# 119-hr-8037: Protect American AI Act of 2026

119-hr-8037, Protect American AI Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5] (R-WA); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8037
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8037
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protect American AI Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-24
- Sponsor: Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5] (R-WA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Stops courts from vacating permits for data centers** and funnels legal challenges into a fast, limited appellate track that sends problems back to agencies to fix instead of invalidating approvals. The bill defines covered applications, data centers, and covered infrastructure and creates a special review process for environmental claims tied to those projects. - Data center developers and operators would face fewer court-ordered delays because permits, licenses, or approvals remain effective even if a court finds a review violated environmental law. Challenges must be heard on an expedited schedule in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the circuit where the project sits. - Federal agencies would be required to accept remands to correct legal problems while continuing to process covered applications. The bill also requires transfer of eligible pending petitions so they are decided under this new framework. - Environmental groups and local communities would have tighter windows and venues for suing. Claims to review a federal permit must be filed within 90 days after final notice in the Federal Register and are limited to the appellate route established by the bill.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Faster court review for data centers: benefit, medium. This bill would create a fast, special review process for federal permits for data centers and infrastructure that supports them. It would give original, exclusive jurisdiction to the U.S. court of appeals in the circuit where the project will be located and require expedited handling. Challenges w…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2570: Maximum Pressure Act
- 119-hr-4895: Afghan Adjustment Act
- 119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2619: No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-8037 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8037)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-2570: Maximum Pressure Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2570)
- [119-hr-4895: Afghan Adjustment Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4895)
- [119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1229)
- [119-hr-2619: No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2619)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8037 (as of 2026-04-21).