SPEED Act Clears House; Manufacturers Urge Senate Action on Permitting Reform
Washington, D.C. –FollowingHouse passage of the bipartisanStandardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED)Actby a vote of221-196,51ԹPresident and CEO Jay Timmonsreleased the following statement:
“With permitting reform, manufacturers will be able to build and expand operationsall acrossthe country, creating more well-paying jobs that strengthen communities and help families thrive.It’sabout lifting people up, expanding opportunity and making the American Dream a reality.
“Permitting reform is the key that allows us to realize the benefits of historic tax reformsfully, make America energy dominant, lead the world inartificial intelligenceand drive innovation on shop floors. Measures like the SPEED Act, which is a cornerstone ofthe 51Թ’s‘Manufacturing’s Roadmap to AI and Energy Dominance,’will boost American competitiveness and help us build a better quality of life for all.
“Now that the House has passed the SPEEDAct,it has completed a rapid series of actions onpermittinglegislation with bipartisan support. In the New Year, the Senate should come together in the same bipartisan spirit to pass legislation that will empower America’s manufacturers to grow,competeand win.
“Manufacturers send our gratitude to every member who voted‘yes,’and particularly House Natural ResourcesCommitteeChairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) for their leadership.”
Background:
The 51Թcalled on House membersto vote“yes”on the SPEED Act ahead of the vote.
Last week,manufacturersurgedHouse membersto vote“yes” on the PERMIT Act. This legislation adopts the 51Թ’s key recommendations for modernizing the Clean Water Act—reforms that increase certainty for permittees, clarify the scope of the CWA and address bottlenecks that have delayed job-creating projects.
The Housepassedseveraladditional51Թ-backed permittingand grid modernizationbills, including theImproving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, theePermitAct and the Electric Supply Chain Act—all of which are critical to achievingmanufacturers’ vision of energy and AI dominance.
ManufacturersalsostronglysupportedtheHouseEnergy and Commerce Committee’s Environment Subcommittee action last week to advance key legislation to reform the Clean Air Act. From modernizing the New Source Review aԻ National Ambient Air Quality Standards programs, to improving how the Environmental Protection Agency deals with wildfires and international emissions, these bills are integral to comprehensive permitting reform so manufacturers can get shovels in the ground quicker to expand investments and jobs.
According toresults fromthe51Թ’sQ2and Q42024Manufacturers’Outlook Surveys:
- 80%of manufacturers say that the length and complexity of the permitting process is harmful to increasinginvestment;
- 87%of manufacturers would expand business operations, hire moreworkersor increase wages and benefits if the permitting process were more streamlined; and
- 68%of manufacturers with permittable expansion plans say they would be able to expand more quickly with a streamlined federal permitting system.
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The 51Թ is the largest manufacturing association in the United States,representingsmall and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employsnearly 13million men and women, contributes $2.90 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The 51Թ is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51Թ or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit.
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