H.R. 3346: Sovereign State Environmental Quality Assurance Act

This bill, known as the Sovereign State Environmental Quality Assurance Act, proposes significant changes to environmental regulation in the United States. Here are the main components of the bill:

Abolishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The bill would effectively abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This action would take place 270 days after the bill is enacted. The key points include:

• All functions and responsibilities of the EPA would be eliminated at that time.
• The current Administrator of the EPA would be required to wind up the agency's affairs before its termination.
• A progress report on this winding-up process must be submitted to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment.
• Existing laws that authorize or require the EPA to perform any functions would be repealed.

Block Grants to State Environmental Quality Departments

With the abolishment of the EPA, the bill proposes the allocation of federal funds to state environmental quality departments. Key points include:

• Funds will be distributed to "covered States," which include all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and certain territories, based on their populations.
• States must designate specific environmental quality departments to manage and utilize these funds effectively.
• The Governor of each state must commit to auditing the use of these funds and submitting the results to the Secretary of the Treasury.
• If misuse of funds is identified, the Secretary may require repayment and withhold future funding until payment is made.
• Designated departments will use the funds for various environmental programs related to air and water quality management, hazardous waste management, chemical safety, emergency responses, and remediation of contaminated areas.
• Funding authorization for these block grants is set at $4.4 billion per year from 2026 to 2029.

Annual Study and Report

The bill requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an annual study on the effectiveness of the implemented changes and submit reports to Congress. This process will also extend for the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.

Authorization for Administration

The bill includes provisions for the Secretary of the Treasury to receive necessary appropriations to administer the allocations of funds and conduct audits related to the funds' use.

Relevant Companies

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