U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
Slotkin Statement on Trump Halting the Gordie Howe Bridge Project
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release:
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Slotkin Statement on Trump Halting the Gordie Howe Bridge Project
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Today, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) released the following statement regarding President Trump's decision to halt the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge project.
"The Gordie Howe Bridge is an incredibly important infrastructure project for Michigan. President Trump's threat tonight to tank it is awful for our state's economy.
"Canceling this project will have serious repercussions. Higher costs for Michigan businesses,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release:
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Slotkin Statement on Trump Halting the Gordie Howe Bridge Project
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Today, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) released the following statement regarding President Trump's decision to halt the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge project.
"The Gordie Howe Bridge is an incredibly important infrastructure project for Michigan. President Trump's threat tonight to tank it is awful for our state's economy.
"Canceling this project will have serious repercussions. Higher costs for Michigan businesses,less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs.
"With this threat, the President is punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started. The only reason Canada is on the verge of a trade deal with China is because President Trump has kicked them in the teeth for a year.
"The President's agenda for personal retribution should not come before what's best for us. Canada is our friend -not our enemy. And I will do everything in my power to get this critical project back on track."
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Original text here: https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/2026/02/10/slotkin-statement-on-trump-halting-the-gordie-howe-bridge-project/
House Passes Tlaib's Housing Our Communities Act in Bipartisan Legislative Package
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, issued the following news release:
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House Passes Tlaib's Housing Our Communities Act in Bipartisan Legislative Package
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) announced that the House of Representatives passed her legislation Housing Our Communities Act as part of a bipartisan legislative package H.R. 6644 - Housing for the 21st Century Act, by a vote of 390 to 9. Rep. Tlaib's Housing Our Communities Act will help communities across the country plan for and deliver more affordable housing by providing federal
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, issued the following news release:
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House Passes Tlaib's Housing Our Communities Act in Bipartisan Legislative Package
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) announced that the House of Representatives passed her legislation Housing Our Communities Act as part of a bipartisan legislative package H.R. 6644 - Housing for the 21st Century Act, by a vote of 390 to 9. Rep. Tlaib's Housing Our Communities Act will help communities across the country plan for and deliver more affordable housing by providing federalgrants to local, regional, and state governments and agencies.
The need is especially urgent in communities like Detroit, where chronic homelessness increased by 33 percent last year, underscoring the consequences of underinvestment and policy barriers that limit housing production and affordability. As families across the country face an escalating housing crisis, the bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a competitive grant program to support a broad array of planning and implementation activities tied to affordable housing. The program would help states, cities, urban counties, and regional planning agencies strengthen housing plans, update zoning codes, increase inspection capacity, reduce barriers to housing supply, and better coordinate housing with transportation and community development goals, among other activities.
"Our country is facing a deepening affordability crisis, and families across our district are in dire need of more affordable housing options," said Congresswoman Tlaib. "State and local governments desperately need federal investments to equip them with the resources to fight the affordable housing crisis at every level. This bill provides civil servants and policymakers with the support they need to make affordable housing a reality in their communities."
The legislation recognizes that many local officials are eager to expand affordable housing but need additional assistance to do so effectively. Grants could facilitate faster housing inspections to reduce delays and costs, planning that increases access to public transportation and economic opportunities, and strategies that improve accessibility for people with disabilities or advance sustainable development.
The Housing Our Communities Act prioritizes coordination with transit agencies, limits administrative costs, and allows funds to be used for planning, implementation, and housing construction. The bill aims to ensure that rising housing demand results in more homes being built, rather than higher prices for families already stretched thin amidst the affordability crisis. Although it is a strong step in the right direction, this bill alone will not solve our housing crisis. We must build millions of additional units, strengthen tenant protections, and dramatically increase federal subsidies to ensure that housing is actually affordable for all families.
The text of the legislation can be found here.
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Original text here: https://tlaib.house.gov/posts/house-passes-tlaibs-housing-our-communities-act-in-bipartisan-legislative-package
Congress Introduces Landmark Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children Online
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, issued the following news release:
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Congress Introduces Landmark Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children Online
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Washington, D.C. -A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers today announced the introduction of the House companion to S.278, the Kids Off Social Media Act, landmark legislation aimed at protecting children and teenagers from the growing harms associated with social media use. The bill is led in the House by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna with bipartisan support from Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), and is backed in the Senate
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, issued the following news release:
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Congress Introduces Landmark Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children Online
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Washington, D.C. -A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers today announced the introduction of the House companion to S.278, the Kids Off Social Media Act, landmark legislation aimed at protecting children and teenagers from the growing harms associated with social media use. The bill is led in the House by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna with bipartisan support from Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), and is backed in the Senateby Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI).
