100+ Manufacturing, Business Groups Urge Congress to Pass Bipartisan Permitting Deal
Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Manufacturers, joined by members of its Council of Manufacturing Associations, Conference of State Manufacturers Associations and other leading manufacturing and business organizations, sent a coalition letter urging Congress to swiftly pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. Representing businesses across the country and industries throughout the manufacturing economy, the coalition called on lawmakers to advance the bipartisan permitting deal to reduce costly delays, provide greater certainty for investment and make it easier to build and expand manufacturing operations in America.
The full letter can be read below. The list of 100+ signers can be found here.
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Dear Majority Leader Thune and Minority Leader Schumer,
The undersigned organizations, members of the NAM’s Council of Manufacturing Associations and Conference of State Manufacturers Associations and other aligned manufacturing and business organizations, represent businesses, manufacturers, and energy producers that employ millions of Americans in every industrial sector and in every state, as well as U.S. territories and Puerto Rico. We write in strong and unified support for S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act and respectfully urge you to bring it to the Senate floor for immediate consideration.
Our organizations applaud the hard work that the bipartisan negotiators have done to find practical solutions to the challenges our industry faces in permitting projects to expand and grow manufacturing. It is a testament to our democracy that leaders from both parties can come together to seek common ground and address the major challenges that are facing our industry in the United States. Reforming our permitting processes will make it easier and more cost-efficient for manufacturers to get shovels in the ground on job-creating projects.
Finalizing and passing S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, is an historic opportunity to deliver long-overdue reforms to our nation’s permitting process while maintaining America’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Manufacturers cannot afford inaction.
Our nation’s broken permitting system affects projects in every industry and of every energy source, directly contributing to the rising cost of electricity to homeowners and businesses. Right now, in the United States, it takes 80% longer to get a permit authorized for a manufacturing facility than it does in any other free market economy.
Permitting delays cost manufacturers at least $8 billion every year. That’s money not being spent on hiring new workers, expanding shop floors, or going back into the local economy. Manufacturers are ready to build in America; we just need the certainty and a modernized permitting process to make it happen.
Should the Senate pass this critical legislation, we would call on the House to move expeditiously to consider the bipartisan comprehensive agreement and deliver this manufacturing win to the American people.
Now is the time for action. Manufacturers are ready to build, and modernized permitting will help us race to the future. Thank you for your leadership and dedication to supporting manufacturers in the United States.
-NAM-
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $3 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for nearly 52% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.
