Hundreds of Businesses, Non-Profits Call on Congress to Expedite Federal Infrastructure Permits

Along with 350 other business organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has urged Congress to update America’s in procedures in order to make room for the construction of the future equipment.

The group expressed their displeasure with the antiquated, ineffective, and erratic facilitating system that has stymied the growth of both public and private sector infrastructure projects in a letter to congressional officials.

According to the radical figures, national takes typically takes between 4.5 and 7.5 year.

The email stated that a broken permitting system is currently the single biggest barrier to building the base of the future. By passing meaningful, long-lasting legislation to modernize America’s permitting procedures before the end of the summer,” We are calling on Congress to” Permit America to Build.”

In order to approach people and goods more quickly and effectively, the group emphasized the significance of investing in highways, crosses, transport systems, ports, as well as different power production, transmission, and submission projects.

According to Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,” Our permitting system is fundamentally flawed and it is delaying the investments that we desperately need in energy, transportation, broadband, technology, and countless other sectors.” ” Obtaining a force shouldn’t ever take longer than creating an actual project.”

Signees, who have representation all over the nation, emphasized that crucial infrastructure may be built if the permitting process continues to be ineffective and uncertain.

According to Mary Beth Sewald, president and CEO of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce,” we have discovered that archaic national permitting systems are preventing these tasks from getting started.” Financial growth, job development, and public health are all harmed by this.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) has been a strong proponent of permitting reform. 

Manchin supported the Inflation Reduction Act last year with a significant cut vote in the perfectly polarized Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer( D-N ) in exchange Y .) vowed to introduce legislation that would simplify the application of new energy work.

Climate organizations voiced their disapproval, claiming that it might hasten the development of fossil fuels.

Last September, Manchin faced bipartisan pushback and withdrew the reform measures that he had initially attached to a must-pass government funding bill. This decision left the permitting reform bill in limbo. 

The team is still hopeful that significant and long-lasting legislation may be passed before the end of the summer, even though Legislative leaders have not yet responded to the letter.