Fighting to Reestablish Energy Independence

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, throughout the month of March, the Western Caucus has been highlighting the need for permitting reform in almost every aspect of the Federal Government.

Permitting and regulatory reform have long been a priority for the Western Caucus and it has become even more important in recent months.

As our Nation fights to reestablish energy independence, we need certainty for American energy producers and a reliable process for increased critical mineral mining.

As catastrophic wildfires threaten the West year after year, we need permitting processes that empower State and local land managers to effectively manage our forests and our grasslands.

As rural communities are faced with more and more Federal overreach from the Biden administration, they deserve certainty and transparency. That is why we must reform our broken permitting processes to unlock American investment and unleash the potential of rural America.

Landmark environmental protection laws like NEPA and the ESA have truly gotten out of control. While well intentioned they are, they are now used by serial litigants to stall critical infrastructure and management projects.

These far-left environmental groups use these statutes to drive political wedges and ensure America is dependent on her adversaries. Endless cycles of litigation tie the hands of project developers, of land managers, and of private conservationists, all while posing a serious threat to both our local economies as well as our environment.

As a farmer from the central part of the State of Washington and as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, I see how regulations from the Federal Government have disproportionately negatively impacted our rural communities. This is unfair for so many reasons, but the main one being that these are exactly the men and women that we should be empowering.

In rural America, our livelihoods depend on a healthy environment and on our natural resources. We truly have a vested interest in and a storied history of protecting our lands and our waters. We just need the Federal Government to literally get out of our way.

That is why House Republicans have introduced H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, to deliver on our promise to unleash American energy and lower prices for all consumers, regardless of what industry they are engaged in.

H.R. 1 updates our broken permitting process to actually let Americans mine, let Americans farm, let Americans manufacture, to process, and to build so that our country can grow and thrive once more.

Today, I am joined by Western Caucus members from across our country who will shed light on how broke permitting processes throughout the Federal Government have kneecapped rural communities and how H.R. 1 can help resolve many of these challenges.

In order to truly unleash American potential, we must reform our permitting processes and we will continue to advocate for commonsense policies that will do just that.

As the preeminent voice for rural America on Capitol Hill, we have an expansive membership who have been on the front lines of the crafting of H.R. 1, our top legislative priority. We will continue to highlight the need for permitting reform to get more energy projects online and lower the cost to battle the inflation caused by the Biden administration's reckless agenda. This evening, many of our members of the Western Caucus will be here participating.

I ask the Speaker's indulgence that Mr. Stauber from Minnesota actually manage the time for our Special Order tonight.

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