The House Committee on Natural Resources conducted a full committee markup of eight bipartisan bills, including three aimed at reforming the permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects. Among these is the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, which seeks to address delays in federal project approvals.
Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) commented on the committee’s actions: “Today, the Committee took an important bipartisan step toward lowering energy prices for hardworking Americans and building critical projects. The increasing demand for electricity and critical minerals is fueling new investments, and federal permitting laws must keep up. The SPEED Act eliminates bureaucratic delays that hinder projects and restores NEPA to its original purpose. The Committee’s bipartisan support for NEPA reform is a victory for government efficiency, economic growth, national security, transportation infrastructure and lower energy bills for Americans. I thank my colleagues for their hard work on the bills we advanced, and I look forward to advancing them through the legislative process.”
The SPEED Act was introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman and proposes changes to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). It aims to streamline project permitting by shortening timelines, reducing litigation, setting limits on judicial reviews, and clarifying when NEPA applies.
Another bill considered was H.R. 573, the Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act from Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.), which would require annual reporting from the Council on Environmental Quality about NEPA-related projects to increase transparency.
H.R. 4503, known as the ePermit Act and introduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), provides guidance for implementing electronic permitting systems across federal agencies.
Other measures discussed included H.R. 4386 from Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), which would allow holders of America the Beautiful annual passes to enter national parks with two motorcycles; H.R. 5131 from Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), withdrawing public land for military use; H.R. 3903 also from Begich regarding a land exchange in Chugach, Alaska; H.R. 681 from Rep. Bill Keating (D-Mass.), authorizing long-term leases for Massachusetts tribes; and H.R. 4467 from Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), conveying land at Vicksburg National Military Park to Mississippi for a new visitor center.
These bills reflect ongoing efforts within Congress to address energy needs, environmental review processes, access to public lands, tribal interests, military readiness, conservation issues in Alaska, and improvements at historical sites.
