[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2332. Mrs. BLACKBURN submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 2137 proposed by Mr. Schumer (for Ms. Sinema 
(for herself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Tester, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Romney)) to the 
bill H.R. 3684, to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway 
safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. __. DEADLINE FOR AUTHORIZATION DECISIONS FOR MAJOR 
                   INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Lead federal agency.--The term ``lead Federal agency'' 
     means the Federal agency that is responsible for navigating a 
     major infrastructure project through environmental review and 
     authorization processes.
       (2) Major infrastructure project.--The term ``major 
     infrastructure project'' means an infrastructure project for 
     which--
       (A) multiple authorizations by Federal agencies will be 
     required to proceed with construction;
       (B) the lead Federal agency has determined that it will 
     prepare an environmental impact statement under the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); 
     and
       (C) the project sponsor has identified the reasonable 
     availability of funds sufficient to complete the project.
       (b) Deadline for Authorization Decisions.--Not later than 
     90 days after the date on which the head of a lead Federal 
     agency issues a record of decision following the completion 
     of an environmental impact statement under the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
     all Federal authorization decisions relating to the 
     construction of a major infrastructure project shall be 
     completed, on the condition that such final environmental 
     impact statement includes an adequate level of detail to 
     inform agency decisions pursuant to specific statutory 
     authority and requirements.
       (c) Extension.--The head of a lead Federal agency may 
     extend the deadline referred to in subsection (b) if the head 
     of the lead Federal agency determines that--
       (1) Federal law prohibits the Federal agency from issuing 
     an approval or permit within the 90-day period;
       (2) the project sponsor requests that the permit or 
     approval follow a different timeline; or
       (3) an extension would better promote completion of the 
     environmental review and authorization process of the 
     project.
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