Key Provisions of the Kids Off Social Media Act
* Prohibits social media accounts for children under 13. Platforms must remove underage accounts and delete associated personal data.
* Protects teens under 17 from algorithmic targeting. Social media companies are barred from using personal data to recommend or promote content to minors.
* Strong enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce compliance, and state attorneys general may bring civil actions against violators.
* School network protections. Schools receiving E-Rate funding must block social media on school devices and networks, implement filtering technology, and submit internet safety policies to the FCC. Schools that fail to make a good-faith effort must repay funds.
* Clear definition of social media. Applies to public-facing platforms centered on user-generated content, while exempting services such as email, video conferencing, and educational platforms.
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL):
"Protecting kids online is not a partisan issue. Parents across America are sounding the alarm about the real harms social media is causing-from anxiety and depression to exposure to dangerous content. This bipartisan coalition reflects families nationwide who have been asking for help. The Kids Off Social Media Act is about putting children's safety first and holding Big Tech accountable."
Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA):
"As a pediatrician and a mom, I'm very worried about the impacts that screen time and social media are having on this generation. We're seeing sleep deprivation, inattentiveness, impaired social skills, and increased rates of depression and anxiety that experts in the field link to social media use. Social media companies are not properly regulating their platforms and are pushing harmful content on our kids that they know is detrimental. They're purposely designing their platforms to make them more addictive and keep kids scrolling so they can rake in more profits. Our kids are not for sale. That's why I'm proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to set commonsense safety measures on social media use and protect our children."
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX):
"Every parent I know is concerned about the online threats to kids-from predators to videos promoting self-harm, risky behavior, or low self-esteem. The Kids Off Social Media Act addresses these issues by supporting families and empowering educators to better manage safe learning environments. I am grateful for the bipartisan leadership behind this legislation to combat the harms social media poses to children, especially in schools."
Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI):
"There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or Snapchat. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed, more anxious, and more suicidal. Yet tech companies refuse to do anything about it because it would hurt their bottom line. This is an urgent health crisis, and Congress must act with the boldness and urgency it demands. Protecting kids online is not a partisan issue, and our bipartisan coalition -which includes several parents of kids and teenagers -represents the millions of parents across the country who've long been asking for help."
Congress must heed the calls of parents across the nation and deliver this bill to the President's desk to help protect America's youth.
The Kids Off Social Media Act represents a bipartisan effort to modernize child online safety laws in response to mounting evidence linking excessive social media use to mental health challenges among young people. By setting clear age restrictions, limiting data exploitation, strengthening enforcement, and improving school-based protections, the legislation seeks to restore parental control and prioritize the well-being of America's children.
Contact:
Office of Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna
(202) 225-5961 | david.leatherwood@mail.house.gov
Follow updates at luna.house.gov
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Original text here: https://luna.house.gov/posts/congress-introduces-landmark-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-children-online
Barrett Launches Second Pillar of Blueprint for a Better America To Revive the American Dream
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Michigan, issued the following news release:
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Barrett Launches Second Pillar of Blueprint for a Better America To Revive the American Dream
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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today launched the second pillar of his Blueprint for a Better America : Reviving the American Dream. This sweeping package of four bills aims to tackle the growing issue of housing affordability in the United States by lowering costs for homebuyers, boosting construction, and more.
"Too many families in mid-Michigan are being priced out of the American
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Michigan, issued the following news release:
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Barrett Launches Second Pillar of Blueprint for a Better America To Revive the American Dream
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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today launched the second pillar of his Blueprint for a Better America : Reviving the American Dream. This sweeping package of four bills aims to tackle the growing issue of housing affordability in the United States by lowering costs for homebuyers, boosting construction, and more.
