Legis Daily

John P. Smith Act

USA115th CongressS-302| Senate 
| Updated: 11/30/2017
John Barrasso

John Barrasso

Republican Senator

Wyoming

Cosponsors (2)
Michael B. Enzi (Republican)Mike Crapo (Republican)

Indian Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
John P. Smith Act (Sec. 3) This bill modifies the approval process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for tribal transportation safety projects to categorically exclude qualifying projects from requirements to conduct environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. A tribal transportation safety project is one that is eligible for assistance under the tribal transportation program and that: (1) corrects or improves a hazardous road location or feature, or (2) addresses a highway safety problem. The Department of the Interior must: (1) review existing Federal Highway Administration categorical exclusions to determine applicability to tribal transportation program projects, and (2) identify tribal transportation safety projects that meet general categorical exclusion requirements. Interior must establish categorical exclusions for tribal projects consistent with its findings. The bill prescribes requirements for the expedited review and approval of tribal transportation safety projects under NEPA or other federal laws. (Sec. 4) Interior must enter into five-year programmatic agreements with Indian tribes that establish efficient administrative procedures for carrying out environmental reviews for tribal transportation program projects. An agreement may allow a tribe to determine whether a project is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or impact statement under NEPA.

Bill Text Versions

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3 versions available

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Timeline
Feb 3, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Feb 3, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S680-681)
Feb 8, 2017
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.
Apr 6, 2017
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-27.
Apr 6, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 33.
Nov 29, 2017
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)
Nov 29, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)
Nov 30, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 30, 2017
Received in the House.
Nov 30, 2017
Held at the desk.
  • February 3, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 3, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S680-681)


  • February 8, 2017
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.


  • April 6, 2017
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-27.


  • April 6, 2017
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 33.


  • November 29, 2017
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)


  • November 29, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)


  • November 30, 2017
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • November 30, 2017
    Received in the House.


  • November 30, 2017
    Held at the desk.

Native Americans

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightDepartment of the InteriorEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchFederal-Indian relationsGovernment information and archivesIndian lands and resources rightsLand use and conservationMotor carriersPedestrians and bicyclingRailroadsRoads and highwaysTransportation programs fundingTransportation safety and security

John P. Smith Act

USA115th CongressS-302| Senate 
| Updated: 11/30/2017
John P. Smith Act (Sec. 3) This bill modifies the approval process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for tribal transportation safety projects to categorically exclude qualifying projects from requirements to conduct environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. A tribal transportation safety project is one that is eligible for assistance under the tribal transportation program and that: (1) corrects or improves a hazardous road location or feature, or (2) addresses a highway safety problem. The Department of the Interior must: (1) review existing Federal Highway Administration categorical exclusions to determine applicability to tribal transportation program projects, and (2) identify tribal transportation safety projects that meet general categorical exclusion requirements. Interior must establish categorical exclusions for tribal projects consistent with its findings. The bill prescribes requirements for the expedited review and approval of tribal transportation safety projects under NEPA or other federal laws. (Sec. 4) Interior must enter into five-year programmatic agreements with Indian tribes that establish efficient administrative procedures for carrying out environmental reviews for tribal transportation program projects. An agreement may allow a tribe to determine whether a project is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or impact statement under NEPA.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 3, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Feb 3, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S680-681)
Feb 8, 2017
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.
Apr 6, 2017
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-27.
Apr 6, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 33.
Nov 29, 2017
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)
Nov 29, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)
Nov 30, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 30, 2017
Received in the House.
Nov 30, 2017
Held at the desk.
  • February 3, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 3, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S680-681)


  • February 8, 2017
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.


  • April 6, 2017
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-27.


  • April 6, 2017
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 33.


  • November 29, 2017
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)


  • November 29, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)


  • November 30, 2017
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • November 30, 2017
    Received in the House.


  • November 30, 2017
    Held at the desk.
John Barrasso

John Barrasso

Republican Senator

Wyoming

Cosponsors (2)
Michael B. Enzi (Republican)Mike Crapo (Republican)

Indian Affairs Committee

Native Americans

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightDepartment of the InteriorEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchFederal-Indian relationsGovernment information and archivesIndian lands and resources rightsLand use and conservationMotor carriersPedestrians and bicyclingRailroadsRoads and highwaysTransportation programs fundingTransportation safety and security