Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has helped introduce a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to overturn the Biden administration’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Phase II Final Rule.
The rule would add red tape to the federal permitting process for infrastructure and energy projects and undermine the congressional intent of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was designed to speed up permitting reviews.
The bill is led by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Joe Manchin (I-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Katie Britt (R-AL), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and John Hoeven (R-ND).
The resolution is led in the House by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA).
Senator Budd said in a statement:
“In order to secure American energy dominance, we desperately need common-sense permitting reform. That’s why Congress amended the National Environmental Policy Act, which streamlined the process, set shot clocks on application reviews, and let state and local governments take more responsibility. Unsurprisingly, the Biden administration is trying to bury that progress in more red tape and ignore the intent of Congress. I am proud to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up for families and workers who believe that America should get back in the business of building things.”
Senator Sullivan said:
“The Biden administration’s final NEPA Phase II rule runs roughshod over the bipartisan, bicameral consensus on streamlining federal permits for the vital infrastructure and energy projects that our country desperately needs. If allowed to stand, this rule will bog down projects with red tape, make them harder to build, put hard-working Americans out of work, and waste taxpayer dollars. My colleagues and I are putting forward a CRA to rescind the Biden administration’s ‘death by delay’ regulatory strategy, and ensure we can deliver the bridges, roads, pipelines, tunnels, ports, runways and energy projects the American people expect. I hope my colleagues will put America’s infrastructure needs and the interests of hard-working Americans above the demands of the far-left radical environmentalists.”
Senator Manchin said:
“Our broken permitting processes have caused years-long delays and cancellations of all kinds of energy projects. Congress worked in good faith with the Administration and passed legislation to set deadlines and ease some of the procedural delays in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Unfortunately, this Administration’s expanded NEPA rule goes well beyond what was agreed to and undermines that deal by encouraging agencies to run right up to the deadline and empowering activists to hold up projects in litigation. We must get back to building things, but this rule creates roadblocks that will hold us back. I am proud to work with my friends, Senator Sullivan and Representative Graves, to undo this overreaching rule that undermines the will of Congress.”
The resolution is supported by:
Agricultural Retailers Association, Alliance for Chemical Distribution, American Chemistry Council, American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute, American Council for Capital Formation, American Exploration & Production Council, American Exploration and Mining Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Forest Resource Council, American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, American Pipeline Contractors Association, American Public Gas Association, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, American Trucking Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, Association of American Railroads, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), ConservAmerica, Distribution Contractors Association, Energy Equipment & Infrastructure Alliance, Energy Workforce and Technology Council, Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia, GPA Midstream Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, Liquid Energy Pipeline Association, National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Federation of Independent Business, National Hydropower Association, National Mining Association, National Ocean Industries Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, National Sand, Stone, and Gravel Association, National Utility Contractors Association, Plastics Pipe Institute, Power and Communication Contractors Association, Public Lands Council, The Fertilizer Institute, The Hardwood Federation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Water and Sewer Distributors of America, Western Energy Alliance.
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