House of Representatives Passes Rep. Collins' Permitting Reform Package

Washington, D.C. – Today, the United States House of Representatives passed Rep. Collins' (R-GA) H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act, to cut red tape, streamline review processes, and make permitting under the Clean Water Act (CWA) more efficient and transparent.

This bill will have an immediate impact on energy producers, the agriculture industry, home and road builders, water utilities, and everyday Americans regulated under the CWA by allowing critical infrastructure projects to be built more quickly and efficiently. These reforms are designed to reduce burdensome regulatory requirements, protect against frivolous lawsuits, and increase transparency, while ensuring clean water protections. 

Rep. Collins released the following statement after the bill's passage:

“As we enter a new era with a renewed focus on domestic energy production and growth, this legislation delivers the tools that our country needs to build faster, smarter, and safer,” said Subcommittee Chairman Collins. “When I was appointed as Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, I put myself on a mission to make our government more efficient and productive for the American people. I am proud to say that we are doing just that with the PERMIT Act.”

The legislation is supported by over 100 national manufacturing, small business, agricultural, and energy groups, as well as the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Ports Authority, Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Power, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, and the Georgia Forestry Association.

Georgia Farm Bureau: "We are proud to support the PERMIT Act (HR 3898). This bill ends EPA overreach, cuts red tape and keeping family farms competitive with less regulated competitors. HR 3898 aligns with Sackett, ends unnecessary permits on ditches & prior converted cropland, and saves Georgia farmers millions in compliance costs. We urge swift passage to protect family farms." 

Oglethorpe Power: "During this time of unprecedented growth and planning, it is imperative that federal permitting programs, including those under the CWA, are implemented as intended by Congress and do not unnecessarily delay or hinder critical energy projects, or burden the homes, businesses and farms our member EMCs serve with unreasonable costs."

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation: "The PERMIT Act would reduce overly burdensome regulatory requirements, protect against frivolous lawsuits, and increase certainty, transparency and efficiency in the CWA permitting process while maintaining important environmental protections."

Background

The PERMIT Act:

• Cuts the red tape that drives up utility and service costs, letting communities build faster and keep prices down.
• Helps speed up building approvals that hold housing hostage, lowering construction costs, and getting homes built sooner.
• Moves to end permitting gridlock that stalls road and bridge projects, saving money and delivering safer, faster travel.
• Provides needed clarity and certainty to assist with dredging and construction to facilitate ports moving goods cheaply and efficiently, strengthening supply chains and lowering costs.
• Clears out delays that block upgrades to failing water systems, protecting communities, and keeping clean water reliable.
• Solidifies long-standing Clean Water Act practices, providing predictability and consistency to farmers and protection from frivolous lawsuits.

This is the third bill that Rep. Collins has passed through the House of Representatives in his two terms in Congress, with the previous being the Laken Riley Act to deport illegal criminal aliens and the TRANQ Act to remove deadly synthetic drugs from our streets, which were both signed into law.

###