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HR10488119th CongressWALLET

Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would restore and lock in key EPA environmental protections and enforcement to stop rollbacks and strengthen science-led rulemaking. It returns major air and climate rules to force, requires peer-reviewed science and a set social cost of carbon, and boosts enforcement and environmental justice tools.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Fund and report stronger EPA enforcement

If enacted, the bill would authorize about $11.0 billion for EPA enforcement for fiscal year 2027 and each year after, adjusted for inflation, and allows additional sums as needed. The bill would also require, subject to appropriations, that EPA keep enforcement funding and staff at levels sufficient to consistently enforce the reinstated programs. EPA would annually report to Congress on pollution trends, inspections, violations, penalties, enforcement actions, corrective steps, and progress reducing health disparities.

Restore science rules and carbon value

If enacted, EPA would have to reconstitute and staff its Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee within 45 days, excluding members with financial or advisory ties to regulated industries. The Administrator would have to base regulatory decisions on peer-reviewed science. Not later than 60 days after enactment, EPA would restore use of the social cost of carbon with a 2% discount rate and a value of $190 per metric ton (2020 dollars) in all greenhouse-gas rulemakings.

Reinstate major air and vehicle rules

If enacted, the EPA Administrator would have to reinstate within 60 days a set of major air and vehicle rules that were in effect on January 19, 2025. The listed rules include power-plant greenhouse gas limits, methane and VOC standards for oil and gas, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard, greenhouse gas reporting, hazardous air pollutant standards, PM2.5 air-quality rules, and light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle greenhouse gas standards. The bill would bar delaying, weakening, suspending, repealing, or exempting those reinstated rules unless Congress explicitly authorizes a change.

Restore environmental justice programs

If enacted, the EPA Administrator would be required, within 60 days and subject to available appropriations, to restore and expand environmental justice programs cut after January 19, 2025. The bill would make EPA prioritize monitoring, permitting oversight, and enforcement in communities with heavy pollution burdens. It would also require public health impact assessments for any rule or enforcement policy affecting air or water, and strengthen requirements to consider cumulative impacts.

New legal rights to enforce EPA actions

If enacted, the bill would let any person harmed by the Administrator's failure to comply with the Act sue in Federal district court to force compliance. A court that finds EPA noncompliant could award reasonable attorney's fees. The bill would also say nothing in it limits a State from adopting stricter environmental standards, petitioning EPA for required actions, or pursuing common-law nuisance claims.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

  • Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

  • Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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