Connecting Communities Post Disasters Act of 2023

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3301 To provide that a project to replace or improve a communications facility following a major disaster or an emergency declared by the President is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or histor- ical preservation reviews, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 15, 2023 Mr. DUNN of Florida (for himself and Mr. BILIRAKIS) introduced the fol- lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com- merce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a pe- riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con- sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned A BILL To provide that a project to replace or improve a communica- tions facility following a major disaster or an emergency declared by the President is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preserva- tion reviews, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Connecting Commu- 4 nities Post Disasters Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:10 May 27, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3301.IH H3301 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3301 IH SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO COVERED 1 COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS. 2 (a) NEPA EXEMPTION.—A Federal authorization 3 with respect to a covered project may not be considered 4 a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the Na- 5 tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 6 4332(2)(C)). 7 (b) NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT EX- 8 EMPTION.—A covered project may not be considered an 9 undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United 10 States Code. 11 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 12 (1) COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY.—The term 13 ‘‘communications facility’’ has the meaning given the 14 term ‘‘communications facility installation’’ in sec- 15 tion 6409(d) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job 16 Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1455(d)). 17 (2) COVERED PROJECT.—The term ‘‘covered 18 project’’ means a project that— 19 (A) is to be carried out within an area for 20 which the President has declared a major dis- 21 aster or an emergency under the Robert T. 22 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist- 23 ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:10 May 27, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3301.IH H3301 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 3301 IH (B) is to be carried out not later than 5 1 years after the date on which the President 2 made such declaration; and 3 (C) replaces a communications facility 4 damaged by such disaster or emergency or 5 makes improvements to a communications facil- 6 ity in such area that could reasonably be con- 7 sidered as necessary for recovery from such dis- 8 aster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate 9 any future disaster or emergency. 10 (3) FEDERAL AUTHORIZATION.—The term 11 ‘‘Federal authorization’’— 12 (A) means any authorization required 13 under Federal law with respect to a covered 14 project; and 15 (B) includes any permits, special use au- 16 thorizations, certifications, opinions, or other 17 approvals as may be required under Federal law 18 with respect to a covered project. 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:10 May 27, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3301.IH H3301 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS