HR-5270 : Still Just a Bill

H.R. 5270, a bill introduced in the House of Representatives, aims to amend Title 10 of the United States Code to broaden the Secretary of Defense's authority to carry out environmental restoration projects. Specifically, the bill focuses on enabling such projects at facilities of the National Guard and the Air National Guard.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Revising the definition of "facility" in Section 2700 of Title 10 to remove restrictions related to State ownership and Department of Defense jurisdiction. This change allows environmental restoration projects to proceed regardless of the facility's owner, operator, or jurisdictional status.
• Including National Guard facilities under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program in Section 2701 of Title 10.
• Amending Section 2703(g)(1) to include National Guard facilities in the context of environmental restoration accounts.
• Making technical and conforming amendments, such as repealing Section 2707(e) and updating a reference in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.

In essence, the bill seeks to streamline and expand the scope of environmental restoration efforts at National Guard and Air National Guard facilities by granting the Secretary of Defense greater flexibility and authority.