The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed the bipartisan ePermit Act, led by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) to update permitting technology across the federal government and reduce processing time for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. The bill advances to the U.S. Senate for action.
“I’m grateful the ePermit Act passed the House, and I hope the Senate acts soon so this can be the law of the land,” Rep. Johnson said on Tuesday.
The ePermit Act, H.R. 4503, which Rep. Johnson sponsored on July 17 with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), would modernize how federal agencies use technology to facilitate more efficient and timely federal permitting decisions.
If enacted, the bill would help cut red tape by enhancing transparency, improving stakeholder engagement, and facilitating efficient interagency collaboration by establishing a framework for agencies to implement a digital permitting system and unified portal, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Johnson’s staff.
“It has become harder and harder to get any big project done in America,” said Rep. Johnson. “The same road project that can get approved in Germany in six months takes six years in America.
“America is full of innovators, creators, and builders. It’s time we let them build again, fueling economic growth and unlocking domestic energy production,” he added.
The Council on Environmental Quality, ClearPath Action, the National Association of Home Builders, the American Conservation Coalition Action, and the American Council of Engineering Companies support H.R. 4503.
“Passing this bill out of the House represents a major breakthrough in our effort to finally modernize an outdated permitting system,” said Rep. Peters. “Today’s progress is a clear sign that Congress can still come together to solve real problems; let’s build on this momentum, digitize the permitting process, cut needless delays, and get this bill across the finish line.”