Rep. Stevens Introduces RESTART Communities Act to Clean Up Contaminated Sites and Spur Economic Development
Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Haley Stevens, alongside Rep. Frank Mrvan (IN-01), introduced the Revitalization Efforts for Sustainable Transformation and Remediation for Thriving (RESTART) Communities Act of 2026, legislation focused on revitalizing industrial communities across America.
Many communities home to current or former industrial sites often face long-term economic challenges due to the lasting presence of environmental contaminants. These areas often struggle to attract investment, create jobs, and fully recover without federal support.
The RESTART Communities Act directs the Department of Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency to collaborate to support the redevelopment of contaminated sites across the country. The bill federalizes the “RACER Trust” model that has revitalized sites around Michigan, and simplifies federal coordination to empower local communities to create new economic opportunities and protect public health and the environment.
“No one wants to revitalize America’s industrial communities more than the people who call them home, but they often lack the resources and expertise needed to create new opportunities,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “By transforming shuttered manufacturing sites into hubs of new economic activity, the RESTART Communities Act will lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen local economies across our state.”
Congressman Mrvan stated, “In Northwest Indiana and in manufacturing regions across the country, we must ensure communities have the full and efficient support of the federal government for remediation programs. I am proud to join Rep. Stevens in supporting this necessary initiative to promote streamlined processes and success for revitalizing local economies.”
“Too many communities in Michigan and across the country are dealing with legacy pollution from contaminated sites left behind by industry, and we need more tools for remediation and cleanup. We appreciate Congresswoman Stevens’ leadership with the introduction of the RESTART Communities Act, which will make sure that as many resources as possible can go toward remediation and revitalization of contaminated vacant sites,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Local communities need all levels of government to be working together to better protect health, and the collaboration created by the RESTART Communities Act will help prevent the public’s exposure to pollution, attract reinvestment for new businesses, and ensure that taxpayer resources are used effectively in the cleanup Process.”
“In creating a framework to accelerate the cleanup and redevelopment of impacted properties through interagency collaboration and sharing of resources, the RESTART Communities Act offers important tools to return these properties to productive use. Many of the successes RACER Trust has achieved to date resulted from a high degree of interagency coordination and close collaboration between RACER and the public sector at all levels,” said Elliott P. Laws, Administrative Trustee, RACER Trust. “Representative Stevens was a key figure in the creation of RACER Trust in 2011 and has been a steadfast supporter of our mission ever since. The application of our mandate has resulted in tens of thousands of new jobs and significant reductions in risks to human health and the environment in communities across the Midwest and Eastern United States. We urge Congress to pass the RESTART Communities Act.”
The RESTART Communities Act would:
Strengthen coordination between the Department of Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency to support the cleanup and redevelopment of old industrial sites.
Expand access to federal funding and technical assistance for local communities.
Develop and share best practices for site cleanup and redevelopment.
Invest in workforce training and job creation tied to site cleanup and redevelopment.
Improve data sharing and transparency to track progress and outcomes.
By pairing environmental cleanup with economic development, the legislation will help transform contaminated sites into productive assets, creating jobs and new opportunities, ultimately RESTARTing our communities and giving them a new chance at prosperity.
The legislation is endorsed by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, RACER Trust, Oakland County, the Detroit Regional Chamber, and Mayor of Pontiac Mike McGuinness.
The bill is also endorsed by United Wholesale Mortgage, a Pontiac-based business that operates on a successfully redeveloped RACER Trust site.
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