WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Manufacturing Associations Rally Behind Bipartisan Permitting Bill
Washington, D.C. – Manufacturing associations representing industries across the U.S. economy are voicing strong support for S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, urging Congress to advance the bipartisan legislation to deliver long-overdue reforms to our nation’s permitting process.
Members of the National Association of Manufacturers’ Council of Manufacturing Associations, a network of more than 200 national manufacturing trade associations, are highlighting the urgent need to cut costly delays that cost manufacturers at least $8 billion annually, provide greater certainty for investment and make it easier to build and expand in America.
Here’s what they 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. Thank you to Sens. Capito, Lee, Heinrich and Whitehouse for their steadfast commitment to streamlining the nation’s permitting laws. Your efforts will ensure that America’s nearly 200-year-old freight rail industry remains the envy of the world and continues to meet our nation’s freight transportation demand for years to come.”
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. America cannot build, power and compete without modern infrastructure. Whether it’s expanding energy production, strengthening manufacturing or building next-generation infrastructure, projects cannot move forward if permitting delays and regulatory uncertainty stand in the way.”
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.”
American Petroleum Institute: “We need to build big things to meet the demands of the future. API’s Dustin Meyer explains why modernizing our broken permitting process is essential to moving critical infrastructure projects forward. Now is the time for Congress to deliver comprehensive reform and get America building.”
Electric Power Supply Association: “The competitive power supplier community congratulates the members of Congress (and their staff) who reached this agreement on comprehensive permitting reform, and we are grateful for their hard work and dogged determination. EPSA looks forward to diving into the legislative details but is encouraged that Congress continues to recognize that the energy industry is at a rare inflection point. Demand for electricity is rising, and the energy infrastructure, including power plants, transmission lines and natural gas pipelines, required to supply that demand needs a more efficient and predictable path for investment.”
Information Technology Industry Council: “Comprehensive permitting reform is essential to America’s ability to build, compete and lead—especially in the AI era. Greater certainty, lower costs and faster deployment of critical infrastructure will help power the next era of American growth while maintaining important environmental safeguards.”
Independent Petroleum Association of America: “The momentum is here. The coalition is here. The need is undeniable. The time to pass durable #permittingreform is now.”
National Asphalt Pavement Association: “Our industry has long urged Congress to address delays caused by the cumbersome permitting process, and the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act would do just that,” said NAPA Vice President of Government Affairs Nile Elam. “By speeding up project delivery and providing greater certainty, this bill would benefit the asphalt pavement industry and every community that relies on a first-class road network.”
National Mining Association: “Permitting reform is a key that unlocks countless doors. It provides certainty and efficiency and allows capital to flow into communities and projects here, rather than overseas. From mines to assembly lines, more predictable permitting can help strengthen domestic investment, supply chains and the industrial base.”
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association: “Coming on the heels of a successful fly-in, NSSGA is supportive of the Senate’s work on comprehensive permitting reform legislation. NSSGA members and representatives from the construction materials industry were on the Hill advocating for our priority issues. We urge the Senate to continue its work on our industries’ ask for permitting reform, which is critical for building, maintaining and improving America’s infrastructure.”
Natural Gas Supply Association: “Thank you to @SenArmstrong for highlighting the importance of permitting reform and your continued leadership on this critical issue. As energy demand continues to grow, permitting reform is essential to building the infrastructure needed to deliver America’s abundant natural gas resources to the communities that depend on it.”
National Electrical Manufacturers Association: “American families need affordable and reliable electricity, and that requires building the energy infrastructure to power a modern economy,” said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips. “We commend the bipartisan cooperation of Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), whose leadership has been instrumental in developing this legislation.
“NEMA is pleased that the bill would expedite transmission permitting, require the use of proven advanced transmission technologies and provide greater legal and investment certainty. The effect is reduced project development costs, timely capacity expansions and reliability and affordability for American families and businesses. America’s electrical manufacturers urge Congress to advance this bill as soon as possible and get it to the president’s desk.”
Solar Energy Industries Association: “This is exactly the kind of bipartisan action America needs to meet growing energy demand, put downward pressure on energy prices and deploy more affordable, reliable solar and storage for American families and businesses.”
Steel Manufacturers Association:“SMA applauds @SenCapito, @SenWhitehouse, @SenMikeLee and @SenatorHeinrich for working together on this monumental effort, which allows American manufacturers to build. We look forward to working with Congress to move this meaningful legislation across the finish line.”
-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.
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