Bipartisan effort to erode environmental and tribal protections
The gist
The Senate cleared a 73-25 procedural vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act.
Tribes and green groups say it weakens water, wildlife and sacred-site safeguards.
How it unfolded
- Sep 2026The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (S. 5653) is introduced, with no congressional oversight, public hearings or tribal consultation, per Native News Online.
- Oct 19, 2026Mark Macarro, president of the National Congress of American Indians, tells the group's annual conference the changes "violate treaty and trust obligations."
- Oct 26, 2026NRDC publishes an assessment saying the bill would weaken the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act.
Key terms
- cloture vote
- A parliamentary vote on a process or motion, such as ending debate, rather than on the substance of a bill.
- Section 106
- US law that preserves historic and archaeological sites, creating the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks.
- tribal sovereignty
- The inherent authority of Indigenous tribes in the United States to govern themselves within U.S. borders.
Source: Wikipedia