It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes Republicans and Democrats agree.
And when it comes to America’s permitting system, both sides of the aisle know it’s broken.
That consensus matters because the problem urgently needs to be fixed.
Approvals for critical projects that should take weeks or months routinely drag on for years, mired in red tape and lawsuits.
As President Biden’s senior advisor, John Podesta, said in 2023, “We got so good at stopping projects, we forgot how to build things in America.”
This broken system has real-world consequences.
Rising energy costs are squeezing American families and businesses — showing up in higher utility bills, pricier commutes, and the cost of everyday goods across the economy.
Affordable energy powered America’s rise in the 20th century, fueling innovation and economic growth. But today, outdated rules put us at risk of falling behind.
Electricity doesn’t simply appear in our homes and businesses. It requires a vast and complex generation, transmission, and distribution supply chain that often needs upgrades to keep up with ever-growing demand.
And demand is soaring. Electric vehicles, data centers, and the AI revolution are pushing America’s power grid to its limits.
AI alone requires massive amounts of reliable power for data centers and high-performance computing. Our outdated permitting system simply won’t allow us to keep up with the demand, which threatens our ability to lead on this critical new technology.
At the same time, reliable coal and fossil fuel plants that provide steady baseload power are being retired faster than replacements can come online.
Without reform, the infrastructure needed to expand grid capacity and bring new generation to market will remain unbuilt, leaving the country less secure, less competitive, and without reliable power.
Permitting reform is the key to clearing the way for energy projects and unlocking lower costs, more jobs, and stronger communities.
While lawmakers have long recognized that unnecessary self-imposed federal regulations are holding back America’s energy potential, they never anticipated how quickly technology and innovation would make solving this problem mission critical for our economy and global competitiveness.
That’s why momentum is finally building across party lines to get it done.
Permitting reform is an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to work together to deliver a rare, bipartisan win for the American people. Outdated rules are blocking progress on building pipelines, renewable energy facilities, nuclear plants, transmission lines, and storage projects.
The question is no longer whether the system is broken. It’s whether Washington will finally rise to the occasion and fix it.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise is betting that it can.
He has made permitting reform a top priority this fall, putting real weight behind the effort to modernize America’s energy policies and clear the way for projects that can power the future.
Energy is the foundation of America’s prosperity and security.
As Leader Scalise put it, “American energy provides us national security and really leads us to global leadership that the whole world wants to see. … We know the ability America has to unleash American energy if we just get red tape out of the way.”
He’s right. If Washington clears the way, America can unleash its energy potential and lead the world.
Permitting reform is no longer optional. It’s essential.
Families need relief from high energy costs, businesses need reliable power, and America needs the capacity to compete and lead.
For once, there is bipartisan agreement on the problem and the need for a solution.
That rare consensus gives Congress the chance to rise above politics and deliver a win that matters: affordable, reliable American energy that fuels growth, strengthens communities, and secures our future.
But it won’t happen without your help. Lawmakers need to hear that families, businesses, and communities are demanding relief. The time to act is now.
Click here to sign the petition to pass permitting reform.
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