Prior to the August Recess, please join Sen. Manchin (D-WV)’s clarion call and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in supporting infrastructure permitting reform legislation that will ensure American energy security and independence. Despite claims by Senate Majority Leader Schumer that a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rule will eliminate the need for permitting reform, the Committee and Congress should continue to advocate for true reform. The FERC rule passed on a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Mark Christie saying it favored renewable energy.

As Sen. Manchin, who is chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, stated “the FERC rule doesn’t solve all the issues with permitting reform.” The FERC rule does not advance the nation’s energy policy far enough in the direction of the all-of-the-above approach the nation must have to meet its energy needs. Members of Congress should be the ones responsible for creating the procedures and policies to ensure the best use of our nation’s resources to power it to a brighter future.

As representatives of labor and energy, we have long complained about the amount of time it takes to get projects approved by the government. We need legislation NOW similar to the Building American Energy Security Act of 2023, authored by Sen. Manchin (D-WV). This legislation served as a starting point to accelerate energy permitting to address: timelines for reviews, excessive litigation delays, and prioritizing projects of strategic national importance.

Please join us in supporting Sen. Manchin (D-WV) clarion call to get permitting reform before Congress leaves for the August recess. The time to act is NOW!

Please call upon me anytime if you have any questions, and I look forward to your response.