ZELDIN Act

A new bill in Congress aimed at curbing the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent deregulatory agenda is now moving through multiple committees in Washington. The so‑called ZELDIN Act, introduced by Reps. Troy Carter (D‑LA) and Lizzie Fletcher (D‑TX), has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, with additional referrals to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Science, Space, and Technology, and Rules. Each panel will review the legislation for provisions that fall within its jurisdiction, signaling a broad, cross‑committee effort to reshape how the EPA operates.

The ZELDIN Act is framed as a response to actions taken under EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who has overseen a wave of rollbacks on greenhouse gas standards, mercury and air toxics rules, and environmental justice grants. Critics argue that those changes have weakened public health safeguards and tilted enforcement toward industry interests. The bill’s sponsors say it is designed to restore statutory guardrails, strengthen accountability, and ensure that climate and pollution rules are grounded in science and public health protections rather than political priorities.

For Milwaukee residents, the outcome of this legislation could affect air and water quality, climate resilience, and how quickly federal funds flow to local infrastructure projects such as clean drinking water upgrades and pollution cleanup. If the ZELDIN Act advances, it could influence how strictly industrial facilities, power plants, and transportation sources are regulated in the region, and whether communities see more or fewer resources dedicated to environmental justice and climate adaptation.

Congress has not yet scheduled a markup or vote on the ZELDIN Act, and its path forward will depend on negotiations among the multiple committees that now hold jurisdiction. Advocates on both sides of the debate are expected to lobby heavily as the bill moves through the legislative process over the coming months.