# RED Tape Act (H.R. 6398) - Plain Language Summary

## What This Bill Does

The RED Tape Act proposes to narrow the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to review and comment on proposed federal legislation and regulations. Specifically, it amends the Clean Air Act by removing the EPA's current requirement to review and provide written comments on:
- New federal construction projects
- Major federal agency actions related to environmental impact
- Proposed regulations from other federal departments and agencies

In essence, this bill would reduce the EPA's oversight role in evaluating how other government actions and regulations might affect air quality.

## Who Is Affected

**Potential beneficiaries** include federal agencies and departments that would face less regulatory scrutiny before implementing projects or regulations, potentially allowing faster decision-making and reduced administrative review processes.

**Potential concerns** would affect environmental advocates and those prioritizing air quality protection, as the EPA would have less formal authority to assess and comment on environmental impacts of federal actions. States and communities concerned about air pollution may also be affected if federal projects proceed with less environmental review.

## Key Changes

The bill makes technical amendments to Section 309 of the Clean Air Act that essentially **eliminate the EPA's mandate to review three categories of federal actions**: federal construction projects, major federal agency actions with environmental implications, and proposed regulations from other federal agencies. The changes appear designed to streamline federal processes by removing what supporters view as duplicative or burdensome review requirements.

RED Tape Act

Joyce, John

Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act or the RED Tape ActThis bill removes the requirement under the Clean Air Act that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review and comment on newly authorized federal construction projects and other major federal agency actions that already require review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and proposed federal regulations.