Legis Daily

Necessary Environmental Exemptions for Defense Act

USA119th CongressS-2226| Senate 
| Updated: 7/9/2025
Tom Cotton

Tom Cotton

Republican Senator

Arkansas

Environment and Public Works Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill aims to streamline Department of Defense operations by exempting it from several major environmental protection laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act , the Endangered Species Act , the Marine Mammal Protection Act , and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act . These exemptions apply to the Department of Defense, its components, contractors, and designees for specific activities. The legislation's core purpose is to ensure maximum agility and efficiency for national defense, particularly in countering the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. The exemptions cover a broad range of activities, operations, permits, and projects, provided the President or Secretary of Defense certifies they are directly related to countering the Chinese Communist Party threat. This includes military readiness, training, and operations, alongside the construction, maintenance, and development of facilities, infrastructure, and defense technologies. Crucially, the bill prohibits any federal, state, or local authority from requiring alternative environmental reviews or evaluations for these exempted activities, though the Secretary retains discretion for appropriate environmental mitigations. Additionally, the legislation incorporates a judicial preclusion clause, which prevents courts from reviewing or enjoining any certified activity or determination made under these exemptions. This measure aims to prevent delays and challenges to defense-related projects. Furthermore, the bill applies retroactively to ongoing activities, effectively nullifying any pending legal or administrative actions related to compliance with the exempted environmental laws.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Jul 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jul 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • July 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environmental Protection

Necessary Environmental Exemptions for Defense Act

USA119th CongressS-2226| Senate 
| Updated: 7/9/2025
This bill aims to streamline Department of Defense operations by exempting it from several major environmental protection laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act , the Endangered Species Act , the Marine Mammal Protection Act , and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act . These exemptions apply to the Department of Defense, its components, contractors, and designees for specific activities. The legislation's core purpose is to ensure maximum agility and efficiency for national defense, particularly in countering the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. The exemptions cover a broad range of activities, operations, permits, and projects, provided the President or Secretary of Defense certifies they are directly related to countering the Chinese Communist Party threat. This includes military readiness, training, and operations, alongside the construction, maintenance, and development of facilities, infrastructure, and defense technologies. Crucially, the bill prohibits any federal, state, or local authority from requiring alternative environmental reviews or evaluations for these exempted activities, though the Secretary retains discretion for appropriate environmental mitigations. Additionally, the legislation incorporates a judicial preclusion clause, which prevents courts from reviewing or enjoining any certified activity or determination made under these exemptions. This measure aims to prevent delays and challenges to defense-related projects. Furthermore, the bill applies retroactively to ongoing activities, effectively nullifying any pending legal or administrative actions related to compliance with the exempted environmental laws.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Jul 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jul 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • July 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Tom Cotton

Tom Cotton

Republican Senator

Arkansas

Environment and Public Works Committee

Environmental Protection

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted