High Level
On June 25, the House Transportation & Infrastructure
Committee approved H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act, which aims to streamline Clean
Water Act permitting processes for infrastructure—including transmission
projects. While supported by manufacturers and utilities, the bill's future
depends on full House passage and Senate action. It reflects growing bipartisan
interest in addressing permitting delays as a barrier to modernizing the grid
and ensuring reliability amid electrification.
Full View
Committee Advances PERMIT Act to Streamline Permitting
ARTBA, June 27, 2025; House T&I Committee Press Release, June 23, 2025;
Congress.gov, June 25, 2025
• What happened: The House T&I Committee voted 34–30 on June 25,
2025, to advance H.R. 3898, the PERMIT (Promoting Efficient Review for Modern
Infrastructure Today) Act.
• Who did it: Chair Sam Graves led the markup on June 23; Committee
members approved the amended bill on June 25.
• Why they did it: The Act seeks to reduce permitting uncertainty,
delineate Clean Water Act jurisdiction, and shorten review timeframes—a
response to growing infrastructure delays.
• Stakeholder views: Charles Crain of NAM urged a “yes” vote, noting the
PERMIT Act “adopts NAM’s key recommendations…critical to manufacturers’ ability
to build, expand and hire in America.” ARTBA called it “restor[ing] balance,
transparency, and certainty.”
• What happens next: The bill now heads to the House floor, followed by
Senate consideration. Proponents may seek inclusion in broader infrastructure
or energy packages.
Source
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What’s the So What?
Advancement of the PERMIT Act signals a rare bipartisan
alignment on permitting reform with potential ripple effects for transmission
deployment. By clarifying Clean Water Act interpretations and constraining
litigation risk, the bill could reduce timeline uncertainty for new
lines—crucial as the grid adapts for EV load and renewable integration. Success
may hinge on coalition-building in the Senate and reconciling environmental
concerns. If passed, it could serve as a model for transmission permitting modernization
at both federal and regional levels, potentially easing bottlenecks hindering
public policy goals around decarbonization and resilience.
Bibliography
American Road & Transportation Builders Association,
"House Committee Advances Permitting Reforms," June 27, 2025. https://www.artba.org/news/house-committee-advances-permitting-reforms/
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee,
"Chairman Graves Leads Markup of Legislation to Improve Federal Permitting
Process," June 23, 2025. https://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=408794
Congress.gov, H.R. 3898 - "Promoting Efficient Review
for Modern Infrastructure Today Act," Actions, June 25, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3898/actions