"Too many families in mid-Michigan are being priced out of the AmericanDream. They just can't afford a home that works for them," said Barrett. "That's why I'm introducing bills to make housing more affordable for Michiganders. These proposals will help first-time buyers make a down payment, boost new home construction, protect grieving spouses from unfair tax burdens, and ensure that homes go to families who need them -not just big investment corporations looking to profit. It's time we build a housing market focused on putting families in homes rather than pricing them out."
Today, Barrett introduced the Time to Heal Act ( H.R. 7349 (link is external) ). This bill would eliminate the requirement that widowed spouses must sell their home within two years of their spouse's death to receive the $500,000 exemption on capital gains taxes for married couples, rather than the $250,000 exemption for single sellers. By easing the financial burden on individuals downsizing years after a spouse's death, the bill would encourage surviving spouses to put their homes on the market for new buyers -without forcing them to rush to sell their house while grieving.
"The Time to Heal Act is a commonsense fix to the tax code that recognizes the real-life challenges surviving spouses face after the loss of a loved one," said Shannon McGahn, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer of the National Association of REALTORS(r). "No one should be penalized for needing time to grieve before making major housing decisions. By extending the $500,000 capital gains exclusion to widows and widowers who otherwise met the ownership and use requirements, this bill provides fairness, certainty, and flexibility, while including appropriate safeguards to prevent abuse. The National Association of REALTORS(r) applauds Rep. Tom Barrett for introducing legislation that puts people first and ensures the tax code does not add financial hardship to an already difficult moment."
"MBA welcomes the introduction of Rep. Tom Barrett's legislation to give surviving spouses parity with married couples regarding the primary home 'gain on sale' exclusion," said Bill Killmer, senior vice president of legislative & political affairs of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Not only would the bill give those navigating such a major life change more 'time to heal,' it will also help address the 'lock-in' effect plaguing so many markets across the United States -and increase the inventory of available homes being made ready for sale."
Barrett also announced his support and co-sponsorship of the following proposals:
* Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act ( H.R. 3526 (link is external) ): This bill would increase the IRA first-time homebuyer exemption to allow families to withdraw up to $50,000 from an IRA without owing the 10% early withdrawal penalty. The current exemption for first-time homebuyers only allows up to $10,000 penalty-free, but that amount hasn't changed since it was created in 1997. The higher exemption would better reflect the rising cost of homes and give first-time homebuyers access to more capital to make a down payment.
* Housing Supply Framework Act ( H.R. 2840 (link is external) ): This bill would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop best practices playbooks to help state and local governments cut red tape to build more housing - increasing supply and reducing costs.
* Families First Housing Act ( H.R. 6962 (link is external) ): This bill would limit the ability of large corporations to buy up homes before families have a chance. It would create a 180-day "first look" period for single-family homes put on the market by the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and other federal housing and lending agencies. During the first-look period for a home, only individuals, families, housing nonprofits, local governments, and community land trusts would be eligible buyers.
These new proposals build on two additional pieces of legislation Barrett introduced last month to make homeownership more affordable, including:
* Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act ( H.R. 7009 ) to expand eligibility for VA home loans for members of the National Guard and Armed Forces Reserve.
* American Dream Act ( H.R. 7051 ) to incentivize older Americans to sell their homes, including secondary properties like rentals and vacation homes, by expanding the waiver of capital gains taxes on a sale to a first-time homebuyer.
About Barrett's Blueprint for a Better America
Reviving the American Dream is the second of five pillars of Barrett's Blueprint for a Better America. The congressman will continue to unveil additional proposals in the coming weeks to address all of the five key policy areas this agenda is built on:
* Restoring Trust in Government : Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests
* Reviving the American Dream: Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan
* Making Health Care Affordable Again: Lowering Costs for Working Families
* Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength
* Reforming Campaign Finance: Putting Governing Before Campaigning
Click here or visit barrett.house.gov/reform to learn more.
