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John P. Smith Act

Introduced: February 3, 2017 Introduced by: Barrasso, John Republican · Wyoming See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 30, 2017
Held at the desk.
Nov 30, 2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 30, 2017
Received in the House.
Nov 29, 2017
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)
Nov 29, 2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)
Apr 6, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 33.
Apr 6, 2017
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-27.
Feb 8, 2017
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.
Feb 3, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S680-681)
Feb 3, 2017
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

John P. Smith Act

(Sec. 3) This bill modifies the approval process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for tribal transportation safety projects to categorically exclude qualifying projects from requirements to conduct environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. A tribal transportation safety project is one that is eligible for assistance under the tribal transportation program and that: (1) corrects or improves a hazardous road location or feature, or (2) addresses a highway safety problem.

The Department of the Interior must: (1) review existing Federal Highway Administration categorical exclusions to determine applicability to tribal transportation program projects, and (2) identify tribal transportation safety projects that meet general categorical exclusion requirements. Interior must establish categorical exclusions for tribal projects consistent with its findings.

The bill prescribes requirements for the expedited review and approval of tribal transportation safety projects under NEPA or other federal laws.

(Sec. 4) Interior must enter into five-year programmatic agreements with Indian tribes that establish efficient administrative procedures for carrying out environmental reviews for tribal transportation program projects. An agreement may allow a tribe to determine whether a project is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or impact statement under NEPA.

What's happening now November 30, 2017

Held at the desk.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1