Sponsors (2)
Last progress June 11, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 11, 2025 by Jeff Hurd
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Requires the Secretary of the Army (through the Chief of Engineers) to eliminate any backlog that existed on June 5, 2025, of Clean Water Act section 404 permit applications and requests for jurisdictional determinations. The Army Corps must accelerate procedures and add or reassign Corps staff and resources as needed and complete this work within 60 days after the law takes effect.
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, must expedite procedures and reallocate or augment personnel and resources of the Corps of Engineers as the Secretary determines necessary to eliminate the backlog existing as of June 5, 2025.
Eliminate any backlog existing as of June 5, 2025, of applications for permits under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
Eliminate any backlog existing as of June 5, 2025, of requests for jurisdictional determinations that are under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army.
Direct, immediate beneficiaries are applicants and project sponsors with pending Clean Water Act §404 permit applications or pending requests for jurisdictional determinations that were in the backlog as of June 5, 2025: they should see faster resolution of those specific pending matters. Developers, construction contractors, and property owners waiting on permits may be able to start or resume projects sooner, reducing delay-related costs. Local communities where projects are planned could experience quicker progress on projects (positive economic impact) or faster final decisions that affect local wetlands/water resources. For the Army Corps of Engineers, meeting the 60-day requirement will likely require shifting staff and resources, hiring temporary help, or reprioritizing work, which could delay other Corps activities or increase short-term costs. Environmental review quality could be strained if processing is rushed, though the law does not change substantive environmental standards or appeal rights. No new funding is specified, so Corps implementation may rely on internal reallocation or existing funds.