WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to overturn the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Phase II Final Rule.
“The Biden administration’s expansion of NEPA regulations is just their latest effort to strangle American innovation. This rule would allow ‘social effects’ to serve as an all-encompassing excuse for killing forest health projects, energy production, mineral development, infrastructure improvements, and any other project with a federal nexus,” said Risch.“I will continue to fight President Biden as he works to smother responsible use of our domestic natural resources.”
“Our nation has needed permitting reform for quite some time, and this move by the Biden Administration pushes back progress by decades. Instead of unleashing the power of American ingenuity to complete much-needed infrastructure and energy projects, this Administration continues to bow to the misguided whims of radical environmental activists,” said Crapo. “This resolution of disapproval fights back against red-tape to move forward with meeting the needs of our communities and nation.”
“The Biden administration's final NEPA Phase II rule runs roughshod over the bipartisan, bicameral consensus on streamlining federal permits for the vital infrastructure and energy projects that our country desperately needs,” said Sullivan. “If allowed to stand, this rule will bog down projects with red tape, make them harder to build, put hard-working Americans out of work, and waste taxpayer dollars. My colleagues and I are putting forward a CRA to rescind the Biden administration’s ‘death by delay’ regulatory strategy, and ensure we can deliver the bridges, roads, pipelines, tunnels, ports, runways and energy projects the American people expect. I hope my colleagues will put America’s infrastructure needs and the interests of hard-working Americans above the demands of the far-left radical environmentalists.”
The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).
The resolution is supported by: Agricultural Retailers Association, Alaska Chamber of Commerce, Alaska Oil & Gas Association, Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Alliance for Chemical Distribution, American Chemistry Council, American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute, American Council for Capital Formation, American Exploration & Production Council, American Exploration and Mining Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Forest Resource Council, American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, American Pipeline Contractors Association, American Public Gas Association, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, American Trucking Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, Associated General Contractors of America – Alaska, Association of American Railroads, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), ConservAmerica, Distribution Contractors Association, Energy Equipment & Infrastructure Alliance, Energy Workforce and Technology Council, Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia, GPA Midstream Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, Liquid Energy Pipeline Association, National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Federation of Independent Business, National Hydropower Association, National Mining Association, National Ocean Industries Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, National Sand, Stone, and Gravel Association, National Utility Contractors Association, Plastics Pipe Institute, Power and Communication Contractors Association, Public Lands Council, Resource Development Council for Alaska, The Fertilizer Institute, The Hardwood Federation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Water and Sewer Distributors of America, Western Energy Alliance.
