The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has commended President Biden and Congress for the enactment of the bipartisan Building Chips in America Act, which aims to bolster semiconductor production. Marty Durbin, senior vice president of policy at the Chamber, emphasized the necessity for broader permitting reforms.
According to a press release by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Durbin said that the Building Chips in America Act represents a "win" for U.S. semiconductor leadership and national security. He also highlighted the need for broader "permitting reforms" to support infrastructure development and economic growth.
Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), has expressed support for the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2021. According to a press release, Timmons advocated for this legislation as a means to reduce reliance on China for semiconductor chips and critical minerals. "These developments are absolutely critical for us to be able to compete with China," he said. Timmons further added that as this legislation progresses, many commonsense policies outlined in it will help unlock the full potential of the industry, bolster national energy security, and create American jobs.
Timmons said that streamlining permitting processes, cutting red tape, requiring timely decisions from federal agencies, and reducing baseless litigation would prevent delays that disadvantage manufacturers compared to other countries. He emphasized that America should not be content with a system where project approvals can take up to 15 years when other countries achieve similar standards in significantly less time.
The Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 (EPRA) is described by the Bipartisan Policy Center as a bipartisan bill aimed at reforming permit processes for U.S. energy projects to make them faster and more affordable. EPRA includes provisions such as lowering the statute of limitations from six years to 150 days for filing against permitting decisions and setting a six-month maximum for agencies to file remand cases. The legislation seeks to balance affordable energy development with environmental concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions.
