Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act

House Bill

H.R. 4549

119th Congress

Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 183.

Introduced:Jul 21, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Maggie Goodlander

Representative

Democratic

NH-2

Cosponsors

12

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Summary

This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain semiconductor projects that receive federal funding from having to go through lengthy environmental and historical preservation reviews, speeding up the approval process. The goal is to boost domestic chip production and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.

SponsorMaggie Goodlander (D-NH)

Introduced7/21/2025

StatusPlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 183.

ChamberHouse

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Vote Prediction

Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act

This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain semiconductor projects that receive federal funding from having to go through lengthy environmental and historical prese

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

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0 predictions

This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain semiconductor projects that receive federal funding from having to go through lengthy environmental and historical preservation reviews, speeding up the approval process. The goal is to boost domestic chip production and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

Bill Number: 4549
Sponsor: Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
Introduced: 7/21/2025
Status: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 183.
Policy Area: Environmental Protection

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act
Bill Number: 4549
Sponsor: Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
Status: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 183.
Introduced: 7/21/2025
Summary: This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain semiconductor projects that receive federal funding from having to go through lengthy environmental and historical preservation reviews, speeding up the approva

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain semiconductor projects that receive federal funding from having to go through lengthy environmental and historical preservation reviews, speeding up the approval process. The goal is to boost domestic chip production and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Building Chips in America Act of 2023This bill modifies and limits the review of certain semiconductor (i.e., microchip) projects under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).Specifically, the bill exempts from NEPA and NHPA specified semiconductor projects that receive financial assistance under the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.Next, the bill allows the Department of Commerce to serve as the lead agency for the review of a semiconductor project that receives such financial assistance but is not exempted from review under NEPA. A single environmental document and joint record of decision must be prepared for a semiconductor project. In completing the environmental review, Commerce may adopt a prior study or decision under certain circumstances. The bill also allows a state to assume the responsibility of an environmental review under NEPA for a semiconductor project.Finally, the bill sets a statute of limitations for certain claims under NEPA.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Exempts some semiconductor projects from environmental and historical preservation reviews under federal law
Allows the Department of Commerce to serve as the lead agency for reviewing semiconductor projects that still require environmental review
Limits the time period for filing lawsuits challenging the environmental review process
Enables states to take over responsibility for environmental reviews of semiconductor projects
Aims to accelerate the construction of new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the U.S.

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily impact the semiconductor industry, as well as communities where new chip manufacturing plants are built. It would speed up the construction of these facilities by reducing regulatory hurdles, potentially leading to more jobs and economic activity in those areas. However, there are concerns that it could also weaken environmental protections and reduce public input on major industrial projects.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Related Subjects

Computers and information technology

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Government lending and loan guarantees

Industrial facilities

Industrial policy and productivity

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

4549, 119th Congress (2025). "Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-4549

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