Sponsors (2)
The bill speeds up permit decisions and planning certainty for developers, businesses, and local governments at the potential cost of diverted Corps resources, higher taxpayer expenses, and an increased risk of less thorough environmental review.
Developers, landowners, small-business owners, homeowners, utilities, and energy companies will get pending Clean Water Act §404 permits processed faster, reducing project delays, lowering carrying costs and uncertainty, and helping projects move forward sooner.
Local governments and communities will receive quicker clarity on jurisdictional determinations, improving land-use and construction planning decisions.
Rural communities, homeowners, and the public could face greater environmental risk if faster processing leads to less thorough environmental reviews and oversight.
Local governments, utilities, and energy companies may see delays or reduced service on other Corps projects because accelerating permit reviews could divert Corps staff and resources.
Taxpayers could face higher costs if the Corps requires overtime pay or temporary hires to meet accelerated review timelines.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Army Corps to eliminate the backlog (as of June 5, 2025) in CWA §404 permit applications and jurisdictional determinations by expediting procedures and reallocating or augmenting personnel.
Requires the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to eliminate any backlog that existed on June 5, 2025 in Clean Water Act §404 permit applications and in requests for jurisdictional determinations under the Secretary’s jurisdiction by expediting procedures and reallocating or augmenting Corps personnel and resources; actions must begin within 60 days after enactment. The measure directs operational priorities for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but does not change Clean Water Act substantive law or explicitly provide new funding.
Introduced June 11, 2025 by Jeff Hurd · Last progress June 11, 2025