National Security Interstate Pipeline Act
Sponsored By: Representative Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
Introduced
Summary
Gives the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission exclusive federal siting and permitting authority for interstate pipelines the President designates as critical to national security. It would create an expedited, national-security–focused approval path that can preempt state and local rules, allow eminent domain under set procedures, and authorize narrow presidential waivers of major environmental laws to avoid delays.
Show full summary
- Landowners near a designated pipeline would face property acquisition by negotiation or eminent domain. They would receive a written 60-day offer, an independent appraisal, a right to contest compensation, and payment at fair market value plus separate pay for temporary easements.
- State, tribal, and local governments would be barred from enforcing laws that delay, raise costs, or otherwise impede covered pipeline projects and could not issue binding permits for them; only advisory permits would be allowed.
- Federal agencies and project sponsors would follow an accelerated review schedule with FERC as lead agency. Federal actions would be deemed satisfied if not completed within 180 days and state or local actions within 60 days, and the President could waive NEPA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, or the Endangered Species Act to prevent unacceptable delay.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Eminent domain rules for owners
This bill would let a certificate holder buy land or use eminent domain in federal or state court to get rights needed for a covered pipeline after trying to negotiate. The holder must make a written offer of just compensation at least 60 days before starting condemnation and must give owners 30 days' written notice with a property description and an independent appraisal. Just compensation would be fair market value as of the filing date or date of taking. Temporary construction easements and severance damages would be paid separately, and owners could hire an appraiser and contest the offer.
Faster federal approvals and preemption
This bill would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission exclusive authority to approve or deny covered pipeline projects and make FERC the lead federal coordinator. Federal agencies would have 180 days to finish required actions and State, Tribal, or local agencies would have 60 days; if they do not act, the authorization would be treated as approved. The bill would bar state and local laws or binding permits that delay or block covered projects and narrow which alternatives must be studied in environmental reviews. Legal challenges would be limited to the D.C. Circuit, which would speed and defer to agency decisions.
President can fast-track pipelines
This bill would let the President designate an interstate pipeline as a covered project to protect energy for military bases, the defense industrial base, or critical infrastructure resilience. The President could waive NEPA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, or the Endangered Species Act to prevent unacceptable delay. The President could delegate this authority to the Secretary of Energy (with Defense consultation). The President must notify Congress within 7 days and send quarterly reports on covered projects and waivers.
Which pipelines are covered
This bill would define which interstate oil and gas pipelines count as "covered pipeline projects." It would say the Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It would define terms like "military installation," "defense industrial base," and "Federal authorization." These definitions would decide which projects get the faster rules and preemption in the bill.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
CA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]
AL • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Gallagher, James [R-CA-1]
CA • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
CA • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]
CA • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]
CA • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]
TX • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov