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HR 1032 112th Congress House Law Evidence and witnesses Judicial procedure and administration Land transfers Legal fees and court costs Oil and gas Public contracts and procurement Supreme Court

RELIEF Act

Introduced: March 11, 2011 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 21, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law.
Mar 11, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 11, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E459)
Mar 11, 2011
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Removing Excess Litigation Involving Energy on Federal Lands Act or RELIEF Act - Requires all causes and claims that arise from a covered energy project to be filed within 60 days after a federal action or decision that constitutes the covered energy project concerned.

(Defines a covered energy project as a federal action or decision concerning the leasing of federal lands, including submerged lands, for the exploration, development, production, processing, or transmission of any source or form of energy, including actions and decisions regarding the selection or offering of federal lands for such leasing.)

Bars any cause or claim that is not filed within such time period. Requires all such proceedings to: (1) be resolved within 180 days after the cause or claim is filed, and (2) take precedence over other pending matters before the district court.

Confers exclusive appellate jurisdiction for such actions upon the U.S. Supreme Court.

Presumes the correctness of any administrative findings and conclusions relating to a challenged federal action under this Act unless the administrative record shows otherwise by clear and convincing evidence. Requires prospective relief to: (1) be narrowly drawn, (2) extend no further than necessary to correct the violation of a federal law requirement, and (3) be the least intrusive means necessary to correct the violation.

Requires a petitioner seeking judicial review of any action, or failure to act, under this Act who is not a prevailing party to pay to the prevailing parties (including intervening parties), other than the United States, fees and other expenses incurred in connection with such review, unless the Court finds that the petitioner was either substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust.

What's happening now March 21, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2