House set to clear permitting reform bills
Two major permitting bills supported by NAPA – the SPEED Act and PERMIT Act, respectively – are expected to clear the House of Representatives floor before the upcoming holiday break, and NAPA was invited to an industry roundtable with House leadership this past week to share its relevance to the asphalt industry. These two key permitting reform bills would help eliminate inconsistent interpretations of various Clean Water Act (CWA) terms, as well as major reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that would eliminate various triggers for federal reviews of major projects.
After this step, the bills will move to the Senate.
The Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act, or PERMIT Act, would codify various changes to CWA, which is the federal jurisdictional vehicle for key water definitions via Waters of the United States (WOTUS). In short, the bill would redefine terminology and scope of navigable waters under WOTUS and would better align with upcoming WOTUS rule, which we expect to be released by the Trump Administration in early 2026. These technical changes would maintain consistent interpretations of WOTUS authorities and would dramatically improve the permitting processes under CWA. NAPA leveraged its support in recent months with Hill meetings and letters. (link)
The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, or SPEED Act, would modernize NEPA processes and would streamline environmental reviews and costly legal loopholes that have clogged infrastructure projects with outlandish litigation and misguided lawsuits. These reforms would better equip State Departments of Transportation as they determine and execute the surface transportation projects most relevant to their needs. This fall NAPA worked closely with Hill allies as the SPEED Act worked its way through the House, including letters (link) of support from NAPA and SAPA Inc; joining a chorus of over two-hundred other national organizations eager to support meaningful permitting reform. You can find NAPA Now’s pervious writeup can be found here.
This past week, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) hosted an industry permitting reform roundtable event with invited stakeholders and various Representatives to have a candid conversation about these bills and what they mean to industry.
NAPA’s Nile Elam represented asphalt producers and tied permitting reform to the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill.
“Far too long Congress has discussed tackling much-needed permitting reform without any real legislation, but we are now finally seeing elected officials recognize that the way America builds its critical infrastructure is no longer sustainable. Understanding we must pass a highway reauthorization in 2026 before the current package expires, bills like the PERMIT Act and SPEED Act would dramatically expedite how we examine surface transportation projects and allocate precious federal resources. We reiterated to Whip Emmer and his colleagues that the road building community can do so much more if we eliminate duplicative environmental reviews and establish a consistent basis by which we define what is, and what is not, subject to federal review actions. These are the kind of bills that maximize a highway bill’s authority and empowers asphalt producers and contractors to do what they know best; produce and pave the asphalt needed to keep our nation connected.”
NAPA Vice President for Government Affairs Nile Elam
Joining Whip Emmer at the roundtable were six other Representatives from across the country, all of whom shared their support for permitting reform, including Reps. Shreve (IN), Hurd (CO), Taylor (OH), Malloy (UT), McDowell (NC) and Begich (AK). Reps. Shreve and McDowell toured local asphalt producers in their districts this past year and understood NAPA’s policy direct connection between these efforts and more efficiently built local road construction projects.
The PERMIT Act cleared the House last week and we expect the SPEED Act to pass before the holiday break. NAPA will continue to follow developments as these bills head to the Senate, or possible inclusion into the upcoming highway bill.
To share examples of how permitting delays are impacting your operations, please contact Mitch Baldwin or Howard Marks on the NAPA Government Affairs team.
More on H.R. 3898, the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act.
The bill is sponsored by Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (R-GA), with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) as original cosponsor.
“The PERMIT Act is a package of commonsense reforms to Clean Water Act permitting processes that will help lower construction costs and utility bills, speed up infrastructure project timelines, and provide greater regulatory certainty,” said T&I Chairman Graves. “The reforms in the PERMIT Act will have immediate impact on energy producers, the agriculture industry, home and road builders, water utilities, and everyday Americans who have to navigate complex and confusing permitting processes. I want to thank Chairman Mike Collins for his leadership on this issue and my other Committee members for their excellent work and contributions to this legislation.”
“The PERMIT Act delivers much-needed reform to the Clean Water Act that will overhaul permitting processes and reduce burdens on permit seekers. 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. With Chairman Graves’ leadership, and all members who introduced proposals, I am proud to say that we are doing just that with the PERMIT Act.”
Interested in hosting a member of Congress at your asphalt plant or job site?
NAPA’s Government Affairs team can help!
NAPA has the resources to support your efforts to build strong relationships with your elected officials while also creating policy champions that will help safeguard the longevity of the asphalt pavement industry. Email Vice President for Government Affairs Nile Elam or Government Affairs Director Mitch Baldwin to learn more.