Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Graves and Chairman Collins for their hard work on this pragmatic and effective piece of legislation.
I rise today in support of H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act, which would cut red tape within the Clean Water Act's permitting processes. This legislation will provide much-needed regulatory certainty for America's farmers, small businesses, manufacturers, home and road builders, and many other permit holders.
My colleagues across the aisle continue to promote the fallacy that improving permitting processes comes at the expense of the environment. Congress can continue to be good stewards of our environment while also removing regulations and processes that do not protect the environment but rather create obstacles that prevent economic growth and prosperity in Ohio and across the country.
Among these provisions, the PERMIT Act makes commonsense reforms to the Clean Water Act permitting process that will continue to protect our Nation's water resources. These reforms increase transparency and provide clarity and consistency for permit holders so they can maintain compliance with the law and provide reasonable guardrails to prevent the weaponization of these permitting processes.
In particular, I am proud that my bill, the Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act, is included in the underlying legislation. My bill provides reasonable protections for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit holders against frivolous lawsuits if they are acting in good faith and within the scope of their permits. Permit holders who are in compliance with these permits, and who often provide well-paying jobs to Americans, should not be punished with frivolous lawsuits when they comply with the terms of their permits.
I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of the PERMIT Act to provide regulatory relief and certainty under the Clean Water Act for businesses in Ohio and across the Nation.
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