[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 336. Mr. CRUZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, add the following:

     SEC. ___. PERMITTING FOR INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES.

       The International Bridge Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 535 et 
     seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 7 through 10 as sections 8 
     through 11, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 5 the following:

     ``SEC. 6. PERMITTING FOR INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section and section 7:
       ``(1) Presidential permit.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `Presidential permit' means--
       ``(i) an approval by the President to construct, maintain, 
     and operate an international bridge under section 4; or
       ``(ii) an approval by the President to construct, maintain, 
     and operate an international bridge pursuant to a process 
     described in Executive Order 13867 (84 Fed. Reg. 15491; 
     relating to Issuance of Permits With Respect to Facilities 
     and Land Transportation Crossings at the International 
     Boundaries of the United States) (or any successor Executive 
     Order).
       ``(B) Inclusion.--The term `Presidential permit' includes 
     an amendment to an approval described in clause (i) or (ii) 
     of subparagraph (A).
       ``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of State.
       ``(b) Application.--An applicant for a Presidential permit 
     to construct, maintain, and operate an international bridge 
     shall submit an application for the permit to the Secretary.
       ``(c) Recommendation.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
     which the Secretary receives an application under subsection 
     (b), the Secretary shall make a recommendation to the 
     President--
       ``(A) to grant the Presidential permit; or
       ``(B) to deny the Presidential permit.
       ``(2) Consideration.--The sole basis for a recommendation 
     under paragraph (1) shall be whether the international bridge 
     is in the foreign policy interests of the United States.
       ``(d) Presidential Action.--
       ``(1) In general.--The President shall grant or deny the 
     Presidential permit by not later than 60 days after the 
     earlier of--
       ``(A) the date on which the Secretary makes a 
     recommendation under subsection (c)(1); and
       ``(B) the date on which the Secretary is required to make a 
     recommendation under subsection (c)(1).
       ``(2) No action.--If the President does not grant or deny 
     the Presidential permit by the deadline described in 
     paragraph (1), the Presidential permit shall be considered to 
     have been granted as of that deadline.
       ``(e) No NEPA Documents Required.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, the Secretary shall not require an 
     applicant for a Presidential permit--
       ``(1) to include in the application under subsection (b) 
     environmental documents prepared pursuant to the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or
       ``(2) to have completed any environmental review under that 
     Act.

     ``SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES.

       ``(a) In General.--An applicant for a Presidential permit 
     for an international bridge described in subsection (b)--
       ``(1) may construct, operate, and maintain that bridge if 
     the applicant submits to the Secretary an application for a 
     Presidential permit for the bridge during the period 
     beginning on December 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 
     2024; and
       ``(2) shall be considered to have been granted a 
     Presidential permit for that bridge as of the date of 
     enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2024.
       ``(b) International Bridges Described.--The international 
     bridges referred to in subsection (a) are--
       ``(1) international bridges in Webb County, Texas;
       ``(2) an international bridge in Cameron County, Texas; and
       ``(3) an international bridge in Maverick County, Texas.''.
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