119-hr3960

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3960 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3960

 To provide that a project to replace or improve a communications 
 facility following a major disaster or an emergency declared by the 
 President is not subject to requirements to prepare certain 
 environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 June 12, 2025

 Mr. Dunn of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred 
 to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the 
 Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently 
 determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To provide that a project to replace or improve a communications 
 facility following a major disaster or an emergency declared by the 
 President is not subject to requirements to prepare certain 
 environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other 
 purposes.

 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 ``Connecting Communities Post 
Disasters Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO COVERED COMMUNICATIONS 
 PROJECTS.

    (a) NEPA Exemption.--A Federal authorization with respect to a 
covered project 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) ).

    (b) National Historic Preservation Act Exemption.--A covered 
project may not be considered an undertaking under 

section 300320 of 
title 54, United States Code.
            (c) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) 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) ).

    (2) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a 
 project that--
        (A) is to be carried out within an area for which 
 the President has declared a major disaster or an 
 emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
 and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
        (B) is to be carried out not later than 5 years 
 after the date on which the President made such 
 declaration; and
            (C) replaces a communications facility damaged by 
 such disaster or emergency or makes improvements to a 
 communications facility in such area that could 
 reasonably be considered as necessary for recovery from 
 such disaster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate 
 any future disaster or emergency.

    (3) Federal authorization.--The term ``Federal 
 authorization''--
        (A) means any authorization required under Federal 
 law with respect to a covered project; and
        (B) includes any permits, special use 
 authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other 
 approvals as may be required under Federal law with 
 respect to a covered project.
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