H.R. 5042House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

To provide that section 216 of Executive Order 14008 shall have no force or effect, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 6:22 AM UTC

The bill seeks to nullify section 216 of Executive Order 14008, which deals with climate‑related land and conservation actions, and to stop federal agencies from using that order—or similar programs—to acquire land or impose conservation requirements. It also requires the Department of the Interior to pay property‑tax equivalents on any private land taken under such a program. The measures affect the President, federal agencies, state, tribal, local governments, and private landowners.

Key Provisions

Section 216 of Executive Order 14008 is declared to have no force or effect
Federal agencies may not act solely on reports or recommendations from the covered order or similar campaigns, including mandating conservation practices on state, tribal, local governments or private owners
Federal agencies may not use programs or funds to acquire private property for public lands based on such reports or recommendations
The Secretary of the Interior must annually pay to each county the property‑tax amount that would have been assessed if the land remained private
Defines "covered Executive order or campaign" to include section 216, any successor order, and similar initiatives such as the America the Beautiful campaign

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Environment Subcommittee

August 17, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

August 17, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Natural Resources Committee

August 17, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Environment Subcommittee

August 17, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued August 17, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5042

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 17, 2021

Ms. Cheney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide that section 216 of Executive Order 14008 shall have no force or effect, and for other purposes.

Limitation on Executive branch acquisition of land

(a)

In general

Section 216 of Executive Order 14008 (86 Fed. Reg. 7619; relating to tackling the climate crisis at home and abroad) shall have no force or effect.

(b)

Executive branch action restricted

The President, and each Federal agency, may not—

(1)

take an action if the sole authorization for such action is a report or recommendation initiated pursuant to a covered Executive order or campaign;

(2)

mandate that a State, Tribal, or local government adopt, or participate in, specific conservation practices developed as the result of a report or recommendation initiated pursuant to a covered Executive order or campaign;

(3)

with respect to private property owners who do not wish to sell their property to the Federal Government, use Federal agency programs or funds to acquire private property from such private property owners in order to increase Federal holdings of public lands based on a report or recommendation initiated pursuant to a covered Executive order or campaign; or

(4)

with respect to private land, mandate that the owners of such land adopt, or participate in, conservation practices developed as the result of a report or recommendation initiated pursuant to a covered Executive order or campaign.

(c)

DOI payment of property taxes

On an annual basis, with respect to any private land acquired by the Federal Government as the result of a report or recommendation initiated pursuant to a covered Executive order or campaign, the Secretary of the Interior shall pay to each county the amount such land would be assessed for property taxes, as determined by the county, if such land remained private land.

(d)

Covered order or campaign defined

In this section, the term covered Executive order or campaign means—

(1)

section 216 of Executive Order 14008 (86 Fed. Reg. 7619; relating to tackling the climate crisis at home and abroad);

(2)

any successor Executive order; and

(3)

a program, campaign, or effort with similar goals to section 216 of Executive Order 14008, including the America the Beautiful campaign.