April 9, 2026
Ms. Stevens (for herself and Mr. Mrvan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To direct the Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide for collaboration between the Economic Development Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to promote economic revitalization efforts of environmentally contaminated sites, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Revitalization Efforts for Sustainable Transformation And Remediation for Thriving Communities Act of 2026
or the RESTART Communities Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Economic Development Administration and Environmental Protection Agency revitalization coordination
(a) In general
The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development (in this Act referred to as the Assistant Secretary
), and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this Act referred to as the Administrator
) shall carry out interagency activities to promote the economic revitalization of eligible sites before, during, and after environmental remediation.
(b) Memorandum of understanding
The Assistant Secretary and the Administrator may coordinate the activities under subsection (a) through the establishment of a memorandum of understanding, or other appropriate interagency agreement.
(c) Interagency activities
In carrying out the activities under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator may engage in any interagency activity, including any of the following:
(1)
Establish any interagency process to promote the economic revitalization of an eligible site, including—
(A)
any process that—
(i)
promotes timely action by the Assistant Secretary or the Administrator in supporting the economic revitalization activities of an eligible site;
(ii)
supports access by site stakeholders to technical assistance resources and services available at or through the Economic Development Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency;
(iii)
subject to policies promoting fair and open competition, supports access by site stakeholders to relevant Federal grant and loan programs, including such programs at or through the Economic Development Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency, to promote economic revitalization after environmental remediation activities; and
(iv)
supports access by site stakeholders to best practices, frameworks, and other information, as appropriate, for the development of economic revitalization plans that focus on community engagement, environmental justice, and the benefit of economically distressed communities; and
(B)
any other interagency process as determined necessary by the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator.
(2)
Support the collection of public input by site stakeholders and surrounding communities of an eligible site to promote community support for economic revitalization activities at the Economic Development Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency.
(3)
Support the development and dissemination of best practices, frameworks, and other tools, metrics, and resources to promote the success of economic revitalization of an eligible site.
(4)
Support data collection and data sharing practices, as determined by the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator, to monitor and report on the success of economic revitalization at an eligible site.
(5)
Support education, training, and workforce development activities for site stakeholders to increase the success of economic revitalization before, during, and after environmental remediation at an eligible site, including—
(A)
internships, fellowships, and other work-based learning opportunities at the Economic Development Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, subject to the availability of appropriations;
(B)
development of postsecondary or credential curriculum, experiential learning, or other project-based learning opportunities through collaboration with stakeholders that support the activities of this section; and
(C)
professional development opportunities for site stakeholders in professional fields relevant to environmental remediation or economic revitalization.
(d) Collaboration
In carrying out the activities under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator are authorized to consult other Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial governmental entities.
(e) Report
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary and the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the following:
(1)
Interagency activities between the Economic Development Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency carried out under this section.
(2)
Collaborative economic revitalization achievements at eligible sites and supporting communities as appropriate, including the engagement of site stakeholders in supporting the activities carried out under this section.
(3)
Interagency education, training, and workforce development activities for site stakeholders, including the dissemination of best practices and engagement of students to establish a robust future workforce for economic revitalization and environmental remediation.
(4)
Potential opportunities to expand the interagency activities of the Economic Development Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.
(f) Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate;
(B)
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(C)
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(2) Economic revitalization
The term economic revitalization means any effort by a site stakeholder, the Assistant Secretary, and the Administrator to establish favorable conditions for the creation of new, or retention of existing, long-term private sector job opportunities in a community, including the expansion or upgrade of existing physical infrastructure at an eligible site.
(3) Eligible site
The term eligible site means any site of current or former environmental contamination, including any current or former manufacturing facility, at which the Assistant Secretary or the Administrator plans to do, currently is doing, or has previously done any of the following:
(A)
Engage with site stakeholders.
(B)
Provide Federal funding or resources.
(C)
Provide technical assistance.
(4) Environmental contamination
The term environmental contamination means any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant that harms public safety or the surrounding environment.
(5) Site stakeholder
The term site stakeholder means any entity other than the Department of Commerce or the Environmental Protection Agency that is engaged in the economic revitalization of an eligible site.
(6) State
The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.