HR 161
· 119th Congress
· Environmental Protection
New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act
Sponsor
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542.
Action timeline
Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.
Apr 28, 2026
committee
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-625.
Energy and Commerce Committee
Apr 28, 2026
other
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542.
Jan 21, 2026
committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Energy and Commerce Committee
Jan 21, 2026
committee
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 23.
Energy and Commerce Committee
Dec 10, 2025
committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Environment Subcommittee
Dec 10, 2025
committee
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 12 - 11.
Environment Subcommittee
Jan 03, 2025
introduced
Introduced in House
Jan 03, 2025
committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
Environment Subcommittee
Jan 03, 2025
introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Energy and Commerce Committee
Text versions
Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.
CRS summaries
Plain-English summaries written by the Congressional Research Service — neutral, nonpartisan staff who summarize bills as they advance through stages. The authoritative description of what each version of the bill does.
00
Introduced in House
Jan 03, 2025
New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act
This bill modifies terminology for purposes of the New Source Review (NSR) permitting program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In order for a change to a stationary source to be a modification (a change to a stationary source that increases the air pollutant emissions or results in new pollutants) for purposes of the NSR permitting program, the maximum hourly emission rate achievable by such source must be higher than the maximum hourly rate achievable by such source during any hour in the 10-year period preceding the change.
A change at a stationary source is not considered to be a modification under the bill if it is designed to (1) reduce the amount of any air pollutant emitted; or (2) restore, maintain, or improve the reliability of operations at, or safety of, the source. However, such changes are not excepted if the EPA determines the increase in the maximum achievable hourly emission rate from such change would cause an adverse effect on human health or the environment.
Construction, in connection with a major emitting facility (a type of stationary source), does not include a change at such a facility that does not result in a significant emissions increase or a significant net emissions increase.
In relation to major emitting facilities in nonattainment areas, the terms modifications and modified do not include changes at such facilities that do not result in a significant emissions increase or a significant net emissions increase.
via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov
Changelog
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih/is— Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh/rfs— Referred to a committee for review.rh/rs— Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs/pch— Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh/es— Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh/rds— Received by the other chamber.eah/eas— Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath/ats— Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr— Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl— Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp— Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.
+90
−10
39 unchanged
--- Introduced (House)
+++ Reported (House)
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[H.R. 161 Introduced in House (IH)]
+[H.R. 161 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
+Union Calendar No. 542
119th CONGRESS
-1st Session
+2d Session
H. R. 161
+
+[Report No. 119-625]
To amend sections 111, 169, and 171 of the Clean Air Act to clarify
when a physical change in, or change in the method of operation of, a
@@ -20,6 +23,24 @@
Mr. Griffith introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
+
+April 28, 2026
+
+Additional sponsors: Mrs. Fedorchak, Mr. Ellzey, Ms. Boebert, Mr.
+Pfluger, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Bost,
+Mr. Grothman, Mr. Wittman, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mrs.
+Harshbarger, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Williams of
+Texas, Mr. McGuire, Mr. Allen, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Crawford, and Mr.
+Walberg
+
+April 28, 2026
+
+Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
+House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
+[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
+in italic]
+[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January
+3, 2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
@@ -69,11 +90,33 @@
such change would cause an adverse effect on human health or
the environment.''.
-SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF CONSTRUCTION FOR PREVENTION OF
+SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF CONSTRUCTION AND APPLICABILITY
+OF PRECONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR PREVENTION OF
SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION.
-Subparagraph (C) of section 169(2) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.
-7479(2)) is amended to read as follows:
+(a) Applicability to Construction Activities.--Section 165 of the
+Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7475) is amended by adding at the end the
+following:
+``(f) Applicability to Construction.--
+``(1) In general.--The requirements of subsection (a) that
+apply with respect to authorizing construction of a major
+emitting facility shall apply only with respect to construction
+that involves physical construction of the discrete parts of an
+emissions unit at a major emitting facility, regardless of
+whether the construction involves other physical on-site
+activities at the major emitting facility, including any such
+other physical on-site activity that--
+``(A) may be costly;
+``(B) may significantly alter the site;
+``(C) is permanent in nature; or
+``(D) is to accommodate an installation to an
+emissions unit.
+``(2) Definition of emissions unit.--In this subsection,
+the term `emissions unit' means any part of a stationary source
+that emits, or has the potential to emit, any air pollutant
+that is regulated under this title.''.
+(b) Definition.--Subparagraph (C) of section 169(2) of the Clean
+Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7479(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(C) The term `construction', when used in connection with
a major emitting facility, includes a modification (as defined
in section 111(a)) at such facility, except that for purposes
@@ -82,17 +125,30 @@
significant emissions increase, or a significant net emissions
increase, in annual actual emissions at such facility.''.
-SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF MODIFICATIONS AND MODIFIED FOR
-NONATTAINMENT AREAS.
+SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF MODIFICATIONS AND MODIFIED AND
+APPLICABILITY TO CONSTRUCTION FOR NONATTAINMENT AREAS.
-Paragraph (4) of section 171 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7501)
-is amended to read as follows:
+(a) Definition.--Paragraph (4) of section 171 of the Clean Air Act
+(42 U.S.C. 7501) is amended to read as follows:
``(4) The terms `modifications' and `modified' mean a
modification as defined in section 111(a)(4), except that such
terms do not include a change at a major emitting facility that
does not result in a significant emissions increase, or a
significant net emissions increase, in annual actual emissions
at such facility.''.
+(b) Applicability to Construction.--Section 172(c)(5) of the Clean
+Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7502(c)(5)) is amended by adding at the end the
+following: ``The construction for which a permit is required under this
+paragraph is construction that involves physical construction of the
+discrete parts of an emissions unit (as defined in section 165(f)(2))
+at a major stationary source, regardless of whether the construction
+involves other physical on-site activities at the major stationary
+source, including any such other physical on-site activity that--
+``(A) may be costly;
+``(B) may significantly alter the site;
+``(C) is permanent in nature; or
+``(D) is to accommodate an installation to an
+emissions unit.''.
SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
@@ -101,4 +157,28 @@
provision of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) if such change
would not have been so treated as of the day before the date of
enactment of this Act.
-<all>
+Union Calendar No. 542
+
+119th CONGRESS
+
+2d Session
+
+H. R. 161
+
+[Report No. 119-625]
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+A BILL
+
+To amend sections 111, 169, and 171 of the Clean Air Act to clarify
+when a physical change in, or change in the method of operation of, a
+stationary source constitutes a modification or construction, and for
+other purposes.
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+April 28, 2026
+
+Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
+House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Lobbying activity
Organizations whose LDA filings reference this bill, ranked by filing count. Position not disclosed — LDA does not require lobbyists to report support / oppose / monitor. Bill-number references can be stale (lobbyists sometimes copy text year-over-year), so verify against the filing description.
6
filings · 2026 Q3
5
filings · 2026 Q3
3
filings · 2026 Q4
3
filings · 2026 Q3
3
filings · 2026 Q3
3
filings · 2026 Q3
XCEL ENERGY INC
ENV
3
filings · 2026 Q3
PPL CORPORATION
ENV
3
filings · 2026 Q3
CMS ENERGY CORP
ENV
3
filings · 2026 Q3
3
filings · 2026 Q3
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Cosponsors (21)
Members who signed on to support this bill.