119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9219
This bill directs the Secretary of Defense to identify and protect fuel supply infrastructure critical to military operations, particularly in California. The Secretary can certify energy infrastructure as essential to military readiness and fuel supply chains, which makes that infrastructure extremely difficult to challenge in court—parties seeking to halt or restrict certified infrastructure must meet a very high legal bar called "clear and convincing evidence" rather than the standard legal threshold. Once infrastructure is certified, state and local lawsuits challenging it must be moved to federal court, those cases receive priority scheduling, and courts have strict timelines to rule on motions and appeals. The bill gives infrastructure operators broad legal tools to defend against challenges, including the right to sue anyone trying to interfere with certified infrastructure and to recover attorney fees if they win. The Secretary must issue initial certifications within 30 days of the bill's passage, prioritizing infrastructure already facing legal challenges or serving as the sole link between oil production and military refineries. The legislation explicitly preserves existing federal environmental and safety laws but substantially limits the ability of state and local governments to use litigation to block or restrict these fuel supply projects.