House Republicans on Thursday kicked off an end-of-year legislative blitz aimed at easing federal regulations that slow or block energy and infrastructure development.
The House easily passed a sweeping measure that would reduce the reach of the Clean Water Act, a 1972 water pollution law that critics say added years of delays to critical road, housing and pipeline projects.
The Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today, or PERMIT Act, would overhaul the permitting process under the law by streamlining the review process, cutting red tape and limiting environmental lawsuits that now delay critical projects, such as dams, roads and pipelines, by months or years.
It passed 221-205.
“Without reforming the Clean Water Act, America cannot efficiently build roads, build bridges or pipelines, or ponds of dams, airports, homes, farms and other infrastructure that we need,” Transportation and Infrastructure committee Sam Graves, Missouri Republican, said.
The measure won the backing of more than 60 organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Public Power Association, the National Mining Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
The National Taxpayers Union said the measure will end the “delay-to-die” strategy employed by environmental groups who engage in prolonged lawsuits to block energy projects.
“Regulatory barriers aren’t just a bureaucratic headache for businesses, but are a hidden tax on economic growth and energy security,” the NTU said in a statement.
The measure picked up support from six Democrats. Those who voted against it argued it would significantly limit the authority of states to independently evaluate federal projects, including new pipelines.
“The result will be more pollution in our nation’s rivers, streams and lakes, thanks to loopholes, legal shields and limited oversight of polluters,” Rep. Rick Larsen, Washington Democrat, said.
Republicans said the legislation stops states from weaponizing the Clean Water Act to block critical projects that are politically unpalatable, including energy pipelines.
Washington, New York and Oregon used Section 401 of the Clean Water Act to deny water quality permits needed for fossil fuel projects, including liquid natural gas pipelines and coal export terminals.
The PERMIT Act includes a package of other reform measures introduced in the House, including the Water Quality Standards Attainability Act, which would limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to block state and local water projects.
Rep. Jefferson Shreve, Indiana Republican, authored the measure after the Biden EPA revoked approvals for state and local water quality standards after previously approving them.
“This approval was revoked for the infrastructure updates that were already well underway, costing our taxpayers needless millions,” Mr. Shreve said. “This unpredictability has been a practice of our federal government for too long. My legislation will ensure that this regulatory whiplash is in our rear-view mirror.”
