Sponsors (2)
The bill speeds post‑disaster rebuilding and reduces short‑term delays and costs for governments, businesses, and homeowners at the expense of reducing individualized environmental review and local input, which increases risks to endangered species and could shift costs or burdens onto communities and agencies later.
Homeowners, local and state governments can rebuild and repair infrastructure faster because the bill expedites and coordinates post‑disaster permitting (shorter approvals, general permits for dredge/fill).
Hospitals, utilities, and communities see faster restoration of roads, utilities, and critical facilities after disasters, improving public safety and speeding return of services.
Local economies and small businesses recover more quickly and avoid some contractor delays and costs because streamlined permitting and avoidance of individual ESA section 7 consultations speed urgent recovery projects.
Endangered species and critical habitat face increased risk because expedited or eliminated individual ESA consultations reduce the depth of case‑by‑case environmental review in disaster zones.
Environmental protections may be weakened long term because the accelerated process and temporary permits can create pressure to accept weaker mitigation measures and lower review rigor.
Taxpayers, states, and localities could face additional costs later if initial Corps permits or expedited work prove insufficient and require remediation or further cleanup.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Allows the Army Corps to issue 18-month disaster-area general permits for dredge/fill recovery developed via programmatic ESA consultation, exempting compliant activities from individual ESA consultations.
Introduced December 12, 2025 by Tim Moore · Last progress December 12, 2025
Authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to issue or modify broad, 18-month general permits for dredge-and-fill recovery activities in areas where the President has declared a major disaster or emergency. Those permits must be developed through a programmatic Endangered Species Act consultation with Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture, include agreed best management practices to avoid harms to listed species and habitat, and preclude the need for separate individual ESA consultations for activities that comply with the permits; the Corps must also coordinate quickly with state fish and wildlife agencies and publish national guidance for consistent use.