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Original text here: https://barrett.house.gov/media/press-releases/barrett-launches-second-pillar-blueprint-better-america-revive-american-dream
Barr Toasts to U.S.-India Trade Benefits for Bourbon Industry
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release:
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Barr Toasts to U.S.-India Trade Benefits for Bourbon Industry
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Lexington, KY- Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY), co-Chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus and Vice-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, released the following statement after the U.S.-India trade framework announcement included an elimination or reduction in tariffs from India on U.S. spirits:
"Unfettered access to a top five economic market will be a boom for our Kentucky bourbon businesses," said Congressman Barr. "President
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release:
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Barr Toasts to U.S.-India Trade Benefits for Bourbon Industry
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Lexington, KY- Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY), co-Chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus and Vice-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, released the following statement after the U.S.-India trade framework announcement included an elimination or reduction in tariffs from India on U.S. spirits:
"Unfettered access to a top five economic market will be a boom for our Kentucky bourbon businesses," said Congressman Barr. "PresidentDonald Trump has delivered for bourbon before-by cutting taxes, leveling the playing field for distillers, and standing up for American-made products. Today, I join Kentucky distillers in toasting to the President once again for securing access to a major new market for our signature bourbon industry."
"Reducing India's tariffs on American whiskey-particularly native spirits from Kentucky, including world-class bourbon and rye-is a meaningful step forward for U.S. distillers, farmers, and the broader supply chain that supports this iconic American product. Representative Andy Barr has been a consistent and effective advocate for American whiskey, and we appreciate his continued leadership and engagement on trade policies that expand market access and strengthen U.S. exports. Progress like this underscores the importance of sustained, bipartisan advocacy to ensure American whiskey can compete on a level global playing field," said Michael Bilello, President and CEO, American Whiskey Association.
The Distilled Spirits Council also released a statement after the framework was announced, "Last year's tariff reduction on U.S. spirits imports to India was an important first step that opened new opportunities for Bourbon producers in the world's largest whiskey market. With India now reaching agreements with the EU and the UK to significantly reduce tariffs on their spirits, we are hopeful that this new U.S.-India agreement will secure comparable tariff reductions across all categories of U.S. distilled spirits, ensuring fair and competitive access to the Indian marketplace."
India lowered their tariff on American bourbon products from 150% to 100% in February of 2025, after negotiations led by President Trump. In his first term, President Trump signed the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) into law, which was championed by Congressman Barr. This law created a level playing field for bourbon distillers, allowing them to deduct interest expenses associated with production in the year it is paid, not when the bourbon is bottled and sold. It also lowered the Federal Excise Tax (FET) rates for distillers and aged spirits.
Permalink: https://barr.house.gov/2026/2/barr-toasts-to-u-s-india-trade-benefits-for-bourbon-industry
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Original text here: https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=91BE4B86-357E-4423-8AB0-6B3B7A76B916
Amodei Secures Funding for Nevada ShakeAlert Program
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, issued the following news release:
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Amodei Secures Funding for Nevada ShakeAlert Program
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Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Amodei announced the inclusion of $34.85 million in appropriations for the continued development and expansion of the ShakeAlert West Coast earthquake early warning system, with language specifically directing the United States Geological Survey to initiate the expansion of the program into Nevada.
This funding was secured in H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, issued the following news release:
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Amodei Secures Funding for Nevada ShakeAlert Program
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Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Amodei announced the inclusion of $34.85 million in appropriations for the continued development and expansion of the ShakeAlert West Coast earthquake early warning system, with language specifically directing the United States Geological Survey to initiate the expansion of the program into Nevada.
This funding was secured in H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and EnvironmentAppropriations Act, 2026, which was signed into law by the President on January 23, 2026.
"While neighboring states already have the tools and technology to warn residents of potential earthquakes, Nevada has lagged behind," said Rep. Mark Amodei. "This funding will equip our state's experts with the resources they need to implement a proven system that keeps Nevadans safe and communities prepared for seismic activity. I appreciate the University of Nevada for their leadership and advocacy on this issue, and it was an honor to work alongside them to secure the funding that will bring ShakeAlert to Nevada."
"We thank Representative Amodei for his leadership in advocating for this funding to advance research and create much needed infrastructure for earthquake emergency response in Nevada," said Brian Sandoval, President, University of Nevada.
"The possibility of ShakeAlert expanding to serve Nevada is really exciting," said Christie Rowe, Director of Nevada Seismological Laboratory. "We will help the USGS develop a plan that fits Nevada's people, industries, and infrastructure to offer the best warning system possible. We are so grateful for the support from Nevada's congressional delegation that resulted in this critical step toward earthquake early warning for Nevada."
