Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved two pieces of legislation led by Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC) aimed at increasing permitting efficiency and reducing burdensome and duplicative government regulations.

"As Chairman of the Subcommittee, I have enjoyed leading my colleagues in our work to reduce red tape and deliver on permitting reform," said Chairman Rouzer.  "Time is money, and ensuring important infrastructure and energy development projects do not become stuck in a bureaucratic quagmire is vital to addressing supply chain challenges and promoting commerce.  Together, the policy solutions passed out of the full committee today include targeted, commonsense reforms to make regulations simple to understand and easy to follow, which has the added benefit of making them easier to enforce.  In doing so we can keep projects on time as well as on budget, all while maintaining our nation's clean water infrastructure."

“Chairman Rouzer’s bills will cut red tape, bring some common sense and certainty to Clean Water Act permitting processes, and help us to build our transportation and energy infrastructure more efficiently while also protecting our nation’s waters," said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves. "To be clear, these bills do not overhaul or roll back the Clean Water Act, but instead ensure that permitting processes are more consistent and transparent.”

The first piece of legislation introduced by Chairman Rouzer and passed by the Committee includes an amendment to H.R. 7023, Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act.  This package is comprised of five standalone bills previously introduced in the House to strengthen the permitting process.  The package includes Chairman Rouzer's own H.R. 7023, the Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act.  H.R. 7023 streamlines the Nationwide Permit (NWP) process and maintains certainty for regulated entities involved in improving U.S. energy production, transportation infrastructure, and other commercial activities.

H.R. 7023 is endorsed by American Exploration and Mining Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, American Pipeline Contractors Association, American Road and Transportation Builders Association, American Society of Golf Course Architects, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, Essential Minerals Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Leading Builders of America, Liquid Energy Pipeline Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Realtors, National Cotton Council, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Mining Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association, National Utility Contractor Association, Power and Communication Contractors Association, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, The Fertilizer Institute, USA Rice, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to H.R. 7023, the Committee passed H.R. 5089, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, introduced by Chairman Rouzer.  H.R. 5089 eliminates a duplicative regulatory process at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the use of pesticides while maintaining public health and environmental protections.

H.R. 5089 is endorsed by National Agricultural Aviation Association, American Exploration & Mining Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Gas Association, American Mosquito Control Association, American Road & Transportation Builders Association American, Society of Golf Course Architects Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, Essential Minerals Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Independent Petroleum Association of America, Leading Builders of America, Liquid Energy Pipeline Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Realtors, National Cotton Council, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Mining Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, National Special Districts Coalition, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, Pesticide Policy Coalition, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, The Fertilizer Institute, USA Rice, US Chamber of Commerce

As Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, Rouzer has championed efforts to reduce red tape and deliver on permitting reform.  He helped lead the effort to overturn the Biden Administration’s overreaching WOTUS rule.  Rouzer secured permitting reform contributions in H.R. 1 to ensure America can build the energy infrastructure necessary to responsibly utilize our natural resources.  Earlier this Congress, he relaunched the bipartisan Congressional Supply Chain Caucus and hosted a caucus roundtable to discuss ways policymakers can alleviate permitting disruptions resulting in large-scale delays and economic loss. 

In addition to legislation under the purview of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, the full Committee also approved:

• H.R. 6248, Think Differently Transportation Act

• H.R. 7070, Wildfire Response Improvement Act

More information about the markup, including full legislative text and a link to the live webcast, can be found here.