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HR 8238

RESTART Communities Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Frank Mrvan and 1 co-sponsor

The act coordinates EDA and EPA to revitalize environmentally contaminated sites by joint actions, funding access, and community-focused planning for jobs and justice.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8238

Summary of H.R. 8238 (118th Congress) – RESTART Communities Act of 2026

Note: This summary reflects the text as introduced April 9, 2026. The bill focuses on interagency coordination to promote economic revitalization at environmentally contaminated sites.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill aims to facilitate collaboration between the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promote economic revitalization at sites affected by environmental contamination.
  • The overarching goal is to support community revitalization before, during, and after environmental remediation, aligning environmental cleanup with job creation and economic development.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

  • Interagency Collaboration (Section 2(a))

    • Mandates joint activities by the Secretary of Commerce (via the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development) and the EPA Administrator to promote economic revitalization at eligible sites surrounding environmental remediation efforts.

  • Memorandum of Understanding (Section 2(b))

    • Allows the two agencies to establish an MOU or similar interagency agreement to coordinate efforts.

  • Interagency Activities (Section 2(c))

    • Establishes processes to promote economic revitalization at eligible sites, including:
    • Expedited, coordinated actions by the Assistant Secretary and EPA Administrator.
    • Access for site stakeholders to technical assistance from EDA and EPA.
    • Access to federal grants and loan programs (subject to fair and open competition policies) to support revitalization after remediation.
    • Access to best practices, frameworks, and information for developing economic revitalization plans that emphasize community engagement and environmental justice.
    • Additional interagency processes as deemed necessary.
    • Data, education, and workforce development components:
    • Support for data collection and sharing to monitor progress.
    • Education, training, and workforce development for site stakeholders, including internships, fellowships, curriculum development, and professional development opportunities.

  • Collaboration (Section 2(d))

    • Encourages consultation with other federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities as needed.

  • Reporting (Section 2(e))

    • Requires a report to Congress within 3 years detailing:
    • The interagency activities undertaken.
    • Collaborative revitalization achievements and stakeholder engagement.
    • Education, training, and workforce development outcomes.
    • Opportunities to expand interagency collaboration.

  • Definitions (Section 2(f))

    • Clarifies terms:
    • Eligible site: sites of current/former environmental contamination where agencies plan to engage or have engaged in revitalization activities.
    • Economic revitalization: efforts to create or retain long-term private-sector jobs and improve infrastructure.
    • Environmental contamination: hazardous substances or pollutants harming public safety or the environment.
    • Site stakeholder: entities other than the federal agencies involved in revitalization.
    • Appropriate congressional committees: Senate Environment and Public Works; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Energy and Commerce.

3) Who and What is Affected

  • Federal Agencies: UEDA (EDA) and EPA are the primary implementing agencies.
  • Site Stakeholders: Local governments, community groups, developers, employers, workers, and other non-federal entities involved in remediation and revitalization efforts.
  • Communities: Neighborhoods surrounding eligible sites, with emphasis on environmental justice and economic opportunities.
  • Congress: Receives annual or periodic reporting on progress and effectiveness.

4) Timelines and Procedural Aspects

  • Implementation Timeline: The act requires a report to Congress within 3 years of enactment detailing activities, outcomes, and potential expansion opportunities.
  • Authorization and Oversight: Establishes interagency coordination mechanisms and reporting duties; procedural specifics (e.g., funding allocations, grant eligibility) would be governed by the interagency agreement and existing federal programs, subject to appropriations.

5) Potential Impacts

  • Streamlined cooperation between economic development and environmental cleanup efforts.
  • Increased access to federal support (grants/loans) for revitalizing former or former-contaminated sites.
  • Emphasis on community engagement, workforce development, and environmental justice in revitalization plans.
  • Data-driven evaluation of success and a framework for expanding interagency collaboration if proven effective.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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