Bill · H.R. 3346· House(119-HR-3346)
Sovereign State Environmental Quality Assurance Act
- Introduced
- 5/13/2025
- Last activity
- 5/13/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Sponsored by
- Clay Higgins
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Sovereign State Environmental Quality Assurance Act," proposes to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency. The dissolution would take effect 270 days after the Act is enacted, at which point all the agency's functions, powers, and programs would be terminated. To replace the federal agency, the bill establishes a system of block grants for designated state environmental quality departments. These funds would cover areas such as air and water quality, waste management, and chemical safety. The Secretary of the Treasury would oversee the allocation of these funds to covered States and territories. Finally, the Comptroller General is tasked with conducting annual studies on the implementation and effectiveness of this Act.
Yes
Does this leave more decisions to the states?+7
The bill shifts environmental authority and funding control from the federal government to individual states.
Would business owners be better off under this?+3
Reducing federal regulatory oversight via the EPA may decrease compliance costs for businesses.
Would farmers be better off under this?+2
The shift to state-level management may provide more localized regulatory flexibility for agricultural interests.
The opposite· 3 of 6
Does this give the federal government more power?-6
The bill significantly reduces the role and authority of the federal government by abolishing a major agency.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-5
Abolishing the EPA removes a central federal authority responsible for enforcing national environmental standards.
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?-4
The elimination of federal EPA oversight could lead to less consistent carbon emission regulations across states.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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State-Led Environmental Management: Under Section 3, funds would be allocated to state environmental quality departments to carry out programs relating to air quality, water quality, waste management, chemical safety, and radiation protection (Section 3(a)(4)).
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Direct Funding for Local Needs: The bill authorizes $4,400,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2029 to be distributed to covered States, the District of Columbia, and several territories (Section 3(a)(4) and Section 3(a)(5)).
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Accountability Through Audits: To ensure funds are used correctly, Governors must commit to completing audits on the use of funds by their designated environmental departments (Section 3(a)(2)(B)(i)).
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Oversight of Implementation: The Comptroller General is required to conduct annual studies and submit reports to Congress regarding the effectiveness and implementation of the Act (Section 4(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of Federal Agency Functions: The bill abolishes the Environmental Protection Agency and all its duties, obligations, powers, and programs 270 days after enactment (Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)).
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Risk of Withheld Funds: If the Secretary of the Treasury finds that funds have been misused by a State or its designated department, the Secretary may require repayment and withhold future Federal funds (Section 3(a)(3)).
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Repeal of Existing Laws: Any provision of law that requires the Environmental Protection Agency to perform a function will be repealed effective on the termination date (Section 2(f)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections-5Reduces Carbon Emissions-4Improves Public Land Management-3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+3Good For Farmers+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection-3Reduces Government Spending-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+7Increases Federal Power-6
- 5/13/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House