H.R. 8313 – Help DPA Act

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:30 PM UTC

The Help DPA Act aims to speed up federal permitting for projects that support national defense and are funded or prioritized under the Defense Production Act of 1950. It requires agencies to give these projects priority over other permit applications, helping to avoid delays for time‑sensitive defense work.

Key Provisions

Amends the FAST Act to add “covered national defense activity” to the list of projects eligible for faster permitting.
Creates a new Section 712 in the Defense Production Act that obligates federal agencies to prioritize permits for covered national defense activities.
Defines a “covered national defense activity” as a project funded by title III loans or grants, a project in a sector the President declares has an industrial‑base shortfall, or a project with contracts the President has prioritized under title I.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Natural Resources Committee

May 8, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 8, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Natural Resources Committee

May 8, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 8, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8313

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 8, 2024

Mr. Luetkemeyer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To prioritize Federal permitting for certain national defense activities related to the authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 and projects related to such activities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Help Expedite Lagging Permitting for Defense Production Act or the Help DPA Act.

2.

Findings; sense of Congress

(a)

Findings

The Congress finds that—

(1)

title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 is used to ensure that our nation has sufficient industrial resources to meet our national security needs; and

(2)

projects funded under such title are of critical importance to the national security are almost always time sensitive.

(b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

the Federal permitting process should not delay crucial national defense projects any longer than necessary; and

(2)

projects funded under title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 and projects given the highest priority under title I of the Defense Production Act of 1950 deserve an expedited Federal permitting process.

3.

Improving permitting for certain national defense sectors experiencing an industrial base shortfall

(a)

Faster permitting

Section 41001(6)(A) of the FAST Act (42 U.S.C. 4370m(6)(A)) is amended by inserting a covered national defense activity (as defined in section 712(b) of the Defense Production Act of 1950), after energy storage,.

(b)

Prioritized permitting

The Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4501) is amended by inserting after section 711 the following:

712.

Prioritized permitting

(a)

In general

With respect to a project that is a covered national defense activity, if such project requires a permit from a Federal agency, the Federal agency shall prioritize the consideration of such permit over all over projects requiring a permit from the agency.

(b)

Covered national defense activity defined

The term covered national defense activity means a project—

(1)

funded in whole or in part with loans made or guaranteed, or grants made, under title III;

(2)

in a sector essential for the national defense with respect to which the President makes a determination under this Act that the sector is experiencing an industrial base shortfall; or

(3)

for the production of goods or services, the contracts or orders for which the President has deemed necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense and has prioritized under title I.

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