[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4355. Mr. RICKETTS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing 
in America, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. 2. APPLICABILITY OF NEPA TO THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN 
                   ASSISTANCE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION 
                   OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING ON INFILL SITES.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Greenfield.--The term ``greenfield'' means a site that 
     has not been developed, including a woodland, farmland, and 
     an open field.
       (2) Infill site.--The term ``infill site''--
       (A) means a site that is served by existing infrastructure, 
     including water lines, sewer lines, and roads; and
       (B) does not include--
       (i) a site that is served by existing infrastructure that 
     only consists of a road;
       (ii) a site within a census tract designated as very high 
     or relatively high risk for wildfire, coastal flooding, and 
     riverine flooding under the National Risk Index of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency pursuant to section 206 
     of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5136); and
       (iii) a greenfield.
       (b) Exemption.--Providing assistance under section 501, 
     502, 504, 515, 533, or 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
     U.S.C. 1471, 1472, 1474, 1485, 1490m, or 1490p-2) for the 
     construction or modification of residential housing located 
     on an infill site may not be considered a major Federal 
     action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
     Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
       (c) Report.--Not later than the date that is 5 years after 
     the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report that--
       (1) determines whether the implementation of this section--
       (A) reduced the amount of time it takes to review an 
     application for assistance described in subsection (b); and
       (B) reduced the administrative cost of providing such 
     assistance;
       (2) describes how the implementation of this section 
     affects the affordable housing sector in rural America; and
       (3) includes any recommendations from the Secretary of 
     Agriculture for future congressional action regarding 
     revisions to categorical exclusions or exemptions from the 
     requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
     (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) related to the provision of 
     assistance described in subsection (b).
       (d) Savings Clause.--This section does not affect any 
     requirement under any law other than the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
  

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