[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 347 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 6
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 347
To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 to reauthorize brownfields revitalization
funding, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 30, 2025
Mrs. Capito (for herself and Ms. Blunt Rochester) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works
February 5, 2025
Reported by Mrs. Capito, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 to reauthorize brownfields revitalization
funding, 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 ``Brownfields Reauthorization Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVING SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY ACCESS TO GRANT
OPPORTUNITIES.
Section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(I), by inserting ``or 501(c)(6)''
after ``section 501(c)(3)'';
(2) in paragraph (5)(E)(i), by striking ``up to 5 percent
of the'';
(3) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking clause (ix) and
inserting the following:
``(ix) The extent to which the applicant
has a plan--
``(I) to engage a diverse set of
local groups and organizations that
effectively represent the views of the
local community that will be directly
affected by the proposed brownfield
project; and
``(II) to meaningfully involve the
local community described in subclause
(I) in making decisions relating to the
proposed brownfield project.'';
(4) in paragraph (10)(B)(iii)--
(A) by striking ``20 percent'' and inserting ``10
percent'';
(B) by inserting ``the eligible entity is located
in a small community or disadvantaged area (as those
terms are defined in section 128(a)(1)(B)(iv)) or''
after ``unless''; and
(C) by inserting ``, in which case the
Administrator shall waive the matching share
requirement under this clause'' before ``; and''; and
(5) in paragraph (13), by striking ``2019 through 2023''
and inserting ``2025 through 2030''.
SEC. 3. INCREASING GRANT AMOUNTS.
Section 104(k)(3)(A)(ii) of the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C.
9604(k)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking ``$500,000'' and all that
follows through the period at the end and inserting ``$1,000,000 for
each site to be remediated.''
SEC. 4. STATE RESPONSE PROGRAMS.
Section 128(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9628(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking ``or enhance'' and
inserting ``, enhance, or implement''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection--
``(A) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(B) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(C) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(D) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
``(E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
``(F) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.''.
SEC. 5. REPORT TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO STREAMLINE APPLICATION
PROCESS; UPDATING GUIDANCE.
(a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
(referred to in this section as the ``Administrator'') shall submit to
Congress a report that evaluates the application ranking criteria and
approval process for grants and loans under section 104(k) of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)), which shall include, with respect to those
grants and loans--
(1) an evaluation of the shortcomings in the existing
application requirements that are a recurring source of
confusion for potential recipients of those grants or loans;
(2) an identification of the most common sources of point
deductions on application reviews;
(3) strategies to incentivize the submission of
applications from small communities and disadvantaged areas (as
those terms are defined in section 128(a)(1)(B)(iv) of that Act
(42 U.S.C. 9628(a)(1)(B)(iv)); and
(4) recommendations, if any, to Congress on suggested
legislative changes to the ranking criteria that would achieve
the goal of streamlining the application process for small
communities and disadvantaged areas (as so defined).
(b) Updating Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update the guidance
relating to the application ranking criteria and approval process for
grants and loans under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42
U.S.C. 9604(k)) to reduce the complexity of the application process
while ensuring competitive integrity.
SEC. 6. BROWNFIELD REVITALIZATION FUNDING FOR ALASKA NATIVE TRIBES.
Section 104(k)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(1)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``other than in
Alaska''; and
(2) by striking subparagraph (H) and inserting the
following:
``(H) a Regional Corporation or a Village
Corporation (as those terms are defined in section 3 of
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1602));''.
Calendar No. 6
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 347
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 to reauthorize brownfields revitalization
funding, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
February 5, 2025
Reported without amendment