The BUILD Housing Act ... to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process by cutting red tape around environmental reviews, empowering state, local, and tribal governments to streamline reviews, and increasing housing development via capacity sharing between the Department of Housing & Urban Development and states and localities.
Pass legislation to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process to streamline environmental reviews and increase housing development.
Occurrences
Senator Kim’s bipartisan BUILD Housing Act ... and the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act ... were included in the housing package. These bills would modernize the federal housing review process to responsibly increase housing production and boost overall supply to lower costs.
The Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process for housing projects/services funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)...
Evidence
Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process for housing projects funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The proposed bills aim to streamline environmental reviews to expedite housing development and reduce costs.
The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously advanced multiple bills led by Senator Andy Kim to address housing shortages and affordability. This includes the bipartisan BUILD Housing Act and the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, both aiming to modernize the NEPA review process for housing projects.
The US House of Representatives passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing and streamlining the NEPA process for infrastructure projects. The bill now advances to the US Senate for consideration.
Assessments
Senator Andy Kim introduced and advanced bipartisan legislation in the Senate to modernize the NEPA review process for HUD-funded housing projects, and related bills passed out of committee. However, there is no evidence the legislation was fully enacted into law; the House passed related bills, but Senate approval and final passage are not confirmed. Significant legislative effort was undertaken, but full delivery of the promise (passage into law) has not occurred.