H.R. 3668 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Dec 12, 2025. Received Dec 15, 2025; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySpeeds up federal reviews for natural gas pipelines
This bill changes how the federal government reviews natural gas pipeline and LNG terminal projects. One agency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), would lead the entire environmental review process instead of multiple agencies coordinating separately. FERC would have to include other government agencies in the review, finish the environmental assessment within a set timeframe, and coordinate with state governments when pipelines might affect waterways. Project applicants would no longer need to get water quality approval from states under certain rules.
How it affects you
If you work in the natural gas or LNG industry, getting approval for new pipeline and terminal projects would move faster. For people living near proposed pipelines, the environmental review process would be streamlined but might move more quickly through the system. States would have less direct authority over water quality decisions related to these projects, though they would still be consulted during the federal review.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Sep 15, 2025)
Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act
This bill expedites the environmental review of certain natural gas pipeline projects or liquefied natural gas (LNG) import or export terminals for authorizations under the Natural Gas Act.
Specifically, the bill makes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the only lead agency for the purpose of coordinating the environmental review of such projects under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Thus, agencies involved in the environmental review process must defer to FERC's approved scope for a NEPA review.
FERC must invite certain federal, state, local, or tribal governmental agencies to participate in the review process for an authorization and designate the applicable governments as participating agencies by deadlines established by the bill. In addition, FERC must consult with the Transportation Security Administration regarding various pipeline security measures.
The bill prohibits FERC from establishing a deadline for authorizing a project that is more than 90 days after the completion of the NEPA review. It also requires concurrent reviews when multiple federal or state agencies are involved.
Applicants for projects do not have to obtain a water quality certification from states under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. FERC must coordinate its NEPA review with states where a potential discharge into navigable waters may occur.
If a federal or state agency requires an applicant for a pipeline authorization to submit data, the agency must consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that is submitted.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3668
AN ACT
Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act
Sponsor: Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC-9) · Introduced Jun 2, 2025 · Energy · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 15, 2025: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Dec 12, 2025
Passage Passed 213–184
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 7 | 182 | 24 |
| Republicans | 206 | 2 | 12 |
9 members voted against most of their party: 7 Democrats voted Yes and 2 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 4 official versions.