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HR1655119th CongressWALLET

Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act

Sponsored By: Representative Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2]

In Committee

Summary

Speeds rebuilding of communications after wildfires. This bill would exempt certain post-wildfire communications projects from federal environmental review and historic preservation review when they meet strict location, timing, and purpose tests.

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  • Families and communities would get repairs and improved phone and internet service faster in declared disaster zones, especially when work is completed within 5 years of the disaster declaration.
  • State, tribal, and local recovery efforts would face fewer federal review hurdles for projects that replace damaged facilities or harden networks against future wildfires, so permitting for covered projects moves faster.
  • Federal agencies and preservation reviewers would no longer treat qualifying projects as "major federal actions" under NEPA or as "undertakings" under the National Historic Preservation Act, reducing those review requirements for covered rebuilds.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster wildfire phone and internet repairs

This bill would let some phone and internet rebuild projects skip federal environmental and historic reviews. It would apply only in areas where the President, a governor, or a tribal leader declared a wildfire major disaster or emergency. Work would need to be finished within 5 years of the declaration and stay inside the declared area. Projects must replace damaged equipment or make upgrades needed for recovery or to prevent or reduce harm from future disasters. If enacted, this could speed repairs and reduce paperwork for communities and providers after wildfires.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2]

OR • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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