REP. GRAY ADVANCES MAJOR PERMITTING REFORM LEGISLATION, CALLS FOR SPEEDY REVIEW OF CALIFORNIA WATER PROJECTS
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, the House voted to pass the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, which contained permitting reform deadline provisions negotiated and advanced by Rep. Adam Gray (CA-13). The bipartisan SPEED Act would simplify the permitting process for infrastructure development by cutting unnecessary regulations, shortening approval timelines, and limiting lawsuits that have slowed projects under previous laws.
“Water projects and all infrastructure projects should not take more than a decade to approve,” said Rep. Gray. “These projects are essential to our communities, and once permitted, they should move forward without the threat of revocation or delay. Bureaucracy must not stand in the way of delivering critical infrastructure to the American people.”
Rep. Gray played a key role in the bipartisan group that advanced the bill through the House Natural Resources Committee. Unfortunately, when the bill reached the House floor, Republicans added a provision that significantly weakened permit certainty for energy projects. Rep. Gray looks forward to working with his colleagues in the Senate to re-strengthen the certainty language and bring the bill back toward a more bipartisan final product.
To watch Rep. Gray's full remarks during the House Natural Resources Committee markup, click here.