The House’s big permitting bill cleared a key hurdle Monday night, but opposition from right-wing members and offshore wind antagonists portends trouble on the floor.
The House Rules Committee teed up the “SPEED Act,” bipartisan legislation that would narrow the scope of environmental review for major energy and infrastructure projects, for floor debate.
But the panel — which works closely with the chamber’s leadership — defied House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) on a key demand: the removal of language added in the Natural Resources Committee that would make it harder for an administration to revoke a project permit.
That’s causing him and other offshore wind opponents — who want President Donald Trump to go after those projects — to threaten to block the legislation by voting against the “rule” for debate.
As he walked into the Rules Committee hearing Monday evening, Harris claimed there were “enough” bill detractors to reject the rule resolution as soon as Tuesday. Rule votes are usually along party lines.
“If it comes down with the … amendment still attached, it’s going to have a bad day tomorrow,” Harris told POLITICO’s E&E News.
Harris declined to reveal exactly how many Republicans were ready to block the “SPEED Act,” along with other bills covered by the same rule. Those include legislation on the grid, mining and gray wolves.
When asked about the opposition’s strength, offshore wind foe Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) said, “We have enough.”
Even though the Rules Committee didn’t strike the offending language outright, it’s allowing a floor vote on an amendment to the same effect. The panel also made in order an amendment that would exempt offshore wind from some of the bill’s permit streamlining provisions.
But those amendments are likely to fail, and then the bill would likely pass with some Democratic votes. That’s why Harris and his allies want to prevent it from even getting on the floor.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of the Freedom Caucus who has railed against federal support for renewable energy, had also expressed concern about the “SPEED Act,” but he voted in Rules to let it move forward.
The legislation, formally H.R. 4776, the “Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act,” from Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), would rewrite the National Environmental Policy Act and considerably reduce the statute of limitations for people and groups trying to block projects of all kinds.
The bill is also central broader permitting talks with the Senate. The demise of the “SPEED Act” would seriously weaken the House’s leverage in bicameral talks.
Proponents point out the legislation would prevent a Democratic administration from targeting projects approved under a GOP president. But Harris argued an administration should be able to review the actions of its predecessor.
The legislation has been a priority for Westerman, who could be entering his final year leading the Natural Resources panel and has gone to great lengths to gin up support.
During the Rules Committee hearing Monday, Westerman argued his bill aimed to fix NEPA’s “convoluted mess.” He called it a procedural law that needlessly delays public infrastructure projects.
Natural Resources ranking member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said he wanted to work across the aisle on permitting but said the legislation should do more to stop Trump’s attacks on green energy. He said the “SPEED Act” was nothing more than a “Merry Christmas” to “Big Oil.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged members Monday to vote for the bill, arguing it would cut red tape, reduce litigation, limit the scope of environmental reviews and foster investment certainty. Numerous other GOP-aligned groups are also lobbying for the bill.
“Permitting reform is not just a business issue,” the Chamber wrote. “It is a national priority.”
