Modern Worker Empowerment Act

Senate Bill

S. 2228

119th Congress

Modern Worker Empowerment Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jul 9, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Mark Kelly

Senator

Democratic

AZ

Cosponsors

5

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Summary

This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain chip projects from some environmental and historic preservation reviews, allowing construction to move forward more quickly. The Department of Commerce would take the lead on overseeing the review process for eligible chip projects.

Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 118-105.

SponsorMark Kelly (D-AZ)

Introduced7/9/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

ChamberSenate

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Vote Prediction

Modern Worker Empowerment Act

This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain chip projects from some environmental and historic preservation reviews, allowing construction to move forward more

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain chip projects from some environmental and historic preservation reviews, allowing construction to move forward more quickly. The Department of Commerce would take the lead on overseeing the review process for eligible chip projects.

Bill Number: 2228
Sponsor: Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
Introduced: 7/9/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Policy Area: Environmental Protection

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Modern Worker Empowerment Act
Bill Number: 2228
Sponsor: Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced: 7/9/2025
Summary: This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain chip projects from some environmental and historic preservation reviews, allowing construction to move forward more quickly. The Department of Commerce wou

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would make it easier and faster to build new semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities in the United States. It would exempt certain chip projects from some environmental and historic preservation reviews, allowing construction to move forward more quickly. The Department of Commerce would take the lead on overseeing the review process for eligible chip projects.

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 certain environmental and historic preservation reviews
Allows the Department of Commerce to lead the review process for eligible chip projects
Establishes a time limit for filing legal challenges to chip project reviews
Enables states to take over environmental reviews for chip projects
Aims to speed up construction of new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the US

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

If enacted, this bill would primarily benefit semiconductor companies looking to build new chip factories in the US, as it would reduce regulatory hurdles and accelerate the construction process. This could lead to more domestic chip production and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. However, some environmental and historic preservation advocates may be concerned about the reduced oversight for certain 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

2228, 119th Congress (2025). "Modern Worker Empowerment Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-2228

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