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H.R. 161119th CongressPlaced on the calendarLatest action Apr 28, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 161 redefines "modification" under the Clean Air Act, making it easier for facilities to upgrade without new pollution permits.
35-second read · 4 questions answered below
HR 161 changes how the Clean Air Act determines when a facility change counts as a "modification" triggering stricter pollution permits. It redefines "increase" as a higher maximum hourly emission rate compared to any hour in the past 10 years, rather than annual totals, and generally exempts efficiency or safety upgrades from permitting unless EPA finds they would harm health or the environment.
Affects industrial facilities like power plants, refineries, and manufacturing sites, along with the EPA, which enforces Clean Air Act permitting programs.
Supporters say it would make upgrading aging equipment cheaper and easier; critics warn it could let facilities increase actual pollution without required environmental review.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: it was placed on the House floor calendar, and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542.