NAM Leads 100+ Manufacturing, Business Groups to Push Senate on Bipartisan Permitting Reform
The NAM is leading a nationwide push to get bipartisan permitting reform across the finish line, mobilizing more than 100 manufacturing and business organizations to urge Senate leaders to swiftly pass S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act.
A united front: Spearheaded by the NAM, the coalition includes members of the NAM’s Council of Manufacturing Associations and Conference of State Manufacturers Associations, along with other leading manufacturing and business organizations representing companies across the country and industries throughout the manufacturing economy.
- “Reforming our permitting processes will make it easier and more cost-efficient for manufacturers to get shovels in the ground on job-creating projects,” the organizations—which represent manufacturing, energy, transportation, construction, chemicals and equipment businesses—told Senate leadership on Tuesday.
- “Finalizing and passing S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, is a 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.”
- The NAM—which has long urged Congress to remove unnecessary roadblocks hamstringing vital infrastructure—was at the forefront of the permitting reform movement.
Leading the charge: The coalition letter marks the latest step in the NAM’s push to fix our nation’s broken permitting system, building on months of advocacy, engagement with lawmakers, shop floor visits and national media outreach.
- The NAM has made the case that permitting delays are holding back manufacturing investment, delaying critical energy and infrastructure projects and driving up costs for businesses and families.
The cost of inaction: Permitting delays cost manufacturers at least $8 billion annually—resources that could otherwise support new jobs, expanded operations and investments in local communities.
- “That’s money not being spent on hiring new workers, expanding shop floors or going back into the local economy,” the groups continued.
Senators take notice: The NAM-led effort is generating attention on Capitol Hill and across national media.
- Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) and Mike Lee (R-UT) took to social media to mention the coalition’s communique to Senate leaders.
- The effort was exclusively covered by Punchbowl (subscription), POLITICO Pro (subscription), Axios, The Washington Examiner and Inside Critical Minerals (subscription).
- Punchbowl News reporter Josh Siegel also highlighted the NAM-led coalition push on X.
The final say: “Manufacturers are ready to build in America; we just need the certainty and a modernized permitting process to make it happen,” the coalition concluded.
