Lawmakers in both parties have been talking up the prospect of a bipartisan permitting reform deal this Congress, but if Tuesday’s House Natural Resources hearing offered any clues, they have a long way to go.
The four-hour hearing on the “permitting purgatory” featured familiar talking points from Republicans about how National Environmental Policy Act reviews have become “limitless and excruciating exercises.”
“If we want to ensure a future where America remains a beacon of Liberty and freedom, we must reform our permitting processes to bolster energy and national security and enhance American economic competitiveness,” said Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).
Democrats, in turn, countered that NEPA offers the “cornerstone of democracy and good governance.” And they noted some permitting changes were already included in the 2023 debt ceiling negotiations.
