CCEDA serves as a clearinghouse of information and public policy advocacy for California economic development nonprofits, including Community Development Corporations, Community Action Agencies, and other nonprofits.
Federal Fridays are our opportunity to summarize the week’s Federal-level legislation/actions and provide insight and analysis into the policies that we deem most relevant to our membership. We strive to provide a thorough breakdown in one place.
To bring a particular Bill or Legislation to our attention, please reach out to social@cceda.com.
Legislation & Lawsuits
HR 1366 - Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
Topics
Environment, Public Lands
Summary
Allows mining operators to use federal lands for mining-related activities like waste disposal.1
Last Action
12/18 – Passed House 219-198.2
Introduced
2/14/25, Rep. Mark E. Amodei (R-NV-2)3
CCEDA’s Take
This bill would authorize the use of federal lands for waste dumping. However, this is also part of a larger ecosystem of reducing federal land protections. This ecosystem includes legislation and executive orders.
There are two notable and related occurrences. The federal government “convert[ed] federal grants for companies into equity stakes,” in an effort to promote American mining and reduce reliance on China.4 It has also issued an Executive Order to “facilitate domestic mineral production to the maximum possible extent.”5 This pattern of prioritizing mining has been established and this bill could result in significant destruction to protected lands while also having tax-payers foot the bill now and for decades to come. This also ties in with the next bill we’re analyzing.
More than a few House Reps from California (Republican and Democrat) voted YES, so please call your Senators and tell them to vote NO on HR 1366.
HR 4016 - Department of Defense Appropriations Act
SA 3972 - Selling of public land
Topics
Environment, Public Lands
Summary
HR 4016 is the FY2026 DoD budget, but the actual topic at hand is the Senate Amendment introduced this week (SA 3972) that would all for the sell/transfer of national park lands.6
Last Action
HR 4016 – 12/8, motion to proceed to consideration in Senate7
SA 3972 – 12/15, Proposed8
Introduced/Submitted
HR 4016 – 7/14, Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)7
SA 3972 – 12/15, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)8
CCEDA’s Take
According to Sen. Martin Heinrich (see video below), the appropriations bill for the Department of Interior (S 2431, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026) has solid wording to maintain and protect national park lands. Sen. Mike Lee has now introduced an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act to authorize the sell/transfer.
Call your Senators to reject SA 3972.
WIN: Challenging HUD's Continuum of Care Program NOFO
On November 13, HUD announced a Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity. It would have cut funding for permanent housing and diverted those resources towards transitional housing, putting thousands of Americans at risk of homelessness and ending many grants. However, it was subject to finalization in the FY2026 budget (as a reminder, we have a temporary budget that expires 1/30/26). A coalition of local governments, nonprofit organizations, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition filed took legal action on 12/1.9
On 12/8, the Administration withdrew the NOFO but “reserved the right to issue yet another.”10 While this is a major victory, it means we will also need to be on the lookout for future NOFO’s and the Administration’s attempts at workarounds.
Protecting the Consumer Financial Protections Bureau
On 12/6, Rise Economy, the Woodstock Institute, and National Community Reinvestment Coalition filed a lawsuit to challenge the acting head of CFPB, Russel Vought’s attempts to close the CFPB.11
On 12/17, Reuters reported that the CFPB said “it could exhaust its remaining funds in as little as two weeks and has warned staff of impending job cuts.”12 The Administration is demanding that the Federal Reserve only fund the CFPB once the Fed returns to profitability, which several former Fed officials said that the Administration “failed to understand the way the central bank operates.”12
We will keep you apprised as more information comes out.