Northwest Lawmakers Ask For Modernization of NEPA

Last week over 100 House members wrote a letter supporting the modernization of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The letter, spearheaded by Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse and House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, encourages environmental leadership while eliminating the “negative effects of permitting delays for critical infrastructure projects” across the country.

“We constantly hear about the opportunities lost when projects are stalled by NEPA’s increasingly time consuming and unnecessary red tape,” the letter states.

The representatives, all republicans, this has led to crumbling roads and closed-off bridges that may wait years for repair.

The Unlock American Investment Coalition, comprised of 40+ trade associations and organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, supports NEPA modernization.

“Projects should not take longer to permit than they do to construct,” said Marty Durbin, Senior Vice President for Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  “American businesses and labor organizations from across the economy stand ready to provide the infrastructure our nation needs—from roads and bridges to broadband and renewable energy.  However, we won’t be able to meet our growing infrastructure challenges without restoring the NEPA permitting process back to its original intent.  We’re thankful for the support of so many members of Congress and we look forward to the Administration finalizing the new rule without delay.” 

The letter was signed by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Republican Whip  and HEAT Co-Chair Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY), HEAT Co-Chairs Jeff Duncan (R-SC) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (R-AZ), and Reps. Jodey C. Arrington (R-TX), Greg Pence (R-IN), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Bill Flores (R-FL), Randy K. Weber (R-TX), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Larry Buschon, M.D. (R-IN), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Scott Tipton (R-CO), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Ron Wright (R-TX), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), John Ratcliffe (R-TX), Daniel P. Meuser (R-PA), Alex X. Mooney (R-WV), Pete Olson (R-TX), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Billy Long (R-MO), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA), Tom Rice (R-SC), Carol D. Miller (R-WV), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Sam Graves (R-MO), Steve Womack (R-AR), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Mike Bost (R-IL), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL),  David P. Roe, M.D. (R-TN), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Tom Cole (R-OK), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Steve Chabot (R-OH), French Hill (R-AR), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Andy Barr (R-KY), George Holding (R-NC), Ralph Abraham, M.D. (R-LA), Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Garret Graves (R-LA), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-SC), Rob Bishop (R-UT), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), David Rouzer (R-NC), Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Don Young (R-AK), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Ken Calvert (CA-42), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Jason Smith (R-MO), Steve King (R-IA), Paul Cook (R-CA), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Bill Johnson (R-OH), James R. Baird (R-IN), Ken Buck (R-CO), John Curtis (R-UT), Brian Babin (R-TX), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Rodney Davis (R-IL), John Shimkus (R-IL), Greg Walden (R-OR), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Ted S. Yoho, D.V.M. (R-FL), Roger Williams (R-TX), Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Mark Amodei (R-NV), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Doug Collins (R-GA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Scott Perry (R-PA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Martha Roby (R-AL), Rob Woodall (R-GA), Michael Guest (R-MS), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), John Rose (R-TN), John R. Carter (R-TX), Jody B. Hice (R-GA), John H. Rutherford (R-FL), Ron Estes (R-KS), Fred Keller (R-PA), Ross Spano (R-FL), Steve Watkins (R-KS), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Adrian Smith (R-NE), James Comer (R-KY), and William Timmons (R-SC).

Click Here to read the entire letter.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com