Let America Build Act of 2026

(a) Definition of Federal authorization. In this section,

(2) Proceedings. In any proceeding

(e) Hearings and proceedings

(1) Hearings. Hearings under this Act

(2) Informalities. No informality

(f) Governing rules

(1) In general. All hearings,

(g) Additional requirements

(1) Definition of Effects. In conducting a review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) relating to any Federal authorization (or to any other decision relating to the issuance of an order or certificate, or the approval or denial of an application, under section 3 or 7), the Commission shall consider the term effects, as used in that Act with respect to impacts and effects, to mean physical changes to the human environment as a result of a proposed action or alternative action to be carried out by a Federal agency that—

(A) are reasonably foreseeable, not speculative, and not remote in time or geographically remote;

(B) have a reasonably close causal relationship that is not the product of a lengthy causal chain to the proposed action or alternative action, respectively, as determined by the Commission;

(C) the Commission has the ability to prevent and that would not occur absent the proposed action or alternative action; and

(D) do not constitute potential effects from emissions upstream or downstream of the facility that is the subject of the application under section 3 or 7.

(2) Requirement. For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), a but for causal relationship is insufficient to establish a reasonably close causal relationship.

(3) Alternatives. In conducting a review described in paragraph (1), any alternatives required to be analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) by the Commission shall—

(A) meet the purpose and need for the proposed action;

(B) where applicable, meet the goals of the applicant; and

(C) be within the authority of the Federal agency to control.

(4) No use of social cost metrics. In conducting a review described in paragraph (1), the Commission shall not consider or apply any metric that purports to estimate the monetized damages or benefits associated with incremental increases or decreases in greenhouse gas emissions.