"The ShakeAlert system was designed in such a way that it could be expanded to other U.S. regions with high earthquake risk," said Robert de Groot, Coordinator for Communication, Education, Outreach, and Technical Engagement for the ShakeAlert Program. "Possibilities could include the populated areas across high-risk regions of Nevada, Alaska, Utah, the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the Puerto Rico region, and elsewhere. Development of a technical implementation plan would be the first step in a multi-step process for ShakeAlert rollout to parts of Nevada."
Background
ShakeAlert works by detecting the fastest seismic waves close to an earthquake as soon as it starts. Computer algorithms compare the signals from several seismic stations and confirm that a large earthquake has occurred and trigger an alert. For areas farther away from the source of the earthquake, the alert arrives via cell phones and WEA Alerts before damaging seismic waves reach that location.
The precious seconds of warning allow people to Drop, Cover and Hold to protect themselves, and allow trains, water supply systems, emergency services, manufacturing, schools, and health care facilities to put emergency measures in place or stop delicate procedures just before shaking begins.
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Original text here: https://amodei.house.gov/news-releases/amodei-secures-funding-nevada-shakealert-program
American Petroleum Institute Senior VP Meyer Testifies Before Senate Environment & Public Works Committee
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released the following testimony by Dustin Meyer, senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute, from a Jan. 28, 2026, hearing entitled "Improving the Federal Environmental Review and Permitting Process, Part 2":
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Chair Capito, Ranking Member Whitehouse, and members of the Committee, I submit this testimony on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute (API), where I am the Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs. API is the national trade
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released the following testimony by Dustin Meyer, senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute, from a Jan. 28, 2026, hearing entitled "Improving the Federal Environmental Review and Permitting Process, Part 2":
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Chair Capito, Ranking Member Whitehouse, and members of the Committee, I submit this testimony on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute (API), where I am the Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs. API is the national tradeassociation representing all segments of America's oil and natural gas industry. From large integrated companies to small independent operators, our industry supports nearly 11 million American jobs across all 50 states and provides the energy that powers every district in the country./1
API also sets the standards for the industry, establishing more than 800 standards and best practices that enhance operational safety and environmental protection in the U.S. and in 140 countries around the world. API's combined focus on sound domestic energy policy and industry safety is essential to maintaining American energy leadership for generations to come.
API greatly appreciates the Committee's sustained bipartisan efforts on comprehensive permitting reform. The need for meaningful reform becomes more urgent and obvious by the day. Whether the focus is on affordability, jobs and economic growth, national security, reliability, or emissions reductions, the conclusion is the same: to meet the demands of the future, we must be able to build big things but cannot do so because our permitting process is fundamentally broken. That is why comprehensive permitting reform is our industry's top legislative priority, and we are eager to work with both parties across this Committee, the rest of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Administration to get it done.
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A Broken System Leads to Higher Costs for Consumers
The cost of living remains a primary concern for Americans across every region of the country. Meaningful permitting reforms are essential to reversing course. When infrastructure projects are delayed or constrained, costs go up and the system loses its ability to respond to market needs. Put simply, our current permitting system obstructs necessary infrastructure projects, and consumers pay the price.
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1 PwC for API, "Impacts of the Oil and Natural Gas Industry on the US Economy in 2021," available at: https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Policy/American-Energy/PwC/2023/API-PWC-Economic-Impact-Report2023.pdf
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It was not always this way. The United States has a long history of building ambitious projects. The Hoover Dam, one of the most complex engineering feats of its era, was built in five years. The Empire State Building was completed in just over a year. These and so many others were built with urgency, clarity of responsibility, and a shared understanding that infrastructure was essential to national progress.
Today, similar projects would face years of sequential reviews, overlapping agency processes, cost escalation, uncertain litigation exposure, and the risk that permits could be revoked long after approval. The process has swung from disciplined decision-making to procedural paralysis. As a result, the infrastructure needed for the future goes unbuilt.
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Energy Demand is Rising, and Permitting Reform is Vital to Meeting it.
Our broken permitting process negatively impacts every industry and every sector of the economy, but nowhere are the ramifications more apparent than energy. The essential nature of energy means it affects the costs of nearly everything else. From groceries to housing, from transportation to manufactured goods, energy is woven into every part of the economy.
The United States benefits enormously from being a global energy superpower. After decades of dependence on foreign suppliers, the U.S. now controls its own energy destiny, and we must maintain this position of strength for generations to come. Oil and natural gas infrastructure is essential to doing so, as it is the foundation of the U.S. energy system.
