Bill · H.R. 9855· House(119-HR-9855)
CURRENT Act
- Introduced
- 7/22/2026
- Last activity
- 7/22/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Sponsored by
- Adam Gray
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The CURRENT Act aims to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reform the permit and licensing process. It changes how certification requests are handled by States, interstate agencies, and the Administrator. The bill implements stricter timelines for agencies to act on certification requests. It also establishes specific criteria that must be met before a request can be denied or conditioned. Additionally, it modifies the requirements for judicial review of certification actions.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
The bill significantly reduces the time and regulatory uncertainty involved in obtaining necessary permits for development.
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?+5
The expedited review and certainty for energy projects may encourage more energy-related infrastructure investment.
Is this likely to grow the economy?+4
Reducing regulatory uncertainty for energy and transmission projects can foster long-term economic investment.
The opposite· 3 of 8
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-5
The bill imposes a higher burden of proof on agencies and strictly limits the conditions they can apply to water discharges.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-4
The bill limits the ability of states to impose specific environmental conditions or withhold certification for longer periods.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?-3
Environmental changes and streamlined permitting may impact traditional lands and water rights held by indigenous communities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Certainty for Applicants: The bill mandates that a decision to grant, deny, or waive a certification must be made within a period determined by the agency, which cannot exceed one year, and this period cannot be extended or paused for any reason other than at the applicant's request (Section 2, Subsection (a)(1)(A)(vi)).
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Clearer Standards for Certification: States and agencies must publish their requirements for certification within 30 days of the Act's enactment to demonstrate compliance with specific sections of the Act (Section 2, Subsection (a)(1)(A)(iv)).
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Protection Against Arbitrary Denials: To deny a certification or impose a condition, the State, interstate agency, or Administrator must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable condition exists to ensure compliance (Section 2, Subsection (d)(2)).
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Limits on Burdensome Conditions: Any conditions imposed must be the least burdensome possible, considering factors like technical feasibility, cost, and the commercial viability of the activity (Section 2, Subsection (d)(2)).
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Faster Legal Resolutions: For certain energy-related projects, the bill requires courts to provide expedited consideration of civil actions and issue a final decision within 120 days, with a possible 60-day extension for extraordinary circumstances (Section 2, Subsection (g)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Reduced Agency Flexibility: The one-year deadline for agencies to act on a certification request is absolute and cannot be extended for reasons such as requesting additional information, conducting environmental reviews, or seeking public comment (Section 2, Subsection (a)(1)(A)(vi)).
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Higher Burden of Proof for Agencies: Agencies are now required to meet a "clear and convincing evidence" standard to deny a certification or impose a condition, which is a high legal threshold (Section 2, Subsection (d)(2)).
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Restrictions on Hydroelectric Oversight: For hydroelectric projects, certifications may not include conditions regarding the quantity, timing, or rate of water flow (Section 2, Subsection (d)(4)).
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Limited Ability to Revise Certifications: Once a certification is obtained, it cannot be reopened, modified, supplemented, or withdrawn except by a request from the applicant or a specific court order (Section 2, Subsection (a)(1)(A)(5)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+4Increases Job Creation+3Improves Consumer Protection-2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+6Good For Union Workers+1Good For Native Americans-3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Increases Renewable Energy Investment+5Reduces Gas Prices+1Improves Environmental Protections-5Reduces Carbon Emissions-3Improves Public Land Management-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Interstate Commerce+3Improves Government Transparency+2Increase States Rights-4Increases Federal Power-2Improves Due Process-1
- 7/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
David RouzerRepublican · North Carolina