Military Readiness Through Resilient Lands Act

H.R. 10069, the Military Readiness Through Resilient Lands Act, would amend the Sikes Act to change how the Department of Defense manages natural resources on military installations. It requires the Secretary of Defense, working with the Interior Department, NOAA, and state agencies, to develop standardized metrics for tracking biodiversity, habitat, water quality, wildfire risk, ecosystem condition, and flood/watershed risk on installation lands. It also directs the use of technologies such as remote sensing, automated monitoring, GIS, and artificial intelligence to collect and regularly update this data, and requires that data be used when installations prepare and revise their integrated natural resources management plans, including setting measurable goals for resource conditions.

The bill primarily affects the Department of Defense and the military departments that manage installation lands, as well as the federal and state agencies (Interior, NOAA, state wildlife/environmental agencies) that consult on these plans. It does not directly regulate private individuals or businesses. The Secretary of Defense must also report to Congress, two years after enactment and every five years thereafter, on progress made and on how the new data and metrics affect environmental permitting and review processes.

The bill was introduced in the House on August 6, 2026, by Rep. George Whitesides, with two original cosponsors, and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Armed Services. It has not yet been voted on in committee or by the full House; further committee action, potential amendment, and votes in the House and Senate would be required before it could become law.

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