Bipartisan Permitting Reform Clears Senate Hurdle

The NAM-backed permitting reform deal cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate yesterday with strong bipartisan support (The Hill). The vote marks an important milestone following months of NAM advocacy to bring lawmakers from both parties together to support meaningful permitting reform.

The NAM’s voice: The day began with NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons urging policymakers to advance the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act on NewsNation’s “Morning in America”, citing the NAM’s research showing that permitting-related costs burden manufacturers more than $12 billion annually.

• “If you have delays and you’re constantly paying to update your permits, but you’re not getting anything built, or you’re putting money into energy bills that are not being used for productive purposes, that money is not being used for useful purposes. And at some point, those costs are passed on to consumers. … So this will obviously help reduce the cost of doing business here in the United States, and that’s good for everybody, not just manufacturers and manufacturing workers, but also folks who actually buy our products,” Timmons told “Morning in America” host Markie Martin.
• He thanked Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Mike Lee (R-UT) for “coming together” to clear the way for manufacturing investment and helping to secure the energy abundance that the industry needs to keep growing.

NAM at work: The NAM has spent years championing comprehensive permitting reform, intensifying its advocacy as BAAJA took shape. Through its national “Building to Win” campaign for infrastructure investment and permitting reform, the NAM has run ads, hosted numerous facility visits, mobilized coalitions, published new research highlighting the economic costs of permitting delays and worked directly with policymakers to advance manufacturers’ priorities.

• The NAM’s work on permitting reform has also been extensively highlighted by policymakers and the press. Most recently, a press release from Sen. Capito’s office and the Center Square both highlighted the NAM’s data on permitting costs.

Building bipartisan support: The NAM brought together more than 100 manufacturing and business organizations through its Council of Manufacturing Associations and Conference of State Manufacturers Associations to urge Congress to swiftly pass the BAAJA.

What’s next: The Senate will debate the legislation, consider amendments and vote on a substitute amendment before a final vote. If passed, the bill would move to the House for consideration.

The last word: “Today, senators rose above politics to advance BAAJA. We thank bipartisan negotiators Sens. Capito, Whitehouse, Lee and Heinrich and those who voted yes,” said Timmons following the vote. “With $12.1B in annual costs at stake, BAAJA could save manufacturers $4.2B while advancing environmental stewardship and community input. Congress must finish the job.”