Permitting Improvement Fund

(a) Establishment There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the Permitting Improvement Fund (referred to in this section as the Fund). (b) Purpose The purpose of the Fund is to improve the performance of key permitting agencies with respect to timely environmental reviews and authorizations required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). (c) Transfer authority Amounts in the Fund shall be available to the Chairman to transfer to a key permitting agency for 1 or more uses described in subsection (d). (d) Use of amounts Amounts transferred under subsection (c) shall be used by a key permitting agency— (1) to support interagency detailee and rotation opportunities; (2) to facilitate professional development; (3) to enhance support for agency project managers; (4) to support standardizing processes among regional and field offices; (5) to improve opportunities for public engagement; or (6) for any other use, as determined by the Chairman, consistent with the purpose of the Fund. (e) Effect on decisionmaking The use of funds under subsection (d) by a key permitting agency shall not impact the impartial decisionmaking of the key permitting agency with respect to environmental reviews or authorizations, either procedurally or substantively. (f) Authorization of appropriation There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033.