Natural gas is by far the largest source of electricity generation and underpins grid reliability. Refineries and liquid fuels are essential to every form of transportation.
Pipelines and storage facilities help ensure the safe and efficient delivery of energy.
Energy demand is rising rapidly, driven by fundamental changes in the economy.
Manufacturing is being re-shored and expanded. Electricity demand is increasing rapidly due to data centers, artificial intelligence, and electrification. At the same time, U.S. energy exports are playing a growing role in supporting allies and global energy security.
Bolstering U.S. energy leadership requires investment, and investment requires certainty.
Permitting reform must reflect these realities. Meeting today and tomorrow's energy demand requires new energy infrastructure across all fuels and technologies, including pipelines, storage facilities, refinery expansions, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, processing plants, transmission, and emerging technologies such as carbon capture and low-carbon fuels. All require significant planning, capital, and long lead times, and all need a predictable permitting process.
Unfortunately, the last few decades have seen numerous examples of permitting statutes and processes being weaponized against oil and gas infrastructure--cancelled pipelines, a pause on LNG permits, delayed lease sales, blocked projects at the state level, just to name a few. Even projects with minimal environmental impacts and strong local support can remain in regulatory limbo for years due to duplicative reviews, unclear agency roles, shifting interpretations of statutory authority, and endless litigation after permits are issued. These obstacles block billions of dollars of industry investments, but it ultimately penalizes American workers and consumers by reducing jobs and raising costs.
Further, these obstacles do nothing to enhance environmental outcomes. Instead, they reflect a misguided opposition to any infrastructure being built at all or assume that restricting energy supply will somehow eliminate demand. History has shown the opposite. When American energy production and infrastructure are blocked, demand does not disappear--the obstacles merely result in higher prices, more volatility, and less reliability.
Families want confidence that the energy system can support economic growth without disruption or increase in cost. Businesses want to know that infrastructure investments will not be stranded by regulatory uncertainty. Workers want projects that create jobs to move forward rather than remain stalled indefinitely. For all these reasons, comprehensive permitting reform is essential.
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Permitting Obstacles Hold Back all Industries and Technologies
A central reality of the current permitting debate is that these challenges transcend industries and technologies. Our industry is far from the only one impacted. Electric utilities, transmission builders, manufacturers, labor organizations, mining companies, roads and bridges, and energy developers of all types face a gauntlet of federal approvals governed under a maze of outdated laws and regulations.
As a result, support for permitting reform spans an incredibly broad coalition--a coalition API is proud to be a part of. The common thread is experience: projects that should take years increasingly take decades, not because environmental impacts are unresolved, but because process complexity, coordination failures, and litigation risk compound over time. All have emphasized that infrastructure delays--not resource scarcity--are increasingly the binding constraint on the nation's ability to meet the demands of the future.
API strongly believes that permitting reform should cover all industries and be technology neutral. Done correctly, it will provide a necessary correction to a system that no longer functions as intended for anyone seeking to build any type of infrastructure in the United States.
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API's Permitting Priorities
API has advocated for permitting reform for many years and has clearly established priorities that will modernize the permitting process while maintaining strong environmental protections. The latter point is essential. API's proposed reforms do not alter underlying environmental standards or negatively impact environmental outcomes.
Instead, they focus on process improvements, clarity, scope of review refinements, coordination, and timelines that allow agencies to complete reviews efficiently and issue legally durable decisions.
Further, policymakers should recognize that the industry's compliance obligations go far beyond the initial permitting process. These obligations, required under multiple statutes, exist for the entirety of any given project's lifespan--including construction, operations, and decommissioning. API's policy recommendations for permitting reform would not impact those significant obligations.
Congress should start by reforming the parts of the permitting system that are most often weaponized against our industry: the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, and the manner in which projects get needlessly tied up in court. These laws are well-intentioned, but their current interpretation too often means delay without delivering better outcomes. Modernizing them -- with clearer rules, firm timelines, and reasonable limits on litigation -- would help provide projects the certainty and predictability needed to move forward.
A more detailed overview of these reforms is included below. Beyond these, additional common-sense reforms to other statutes, like the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act among others, would help address persistent challenges to building critical infrastructure.
