Rudy Yakym (R-IN)
Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the "Studying NEPA's Impact on Projects Act," requires lead agencies to submit annual reports to the Council on Environmental Quality. These reports must detail civil actions alleging violations of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Additionally, agencies must provide data on the length of environmental impact statements, including page counts and trends. The bill also mandates reporting on the estimated costs to prepare these statements, such as personnel and contractor costs. Finally, agencies must report on timelines for completing environmental impact statements over a 10-year period. The Council on Environmental Quality is then responsible for publishing these reports and their underlying data for the public.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires the publication of detailed annual reports and underlying data regarding environmental reviews and legal challenges on a public website.
- Scored +2
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill increases transparency regarding how National Environmental Policy Act compliance is monitored and litigated.
- Scored +1
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill mandates extensive new data collection and reporting requirements for federal lead agencies to the Council on Environmental Quality.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency regarding Legal Challenges: Lead agencies must report on civil actions, including the defendant, plaintiffs, the court involved, and the outcome of the case (Section 2, subsection (a)(1)). This provides information on whether actions were set aside or if settlements were reached.
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Public Access to Data: The Council on Environmental Quality is required to publish the reports and the underlying data on its website, including information to help the public locate court records (Section s 2, subsection (b)(1) and (b)(3)).
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Insight into Documentation Lengths: The bill requires reports on the average and median page counts of environmental impact statements and any trends in those counts (Section 2, subsection (a)(2)).
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Financial Oversight of Environmental Reviews: Agencies must estimate the costs of preparing environmental impact statements, including personnel hours and contractor costs (Section 2, subsection (a)(3)).
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Tracking of Project Timelines: The act requires reporting on the specific dates and completion timelines for various stages of major Federal actions, such as the submission of applications and the issuance of records of decision (Section 2, subsection (a)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Administrative Burdens on Agencies: Lead agencies are required to compile extensive and specific data annually, including details on civil actions, page counts, costs, and multi-year timelines (Section 2, subsection (a)).
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Requirement for Cost Tracking: Agencies are tasked with estimating costs for personnel and contractors, which may include gathering information from cooperating or participating agencies and project sponsors (Section 2, subsection (a)(3)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the publication of detailed annual reports and underlying data regarding environmental reviews and legal challenges on a public website. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates extensive new data collection and reporting requirements for federal lead agencies to the Council on Environmental Quality.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill increases transparency regarding how National Environmental Policy Act compliance is monitored and litigated.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill requires agencies to track and report the specific personnel and contractor costs associated with environmental impact statements.
- 12/10/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 12/9/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5086-5087)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5086-5087)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 573.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5086-5088)
- Mr. Crank moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 12/4/2025
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-393.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 342.
- 11/20/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
- 9/10/2025
- Committee Hearings Held
- 9/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/25/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Chuck EdwardsRepublican · North Carolina
Russ FulcherRepublican · Idaho
Brandon GillRepublican · Texas
Doug LaMalfaRepublican · California
Tracey MannRepublican · Kansas
Jimmy PanettaDemocrat · California