Connecting Communities Post Disasters Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]
Introduced
Summary
Expedite rebuilding communications infrastructure after major disasters. This bill would exempt certain communications projects from the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act when a federal authorization is required. A covered project must replace or improve a damaged communications facility within an area with a President-declared major disaster or emergency and be carried out within five years of that declaration.
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- Households and emergency responders: Faster restoration of phone and internet access could improve emergency alerts and help reconnect families.
- Communications providers: Federal permits and approvals for eligible rebuilds would move faster because those authorizations would not be treated as a major Federal action under NEPA.
- Tribal nations and historic preservation interests: Projects that meet the bill's criteria would not be considered undertakings under the National Historic Preservation Act, limiting NHPA review of effects on historic places.
- Federal agencies: Agencies issuing permits or approvals would apply different review rules for covered projects, changing how environmental and historic impacts are handled.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Quicker permits to rebuild communications after disasters
If enacted, certain communications rebuild projects after a Presidential disaster would face fewer federal reviews. Federal permits and approvals for these projects would not be treated as a major action under NEPA or an "undertaking" under NHPA. The project would need to be in the declared area, be done within 5 years, and replace damaged equipment or make recovery or mitigation improvements. "Communications facility" would follow a definition set in a 2012 law. The rule would cover federal permits, special use permissions, certifications, opinions, or other approvals. This could speed permitting and help providers restore service faster after disasters.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]
FL • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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