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NEPA Reform: Restoring Focus and Predictability
NEPA was enacted over fifty years ago as a procedural statute to ensure informed federal decision-making. However, over time NEPA reviews have expanded far beyond the federal action at issue, forcing agencies to analyze effects that are not only impossibly speculative or attenuated, but also outside their regulatory authority.
This expansion has not improved environmental outcomes. Instead, it has encouraged agencies to generate excessively long documents (often thousands of pages) and engage in duplicative analysis and "litigation-proofing" that significantly delays the process.
Agencies often spend years defending the adequacy of analysis rather than focusing on substantive environmental issues.
The SPEED Act which passed the House of Representatives late last year reflects a bipartisan effort to restore NEPA's original intent by clarifying what qualifies as a major federal action, reinforcing reasonable limits on scope of reviews, and encouraging the use of existing studies and prior analyses. These reforms properly recognize NEPA as a procedural statute and that agencies are entitled to deference when exercising technical judgment within their statutory authority.
The Supreme Court's decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County reaffirmed that NEPA does not require analysis of upstream or downstream effects that are separate in time or place from the proposed action and beyond the agency's control.
Congress needs to codify these principles to ensure NEPA reviews remain focused, consistent, and durable across administrations.
Importantly, these reforms do not weaken environmental review or stymie public comment and participation. They ensure that agencies can complete thorough reviews on predictable timelines and make decisions based on the environmental record, rather than fear of litigation.
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Clean Water Act Reform: Section 401
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act was intended to ensure that discharges into waters of the United States comply with applicable state water quality standards. It is a core component of cooperative federalism.
Unfortunately, Section 401 has increasingly been weaponized against the oil and gas industry in complete disregard for its original statutory intent. It is now often used as a tool to evaluate--and typically block--entire projects rather than discrete water discharges, impose conditions unrelated to water quality, and extend decision timelines indefinitely.
As API indicated in its support for the House-passed PERMIT Act, these practices undermine the intent of the statute by allowing individual states to inappropriately delay or veto infrastructure projects on grounds completely unrelated to water quality. Multiple major interstate natural gas pipelines--representing billions of dollars of investment--have been blocked by this disingenuous tactic, and it is the primary reason key regions of the country (e.g., New England) do not have sufficient access to natural gas.
It is well past time to reaffirm congressional intent by limiting Section 401 reviews to direct water quality impacts from actual discharges, enforcing the statutory one-year deadline, and preventing politicized procedural gamesmanship such as withdraw-and-resubmit tactics. These reforms preserve state authority to protect water quality while ensuring that Section 401 functions as a focused, predictable component of the federal permitting framework--not a state-based veto against politically disfavored projects.
Similarly, API supports designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the lead agency for coordinating environmental reviews for natural gas projects, reflecting decades of experience and technical expertise. Because states have weaponized the CWA Section 401 process to block necessary natural gas projects, provisions in House-passed legislation eliminate the need for separate state 401 water quality certifications for natural gas projects and instead direct FERC to coordinate water quality review in its process. To the extent that judicial reforms are proposed for any environmental statutes, such reforms should apply to FERC-related projects so that FERC can manage its reviews without being hampered by frivolous litigation.
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Clean Water Act Reform: Section 404 and Nationwide Permits
Nationwide permits under Section 404 of the CWA allow projects with minimal environmental impacts to proceed efficiently. Nationwide Permit 12, which applies to linear infrastructure such as pipelines, is particularly critical for the safe and reliable delivery of energy.
The Nationwide Permit program is common-sense and used by industries across every sector of the economy. However, the current five-year reauthorization cycle for nationwide permits is not long enough to provide regulatory certainty. Project developers must plan around the risk that permits could lapse or be rescinded despite unchanged environmental conditions.
For that reason, API strongly supports House legislation that extends the reauthorization period from five to ten years, codifies Nationwide Permit 12, clarifies that one linear project requires only one permit, and modernizes consultation requirements. These reforms maintain environmental safeguards while providing the predictability needed by multiple industries for infrastructure planning and capital deployment.
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Judicial Review and the Need for Proportionate Remedies
Judicial review plays a vital role in ensuring agency accountability and API has long supported the ability of affected parties to challenge agency actions. At the same time, prolonged litigation has become one of the most significant sources of delay in infrastructure development. Even when agencies ultimately prevail (which they usually do, indicative of the weak merits often presented in these challenges), lawsuits can delay projects for years, increasing costs and creating uncertainty that discourages future investment and planning. Further, as mentioned above, the inevitability of legal challenges forces agencies down a never-ending quest to 'litigation-proof' their actions, which wastes agency resources and results in chronic delays.
