The Tribal Emergency Response Resources Act (TERRA Act)

Original title: TERRA Act

Last action · September 9, 2025: Subcommittee Hearings HeldSponsors: Emily Randall and 13 others

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What This Bill Would Do

The TERRA Act aims to simplify how Indian Tribes access and manage federal funding for projects addressing environmental hazards and natural disasters. It allows Tribes to combine multiple federal funding sources into a single, comprehensive plan to support climate adaptation, including community-driven relocation.

Why it matters

This bill would change how Indian Tribes manage federal disaster and environmental grants by allowing them to consolidate funds and streamline federal permitting, potentially reducing administrative costs and project timelines for climate-related infrastructure.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Indian Tribes

Tribes gain the authority to consolidate federal funding and streamline permitting for environmental and disaster-related projects.

Directly affected

Federal Agencies

Agencies must participate in streamlined permitting and enter into an interdepartmental memorandum of agreement to coordinate funding.

Key Facts

The Department of the Interior is designated as the lead agency with sole decision-making authority for program integration.
Tribes may integrate multiple federal funding sources into a single 'Plan' to address environmental impacts or natural disasters.
The Act covers environmental risks including flooding, erosion, sea level rise, permafrost degradation, drought, wildfires, and hurricanes.
Plans may include 'community-driven relocation' strategies, such as managed retreat or moving infrastructure to safer areas.

Show all 10 facts

The bill mandates a reduction in administrative, reporting, and accounting costs for participating Tribes.
The Act requires the creation of an interdepartmental memorandum of agreement among federal partners.
Participating agencies must implement streamlined permitting and review procedures for approved Tribal Plans.
The bill establishes an expedited 'fee-to-trust' process for land acquisition related to Plan implementation.
The Act explicitly prohibits any reduction in the total amount of funding provided to Tribes through integrated programs.
The Secretary of the Interior has the authority to grant waivers to facilitate Plan implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill reduce the total amount of federal money available to Tribes?

No, the bill explicitly states there shall be no reduction in the amounts of funding provided to Tribes.

What is 'community-driven relocation'?

It is a voluntary, Tribally-led strategy to move all or part of a community from a hazard-prone area to a safer location, which may include building new housing and infrastructure.

Which federal agencies are involved?

The Department of the Interior is the lead, but the bill lists 15 specific federal partners including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, HHS, Homeland Security, HUD, Justice, Transportation, Treasury, the EPA, and others.

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions

Sep 9, 2025House
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Sep 4, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
May 29, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
May 29, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House

Version history

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