Bill in House seeks to restrict endangered species act’s reach in federal flood insurance oversight

Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz in the House seeks to clarify the application of the Endangered Species Act to the national flood insurance program, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.7862 was filed on March 9, 2026, during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. Below is an analysis based on the actual bill text. This summary may use interpretation for clarity.

The legislation amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, placing limits on how the Endangered Species Act may be enforced regarding certain activities of the national flood insurance program. It states that sections of the Endangered Species Act will not pertain to specific actions by the National Flood Insurance Administrator. Additionally, the bill directs the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries to retract any current biological opinions on the flood insurance program’s impact within 30 days of the bill’s enactment. Criteria for land management and related actions through the flood insurance program would also be revised, focusing only on property protection and public health.

Rep. Cliff Bentz (Republican-OR-2nd District) is the bill’s only sponsor.

Since this session began, Rep. Bentz has put forward eight other bills.

Congressional bills may originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate except for measures regarding revenue, which must start in the House. Introduced bills are sent to committees for evaluation, hearings, possible amendment, and debate before they move to votes in both chambers. Bills that pass both chambers with matching language are presented to the president for signature or veto. Congress serves in two-year terms, with each term split into two one-year sessions. The official legislative process and records are managed by Congress.gov.

Cliff Bentz represents Oregon. He previously held a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2008 to 2018, then served in the Oregon Senate from 2018 to 2020. He began serving in the U.S. House with the 117th Congress starting Jan. 3, 2021, and was reelected for two additional terms.

Bentz earned a B.S. from Eastern Oregon State College in 1974 and a J.D. from Lewis and Clark College in 1977. From 1988 to 1996, he was a member and chairman of the Oregon Water Resources Commission.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data is available here.