On December 18, the House passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776) in a 221–196 vote, marking the first major permitting reform vote of the Congress and setting up a high-stakes Senate negotiation in 2026. The bipartisan bill, led by Representatives Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Jared Golden (D-ME), seeks to streamline federal environmental reviews for energy and infrastructure projects by narrowing NEPA timelines and litigation windows. Industry groups argue the measure would reduce bureaucratic delays that have stalled energy and infrastructure buildout, while environmental groups and many Democrats contend it would weaken judicial review and public input.
Passage in the House required last-minute concessions, driven by Republican opposition to offshore wind. Lawmakers secured changes removing bipartisan “permit certainty” language added in committee, limiting expedited review for projects reopened or reconsidered after January 20, 2025. The changes prompted the American Clean Power Association to withdraw its support, arguing the bill now enables discrimination against clean energy projects.
The bill has moved to the Senate, where Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chair, Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Ranking Member, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), have signaled interest in advancing a bipartisan permitting package, though not necessarily the House text. Senate negotiators from EPW and Energy and Natural Resources say talks are ongoing, with a focus on balancing permit certainty with bipartisan viability.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate John Kennedy.