Us Congress House Bill HB1577

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/14/23
• Refer: 3/14/23

Caption

Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews Act of 2023 BUILDER Act of 2023

Impact

HB1577 seeks to streamline the environmental assessment process by introducing stricter deadlines for federal agencies to complete environmental impact statements and assessments. It proposes that these documents be finalized within specified timeframes, therefore reducing delays in project approvals. Additionally, it establishes a more centralized framework for interagency collaboration, which supporters claim will improve efficiency and reduce redundancy in reviews while ensuring that projects are held to rigorous environmental standards.

Summary

House Bill 1577, known as the BUILDER Act of 2023, is a significant amendment to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The bill aims to modernize and clarify several provisions of the Act, align it with current technologies, and enhance interagency coordination. One of the key aspects of this legislation is its emphasis on creating a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process for federal projects, which proponents argue is vital for accelerating infrastructure development across the United States.

Contention

Despite the bill's intent to enhance efficiency, there are notable concerns regarding its potential impact on environmental oversight. Critics argue that hastening the review process may lead to insufficient evaluations of potentially significant environmental impacts, undermining public trust in federal decision-making. Furthermore, restrictions placed on judicial review regarding the outcomes of environmental assessments could limit the public's ability to challenge decisions, raising alarms among environmental advocacy groups and impacting community engagement in the review process.