S.Amdt. 444

SA 444. Mr. CRUZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction,

[[Page S2605]]

and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ___. PERMITTING FOR INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES.

The International Bridge Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 535 et
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 5 the following:

``SEC. 6. PERMITTING FOR INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible applicant.--The term `eligible applicant'
means an entity that has submitted an application for a
Presidential permit during the period beginning on December
1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2024, for any of the
following:
``(A) 1 or more international bridges in Webb County,
Texas.
``(B) An international bridge in Cameron County, Texas.
``(C) An international bridge in Maverick County, Texas.
``(2) Presidential permit.--
``(A) In general.--The term `Presidential permit' means--
``(i) an approval by the President to construct, maintain,
and operate an international bridge under section 4; or
``(ii) an approval by the President to construct, maintain,
and operate an international bridge pursuant to a process
described in Executive Order 13867 (84 Fed. Reg. 15491;
relating to Issuance of Permits With Respect to Facilities
and Land Transportation Crossings at the International
Boundaries of the United States) (or any successor Executive
Order).
``(B) Inclusion.--The term `Presidential permit' includes
an amendment to an approval described in clause (i) or (ii)
of subparagraph (A).
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of State.
``(b) Application.--An eligible applicant for a
Presidential permit to construct, maintain, and operate an
international bridge shall submit an application for the
permit to the Secretary.
``(c) Recommendation.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date on
which the Secretary receives an application under subsection
(b), the Secretary shall make a recommendation to the
President--
``(A) to grant the Presidential permit; or
``(B) to deny the Presidential permit.
``(2) Consideration.--The sole basis for a recommendation
under paragraph (1) shall be whether the international bridge
is in the foreign policy interests of the United States.
``(d) Presidential Action.--
``(1) In general.--The President shall grant or deny the
Presidential permit for an application under subsection (b)
by not later than 60 days after the earlier of--
``(A) the date on which the Secretary makes a
recommendation under subsection (c)(1); and
``(B) the date on which the Secretary is required to make a
recommendation under subsection (c)(1).
``(2) No action.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), if the
President does not grant or deny the Presidential permit for
an application under subsection (b) by the deadline described
in paragraph (1), the Presidential permit shall be considered
to have been granted as of that deadline.
``(B) Requirement.--As a condition on a Presidential permit
considered to be granted under subparagraph (A), the eligible
applicant shall complete all applicable environmental
documents required pursuant to Public Law 91-190 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.).
``(e) Document Requirements.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary shall not require an eligible
applicant for a Presidential permit--
``(1) to include in the application under subsection (b)
environmental documents prepared pursuant to Public Law 91-
190 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or
``(2) to have completed any environmental review under
Public Law 91-190 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) prior to the
President granting a Presidential permit under subsection
(d).
``(f) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section--
``(1) prohibits the President from granting a Presidential
permit conditioned on the eligible applicant completing all
environmental documents pursuant to Public Law 91-190 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
``(2) prohibits the Secretary from requesting a list of all
permits and approvals from Federal, State, and local agencies
that the eligible applicant believes are required in
connection with the international bridge, or a brief
description of how those permits and approvals will be
acquired; or
``(3) exempts an eligible applicant from the requirement to
complete all environmental documents pursuant to Public Law
91-190 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) prior to construction of an
international bridge.''.
______