Advocating for Permitting Overhaul, in Line with Leader Scalise's Views
In an article penned by Chad S. Whiteman, Vice President for Environment and Regulatory Affairs at the Global Energy Institute, the need for permitting reform in America is highlighted. The current permitting process is considered broken and is hindering businesses' efforts to innovate, invest, and build essential projects such as highways, housing, energy infrastructure, and broadband expansion.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Permit America to Build initiative, consisting of nearly 350 organizations, has been advocating for permitting system modernization for several years. They stress the urgent need to address the tangled and inefficient permitting process, which they describe as "broken" and burdened by lengthy delays, excessive reviews, interagency gridlock, and legal uncertainty.
The Permit America to Build initiative proposes that comprehensive permitting reform should be guided by four key principles:
- Predictability: Ensuring that permitting timelines and outcomes are reliable and consistent.
- Efficiency: Streamlining the permit approval process to reduce unnecessary delays.
- Transparency: Making the process clear and open to stakeholders.
- Stakeholder input: Incorporating feedback from affected parties throughout the permitting process.
These reforms align with broader bipartisan efforts in Congress, such as hearings in the House Natural Resources Committee focusing on restoring common sense to environmental reviews under NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and proposed legislation like the PERMIT Act and FREE Act, which aim to clarify and expedite processes under the Clean Water Act and implement "permit by rule" procedures for faster approvals while maintaining environmental protections.
The article emphasizes the need to address critical challenges such as energy security, the global AI race, and economic competitiveness by building the necessary infrastructure for the nation's future. The Chamber is working with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to craft solutions that deliver results for businesses, communities, and the environment.
Bipartisan interest in permitting reform is growing, with lawmakers recognizing that delays hurt all sectors. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise have expressed a desire for permitting reform this fall. The Chamber is urging Congress to prioritize permitting reform in the next infrastructure bill to build the future faster, smarter, and together through infrastructure development.
The goal is to enact durable, comprehensive reform that applies across sectors and withstands political shifts, ensuring that America can compete on the global stage and secure a bright and prosperous future for all.
- The current permitting process in America, as highlighted in an article by Chad S. Whiteman, is deterring businesses from innovating, investing, and building essential projects like infrastructure for energy, commerce, and housing.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, through its Permit America to Build initiative, has been advocating for years to modernize the permitting system, emphasizing the need to address its tangled and inefficient nature.
- The Permit America to Build initiative proposes that reforms should be guided by principles such as predictability, efficiency, transparency, and stakeholder input to streamline the process and reduce unnecessary delays.
- In line with these efforts, Congress is holding hearings to restore common sense to environmental reviews and is considering legislation like the PERMIT Act and FREE Act, aimed at expediting processes and maintaining environmental protections.
- Bipartisan interest in permitting reform is growing, with lawmakers understanding that delays hinder all sectors, including industry, finance, and the broader economy.
- The Chamber is working with lawmakers from both parties to prioritize permitting reform in the next infrastructure bill, with the goal of enacting comprehensive, durable reform that applies across sectors and ensures America's competitiveness on the global stage.
