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S. 2959Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2023

Sponsored by Thomas R. CarperSen. Thomas R. Carper (D-DE)
Introduced September 27, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 11:52 AM UTC

The Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2023 updates the 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act to renew and expand funding for cleaning up brownfield sites. It aims to make grant opportunities easier for small and disadvantaged communities, increase the amount of money available per site, and extend funding through 2029. The bill also adds specific funding for state response programs, includes Alaska Native corporations, and requires the EPA to report on and simplify the application process.

Key Provisions

  • Expands eligible applicants to include 501(c)(6) organizations and removes certain eligibility restrictions
  • Requires grant applicants to engage diverse local groups and involve the community in project decisions
  • Reduces the matching‑share requirement for small or disadvantaged communities to 10% and allows a waiver
  • Extends the brownfields funding period to cover fiscal years 2024‑2029
  • Increases the maximum grant amount per site from $500,000 to $1,000,000
  • Authorizes annual appropriations for state response programs, rising from $50 million in FY2024 to $75 million in FY2029
  • Mandates the EPA to submit a report and update guidance within one year to streamline the grant application process
  • Allows Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporations to receive brownfields funding by removing the previous Alaska exclusion

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.

September 27, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 27, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Environment and Public Works. Committee consideration held. Business Meeting printed. S. Hrg. 118-413.

Environment and Public Works Committee

September 27, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Environment and Public Works. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Carper. Without written report.

Environment and Public Works Committee

September 27, 2023

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.

September 27, 2023

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued September 27, 2023

II

Calendar No. 214

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2959

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 27 (legislative day, September 22), 2023

Mr. Carper, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, reported the following original bill; which was read twice and placed on the calendar

A BILL

To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to reauthorize brownfields revitalization funding, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2023.

2.

Improving small and disadvantaged community access to grant opportunities

Section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)(I), by inserting or 501(c)(6) after section 501(c)(3);

(2)

in paragraph (5), by striking subparagraph (E);

(3)

in paragraph (6)(C), by striking clause (ix) and inserting the following:

(ix)

The extent to which the applicant has a plan—

(I)

to engage a diverse set of local groups and organizations that effectively represent the views of the local community that will be directly affected by the proposed brownfield project; and

(II)

to meaningfully involve the local community described in subclause (I) in making decisions relating to the proposed brownfield project.

;

(4)

in paragraph (10)(B)(iii)—

(A)

by striking 20 percent and inserting 10 percent;

(B)

by inserting the eligible entity is located in a small community or disadvantaged area (as those terms are defined in section 128(a)(1)(B)(iv)) or after unless; and

(C)

by inserting , in which case the Administrator shall waive the matching share requirement under this clause before ; and; and

(5)

in paragraph (13), by striking 2019 through 2023 and inserting 2024 through 2029.

3.

Increasing grant amounts

Section 104(k)(3)(A)(ii) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking $500,000 and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting $1,000,000 for each site to be remediated..

4.

State response programs

Section 128(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9628(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking or enhance and inserting , enhance, or implement; and

(2)

by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

(3)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection—

(A)

$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(B)

$55,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(C)

$60,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

(D)

$65,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

(E)

$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and

(F)

$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.

.

5.

Report to identify opportunities to streamline application process; updating guidance

(a)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the Administrator) shall submit to Congress a report that evaluates the application ranking criteria and approval process for grants and loans under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)), which shall include, with respect to those grants and loans—

(1)

an evaluation of the shortcomings in the existing application requirements that are a recurring source of confusion for potential recipients of those grants or loans;

(2)

an identification of the most common sources of point deductions on application reviews;

(3)

strategies to incentivize the submission of applications from small communities and disadvantaged areas (as those terms are defined in section 128(a)(1)(B)(iv) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 9628(a)(1)(B)(iv)); and

(4)

recommendations, if any, to Congress on suggested legislative changes to the ranking criteria that would achieve the goal of streamlining the application process for small communities and disadvantaged areas (as so defined).

(b)

Updating guidance

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update the guidance relating to the application ranking criteria and approval process for grants and loans under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)) to reduce the complexity of the application process while ensuring competitive integrity.

6.

Brownfield revitalization funding for Alaska Native tribes

Section 104(k)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(1)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (G), by striking other than in Alaska; and

(2)

by striking subparagraph (H) and inserting the following:

(H)

a Regional Corporation or a Village Corporation (as those terms are defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602));

.

September 27 (legislative day, September 22), 2023

Read twice and placed on the calendar