[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2352-H2353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1530
ENHANCING ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS FOR BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5419) to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture to develop a plan for ensuring timely review
of communications use authorizations, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5419
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Administrative
Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act''.
SEC. 2. ENSURING TIMELY REVIEW OF BROADBAND LAND USE
AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) Study and Report.--
(1) Study.--The Secretaries concerned shall each conduct,
with respect to the relevant covered department, a study to
determine--
(A) if there are programmatic or administrative barriers to
the timely review of requests for broadband land use
authorizations;
(B) if there are revisions to rules or regulations that
could be implemented to improve efficiency with respect to
reviewing requests for broadband land use authorizations; and
(C) if there are processes for prioritizing the review of
requests for broadband land use authorizations.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretaries concerned shall
jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report that--
(A) describes the results of the studies conducted under
paragraph (1), including any barriers, revisions, or
processes identified under subparagraphs (A) through (C) of
such paragraph; and
(B) includes a plan for providing, with respect to the
organizational units of the relevant covered departments, the
staffing necessary to ensure timely review of broadband land
use authorizations.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the--
(A) Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(B) Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and
Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
(2) Broadband land use authorization.--The term ``broadband
land use authorization'' means an easement, right-of-way,
lease, license, or other authorization--
(A) provided by the Secretary of the Interior or the
Secretary of Agriculture;
(B) to locate or modify a communications facility on
covered land; and
(C) for the primary purpose of authorizing the occupancy
and use of such covered land for communications use.
(3) Communications facility.--The term ``communications
facility'' has the meaning given the term ``communications
facility installation'' in section 6409(d) of the Middle
Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C.
1455(d)).
(4) Communications use.--The term ``communications use''
means the placement and operation of a communications
facility.
(5) Covered land.--The term ``covered land'' means--
(A) public lands; and
(B) National Forest System land.
(6) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest
System'' has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of
the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(7) Organizational unit.--The term ``organizational unit''
means--
(A) with respect to the Department of the Interior--
(i) a State office of the Bureau of Land Management;
(ii) a district office of the Bureau of Land Management; or
(iii) a field office of the Bureau of Land Management; and
(B) with respect to the Department of Agriculture--
(i) a regional office of the Forest Service;
(ii) a management unit of the Forest Service; or
(iii) a ranger district office of the Forest Service.
(8) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' has the
meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
(9) Relevant covered department.--The term ``relevant
covered department'' means--
(A) with respect to the Secretary of the Interior, the
Department of the Interior; and
(B) with respect to the Secretary of Agriculture, the
Department of Agriculture.
(10) Secretaries concerned.--The term ``Secretaries
concerned'' means--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and to add extraneous material on H.R. 5419, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5419, the Enhancing
Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act, introduced by
Representative Kean.
In today's economy, broadband is a necessity, not a luxury. An
affordable connection to high-speed internet is critical, particularly
for rural communities that rely on the internet for telehealth
appointments, public safety updates, and online learning. Yet in too
many rural and Tribal communities, reliable broadband is still costly,
rare, or even nonexistent.
Building networks across rural America presents many challenges due
to low population density, vast distances, and rugged terrain. To reach
these areas, broadband developers must install infrastructure on
Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior or the U.S.
Forest Service. Too often the Federal permitting process adds
unnecessary costs and years of delay, sometimes taking 5 to 10 years to
complete a single broadband project.
That is because broadband providers seeking to connect households and
businesses face layered permitting requirements, redundant reviews, and
spotty coordination among Federal land management agencies when
applying for broadband land-use authorizations. This uncertainty drives
up costs and causes rural areas to lag behind urban and suburban areas
in connectivity, exacerbating the digital divide.
H.R. 5419 takes a practical approach to this problem. Representative
Kean's legislation recognizes that funding alone cannot connect our
rural communities when the permitting process is still broken. This
bill focuses on fixing what is actually delaying broadband deployment
by requiring agencies to identify and report on permitting bottlenecks,
coordination deficiencies, and bureaucratic redundancies that impede
the efficient processing of broadband land-use authorizations.
