Manufacturing Associations Push for Permitting Reform

Members of the National Association of Manufacturers’ Council of Manufacturing Associations, a network of more than 200 national manufacturing trade associations, have joined the NAM’s all-out push for action on permitting reform.

• Together with the NAM, they are urging Congress to advance the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act to deliver long-overdue reforms to our nation’s permitting process that costs manufacturers at least $8 billion annually.

Broad support: From energy to infrastructure to transportation and beyond, manufacturing associations are making the case for action. Here’s a sampling of what industry leaders are saying:

• Association of American Railroads: “Too often, freight rail infrastructure projects are delayed or paused for years because of burdensome environmental reviews, slowing critical efforts to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of America’s national rail network,” said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “The commonsense provisions included in the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act represent an important step forward toward comprehensive permitting reform.”

• American Gas Association: “The momentum is here. The coalition is here. The need is undeniable. The time to pass durable permitting reform is now.”
• American Cement Association: “Nothing gets built in America without cement, and too little gets built on time because the federal permitting system takes too long and invites endless litigation. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act addresses both problems. It sets firm deadlines for environmental reviews, modernizes permitting procedures for the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act, places reasonable limits on legal challenges and ensures that a permit, once issued, can be relied upon.”
• American Chemistry Council: “The legislation would modernize federal environmental review and permitting processes for infrastructure projects, provide greater certainty for federal permits and authorizations, and help enable the all-of-the-above energy resources needed to meet America’s growing energy and manufacturing demands.”
• American Clean Power Association: “The American Clean Power Association greatly appreciates the leadership of Sens. Capito, Whitehouse, Lee and Heinrich in developing strong, technology-neutral permitting reform legislation that includes an administration commitment to approve wind projects. All energy industries must be able to confidently rely on the durability of federal permitting decisions. The transmission provisions will also enhance grid reliability and enable economic growth.”

Read the whole thing: Check out the full list of association statements here.

The bottom line: As NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said when the Senate introduced the bill, “This is an opportunity Congress should seize. We urge Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to act and for all senators to advance critical permitting reforms—and once the Senate acts, for the House to move expeditiously to get this legislation across the finish line.”

Learn more: Check out the NAM’s advocacy work on permitting reform here.