-02 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-5409 - Congress: 119 - Title: Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2026-09-16 - Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI) - Cosponsors: 2 - Policy area: Environmental Protection - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-10-02 ## Summary **This bill would _restore and strengthen EPA air and public health protections_ by reinstating key air rules, boosting enforcement capacity, and embedding science and environmental justice into decisions.** - Prioritizes communities that bear disproportionate pollution burdens by directing monitoring, permitting oversight, and enforcement in those areas. It requires public health impact assessments that evaluate mortality, respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and cumulative exposure. - Directs immediate reinstatement of seven air-related regulations that were in force on January 19, 2025, including greenhouse gas and mercury limits for power plants, methane and volatile organic compound rules for oil and gas, PM2.5 national ambient air quality standards, vehicle greenhouse gas standards, greenhouse gas reporting, and hazardous air pollutant standards. - Strengthens EPA's science and enforcement tools by requiring reconstitution and staffing of advisory boards within 45 days, mandating peer-reviewed science, restoring a social cost of carbon of $190 per metric ton (2020 dollars) at a 2 percent discount rate, creating an annual enforcement report, authorizing a private right of action, and setting an enforcement funding floor while authorizing about $11.0 billion annually (FY2027 and after), adjusted for inflation. *Would authorize about $11.0 billion in annual appropriations for EPA enforcement and related programs, increasing federal spending if provided.* ## Cosponsors (2) - Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-09-22T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Increase EPA enforcement funding and staff: benefit, high. This bill would authorize about $11 billion for EPA for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, adjusted annually for inflation. That authorization would be in addition to amounts authorized under other law, and Congress would still need to appropriate the money. The bill would also requi… - Reinstate major air and vehicle rules: benefit, high. This bill would require EPA to reinstate rules, guidance, and enforcement programs that were in effect on January 19, 2025 for major pollution areas. EPA would have to complete the reinstatement within 60 days of enactment. Covered rules include power-plant greenhouse gas limits, oil-and-gas methan… - Restore carbon valuation and science panels: benefit, high. This bill would require EPA to use a social cost of carbon of $190 per metric ton (in 2020 dollars) and a 2 percent discount rate in greenhouse gas rulemakings. Not later than 60 days after enactment, EPA would be required to restore that social cost of carbon value. The bill would also require EPA… - More environmental justice and health reviews: benefit, medium. If enacted, EPA would be required to restore and expand environmental justice programs cut after January 19, 2025, within 60 days, subject to appropriations. EPA would have to prioritize monitoring, permitting oversight, and enforcement in communities with disproportionate pollution burdens. For an… - Allow private and state enforcement actions: benefit, low. This bill would let any person harmed by EPA's failure to comply with the Act sue in federal court to compel EPA to follow the law. If a court finds EPA did not comply, it could award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party. The bill would also make clear that states may adopt and enforc… ## Related bills - 119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026 - 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026 - 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026 - 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act - 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act - 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act ## Sources - [119-s-5409 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5409) ## Related - [119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4949) - [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071) - [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990) - [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823) - [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763) - [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5409 (as of 2026-10-02).