This bill is an important first step in making the Federal Government
a better partner in getting modern infrastructure to the communities
that need it most.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Kean for his leadership on this
issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5419, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, DC, February 17, 2026.
Hon. Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual
understanding regarding H.R. 5419, the ``Enhancing
Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act.'' Thank
you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on
the matters within our jurisdiction.
The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further
consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing
consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction
over any subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the
right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees, should it become necessary, and ask that you
support such a request.
We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 5419 and request a
copy of our letters on this matter be published in the
[[Page H2353]]
Congressional Record during Floor consideration.
Sincerely,
Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, February 17, 2026.
Hon. Glenn Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: I write regarding H.R. 5419, the
``Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment
Act,'' which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural
Resources on February 11, 2026.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and
appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of
the bill. 1 acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture
will not formally consider H.R. 5419 and agree that the
inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not
waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained
therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the
Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to
consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of
letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill and will include such letters in
the committee report on H.R. 5419. 1 appreciate your
cooperation regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5419 directs the Department of the Interior and the
U.S. Forest Service to evaluate policies, rules, and regulations
related to the siting and permitting of broadband infrastructure on
public lands. This bill is a commonsense step to help update and
modernize our broadband infrastructure.
Public lands host a lot of communications infrastructure that
Americans rely on every day to connect our smartphones, laptops, and
televisions. Broadband isn't just for entertainment. It is what people
use to do their jobs, access healthcare, and file their taxes.
Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Oregon recently received
Federal approval to move forward with the largest broadband
infrastructure investment in our State's history. This will connect
over 100,000 unserved and underserved Oregonian households and
businesses to affordable, high-speed, and reliable internet services.
However, in States like Oregon and in districts like the one I have
the honor to represent with large amounts of Federal land, broadband
infrastructure projects often require additional levels of permitting
and coordination across local, State, and Federal Government.
H.R. 5419 will help us look for opportunities to address any
broadband permitting barriers and update the rules in a measured and
responsible way.
This bill will help balance two critical obligations: building out
the infrastructure we need for vital technology and upholding our
commitment to the health and stewardship of our public lands. We can
and must meet both obligations.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Kean) for
introducing this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R.
5419, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Kean), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. KEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my
legislation, H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews for
Broadband Deployment Act.
Even as our world increasingly relies on the internet to access daily
needs, communities across the country still lack a reliable wireless
connection, especially in the most rural and Tribal communities.
The process of obtaining permits to improve broadband and
communications infrastructure in these areas is often duplicative,
inconsistent between agencies, and can set projects back by years.
Outdated bureaucratic processes, inefficiencies, and delays should
not stand between American communities and access to a reliable
internet connection.
My legislation directs an interagency review of the procedures used
by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to
process permitting requests for communications infrastructure. This
will allow Congress to direct smart and targeted reforms to improve
efficiency, timeliness, and help accelerate access to the internet.
For government to work at its best and most responsive, we must
invite regular reevaluation of its procedures, judge what works and
what doesn't, and implement process improvements so that the Federal
Government can better serve American people into the future. This
legislation does just that.
H.R. 5419 ensures a coordinated interagency approach to making the
government run more efficiently so our Federal Government is an active
participant in, not an obstacle to, bridging the digital divide.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the partnership of Chairman Westerman and
bipartisan colleagues as this bill passed through the House Committee
on Natural Resources earlier this month. I urge my colleagues to
support this legislation.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5419 is a bill that cuts red tape, streamlines
approvals, and accelerates broadband access by addressing the
permitting barriers that slow broadband development on Federal lands.
By identifying areas to improve coordination, reduce onerous reviews,
and strengthen the permitting processing at the Federal level, this
bill will help close the digital divide that exists in rural and Tribal
communities.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
Representative Kean's legislation, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sessions). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5419, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to direct
the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to
develop a plan for ensuring timely review of broadband land use
authorizations, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________