ENHANCING ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS FOR BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT

ENHANCING ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS FOR BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2352-H2353] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1530 ENHANCING ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS FOR BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5419) to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a plan for ensuring timely review of communications use authorizations, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5419 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act''. SEC. 2. ENSURING TIMELY REVIEW OF BROADBAND LAND USE AUTHORIZATIONS. (a) Study and Report.-- (1) Study.--The Secretaries concerned shall each conduct, with respect to the relevant covered department, a study to determine-- (A) if there are programmatic or administrative barriers to the timely review of requests for broadband land use authorizations; (B) if there are revisions to rules or regulations that could be implemented to improve efficiency with respect to reviewing requests for broadband land use authorizations; and (C) if there are processes for prioritizing the review of requests for broadband land use authorizations. (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries concerned shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that-- (A) describes the results of the studies conducted under paragraph (1), including any barriers, revisions, or processes identified under subparagraphs (A) through (C) of such paragraph; and (B) includes a plan for providing, with respect to the organizational units of the relevant covered departments, the staffing necessary to ensure timely review of broadband land use authorizations. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the-- (A) Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and (B) Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Environment and Public Works of the Senate. (2) Broadband land use authorization.--The term ``broadband land use authorization'' means an easement, right-of-way, lease, license, or other authorization-- (A) provided by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture; (B) to locate or modify a communications facility on covered land; and (C) for the primary purpose of authorizing the occupancy and use of such covered land for communications use. (3) Communications facility.--The term ``communications facility'' has the meaning given the term ``communications facility installation'' in section 6409(d) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1455(d)). (4) Communications use.--The term ``communications use'' means the placement and operation of a communications facility. (5) Covered land.--The term ``covered land'' means-- (A) public lands; and (B) National Forest System land. (6) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest System'' has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)). (7) Organizational unit.--The term ``organizational unit'' means-- (A) with respect to the Department of the Interior-- (i) a State office of the Bureau of Land Management; (ii) a district office of the Bureau of Land Management; or (iii) a field office of the Bureau of Land Management; and (B) with respect to the Department of Agriculture-- (i) a regional office of the Forest Service; (ii) a management unit of the Forest Service; or (iii) a ranger district office of the Forest Service. (8) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702). (9) Relevant covered department.--The term ``relevant covered department'' means-- (A) with respect to the Secretary of the Interior, the Department of the Interior; and (B) with respect to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture. (10) Secretaries concerned.--The term ``Secretaries concerned'' means-- (A) the Secretary of the Interior; and (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas. General Leave Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on H.R. 5419, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas? There was no objection. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act, introduced by Representative Kean. In today's economy, broadband is a necessity, not a luxury. An affordable connection to high-speed internet is critical, particularly for rural communities that rely on the internet for telehealth appointments, public safety updates, and online learning. Yet in too many rural and Tribal communities, reliable broadband is still costly, rare, or even nonexistent. Building networks across rural America presents many challenges due to low population density, vast distances, and rugged terrain. To reach these areas, broadband developers must install infrastructure on Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior or the U.S. Forest Service. Too often the Federal permitting process adds unnecessary costs and years of delay, sometimes taking 5 to 10 years to complete a single broadband project. That is because broadband providers seeking to connect households and businesses face layered permitting requirements, redundant reviews, and spotty coordination among Federal land management agencies when applying for broadband land-use authorizations. This uncertainty drives up costs and causes rural areas to lag behind urban and suburban areas in connectivity, exacerbating the digital divide. H.R. 5419 takes a practical approach to this problem. Representative Kean's legislation recognizes that funding alone cannot connect our rural communities when the permitting process is still broken. This bill focuses on fixing what is actually delaying broadband deployment by requiring agencies to identify and report on permitting bottlenecks, coordination deficiencies, and bureaucratic redundancies that impede the efficient processing of broadband land-use authorizations. This bill is an important first step in making the Federal Government a better partner in getting modern infrastructure to the communities that need it most. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Kean for his leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5419, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, February 17, 2026. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 5419, the ``Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act.'' Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our jurisdiction. The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees, should it become necessary, and ask that you support such a request. We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 5419 and request a copy of our letters on this matter be published in the [[Page H2353]] Congressional Record during Floor consideration. Sincerely, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, February 17, 2026. Hon. Glenn Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Thompson: I write regarding H.R. 5419, the ``Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act,'' which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on February 11, 2026. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. 1 acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture will not formally consider H.R. 5419 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein. I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 5419. 1 appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5419 directs the Department of the Interior and t

Referenced legislation: HR5419, HR5419