Debt Ceiling Bill Also Includes Permitting Reform

Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation last week that would raise the federal government’s borrowing limit in exchange for reducing federal spending and approving certain policy changes.

Specifically, as E&E News reported, the debt ceiling bill includes the “Lower Energy Costs Act,” which, if enacted into law, would reform permitting for all types of energy production on federal lands and waters. The debt ceiling bill also includes H.R. 277, the “REINS Act,” which would implement a significant rollback on executive agency authority by requiring that major agency rules be approved by Congress.

The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) supports both of those policy changes.

As Connecting the Dots reported a few weeks ago, the U.S. House approved the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30 by a vote of 225-204. Four Democrats joined all but one Republican lawmakers in supporting the legislation.

The bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), would boost U.S. competitiveness by expanding fossil fuel production and exports and domestic mining and accelerate the approval process for energy and other infrastructure projects.

MSCI believes the U.S. permitting system is fundamentally broken and it is delaying the investments the country desperately needs. It should never take longer to get a permit than it does to build a project, which is what often happens now. As Connecting the Dots reported last month, MSCI signed onto letters with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) and the National Association of Manufacturers supporting passage of the legislation.

The USCC also has launched a page where Americans can learn more about the importance of this legislation. View it here. The USCC also recently outlined how these permitting reforms could help the United States address climate change. Read more here.