Some historic preservationists are alarmed at the potential effects of a bipartisan bill whose sponsors say it aims to cut red tape for infrastructure and energy production projects.

On Monday, the US Senate advanced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S.5653), introduced by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a West Virginia Republican, by a vote of 73–25. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Mike Lee, a Utah Republican; Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat; and Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat. (The current session of the Republican-controlled Senate runs through December 18; new senators will be sworn in on January 3.)