API and a broad coalition support judicial reform provisions that preserve judicial review while ensuring that litigation does not become a de facto permitting system. These reforms should include reasonable time limits for filing challenges, but on its own that does little to fix the problem of endless litigation. Thus, meaningful judicial reform must also include limiting standing requirements to focus only on directly impacted parties, common-sense narrowing of organizational standing, and ensuring remedies that are proportionate.
Making remand--rather than vacatur--the default remedy allows agencies to correct narrow deficiencies without unnecessarily halting construction. The goal is efficient and targeted review, and the Senate has an opportunity to apply this concept not just to NEPA, but expand it to other relevant permitting statutes, as well. This provides a degree of permit certainty for projects of all types.
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Permit Certainty and Decision Durability
Finally, meaningful permitting reform must address what happens after approvals are issued by establishing greater permit certainty. Even after a fully completed environmental review process, our industry and others have experienced arbitrary suspensions or revocations driven by political or policy shifts rather than new facts or violations. Several of the policy recommendations above foster greater permit durability, but reform should clarify that projects that have completed all required environmental reviews and remain in compliance should not be subject to these unpredictable outcomes.
In addition to the policy priorities detailed above, API joins a broad coalition in supporting permit certainty provisions that reinforce reliance on lawful approvals while preserving agency authority to enforce compliance, respond to new information, and act in response to emergencies. This balance is essential for long-term infrastructure planning and deployment. Without clear durability for agency decisions, even an improved permitting process will fail to deliver infrastructure on timelines needed to meet rising energy demand.
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This is the Moment for Bold, Meaningful Reform
Congress has not ignored these challenges. In recent years, lawmakers have taken important initial steps to begin modernizing the permitting framework. Provisions included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act and subsequent legislation reflect bipartisan recognition that environmental reviews need clearer timelines, appropriate scopes of review, better coordination, and judicial durability.
These efforts--often bipartisan--were meaningful first steps and reflect growing momentum and greater recognition of the urgency of the problem. Agencies have begun to implement those changes, and early progress has been made--but those steps were necessarily incremental. They addressed pieces of the problem without fully resolving the underlying structural issues that continue to drive delay and uncertainty. Experience since enactment has shown that while incremental reforms help, they are not sufficient on their own to deliver the scale and speed of infrastructure deployment that today's economy demands.
This Congress now has an opportunity to build on that foundation. Permitting reform has been discussed for years because the problem has been persistent. What makes this moment different is the convergence of rising energy demand, global competition, supply chain realignment, and growing public concern about affordability and reliability.
The United States is competing with nations that are moving aggressively to build infrastructure, modernize energy systems, and attract investment. Our broken permitting system does not occur in a vacuum; it affects competitiveness, job creation, and the nation's ability to lead globally.
Bold, meaningful, and durable permitting reform can help unlock economic prosperity for the next generation of Americans. It can help support job creation across sectors, enable infrastructure investment, strengthen energy security, and reinforce alliances abroad by helping to ensure that the United States remains a reliable energy partner.
The need for permitting reform is not theoretical, and it is not limited to any one industry, technology, or region. API's recommended reforms are not about cutting corners. They are about restoring focus, discipline, and accountability to a system that has become overly complex and unpredictable. They reflect respect for environmental protection, for the rule of law, and for the need to make decisions that endure. Proper reform will not return to the past; instead, it will enable us to build the infrastructure of the future.
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Conclusion
We are grateful that this Committee and its leadership continue to advance thoughtful, bipartisan discussions on permitting reform. A comprehensive approach that preserves environmental protection while restoring focus, predictability, and durability to the permitting process is essential if the United States is going to build the infrastructure our economy and communities require.
API is eager to work closely with members of the Committee as proposals move forward.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony.
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Original text here: https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/a/9/a9cf0092-fca2-47e1-b31e-79334d8a1579/71484C0CC21CA2F43EEC519E0AF304323B61154C47D54294E9CBFDD242668A70.01-28-2026-meyer-testimony.pdf
