In Case You Missed It: Dem. Leaders, Media & Third-Party Advocates Voice Support for Bipartisan Senate Permitting Reform Deal

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
“The American people want lower energy bills, and they want more clean energy. Our permitting reform plan gets us a long way toward both of those goals. Like all major pieces of bipartisan legislation, this bill is a compromise. We believe it is a compromise that will result in a brighter, cleaner, more affordable future.”

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
“Our Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will help us get to ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on energy projects faster, while protecting important environmental safeguards and protecting the ability of Tribes to formally consult during these processes. It will mean more energy on the grid, more good-paying jobs, and lower electricity costs for families and businesses.”

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
“I do believe it is going to get a vote in November…you’ve got the Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader both saying we want to get this thing on the floor. I think that’s a vote of confidence. I think it’s going to take a little bit of massaging because there are some things in there…that are going to be tough for Democrats and there’s some things in there that are going to be tough for some Republicans. That’s the nature of democracy. To get something that matters, both sides have to give a little.”

Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA)
“The bipartisan Senate package released today is a great step toward fixing our broken permitting system.”

New Democrat Coalition
“At a time when hardworking Americans are experiencing higher energy bills, permitting reform has the potential to unleash American energy that will lower costs across the country. Without permitting reform, our country risks higher prices, rolling blackouts, a stalled economy, and a dirtier future for our children and grandchildren. As we review the text released this afternoon, we are encouraged by the good-faith bipartisan negotiations that led to this deal.”

Blue Dog Coalition
“For years, Blue Dogs in Congress have repeatedly pushed bipartisan permitting reform proposals only to see them stall before reaching the finish line. We are hopeful this breakthrough in the Senate will end the cycle of delay and inaction. Congress must clear the logjam and move permitting reform forward, not punt the issue to a future Congress.

With support from members across the political spectrum, this legislation represents America’s best opportunity to pass a comprehensive permitting package that finally unlocks America’s economic potential. We urge House and Senate leadership to bring this bill to the floor for a vote in November.”

Jennifer Granholm (Former MI Gov. and U.S. Secretary of Energy)
“If they want permitting reform, knock it off…I think we should pass it. I know it’s not perfect…Who’s to say we’re going to get a better deal? We still need a presidential signature in the next two years.”

Tom Steyer (Former Democratic Presidential Candidate and progressive climate activist)
“I’ve spent years and a good deal of my own money fighting for climate action, and I’m not in the habit of praising anything Republicans have endorsed. So I’ll say it plainly to my fellow progressives: this is a bill we should support, and I’m asking you to join me.”

Jason Bordoff (Former Special Assistant to President Obama)
“Leaders of the Senate’s two main energy and environment committees reached a bipartisan agreement on the most significant infrastructure overhaul in decades. The compromise is a major achievement, among the most important policy measures in decades to advance clean energy, meet rising energy needs, and rein in soaring energy prices. Rejecting it purely because it may ease construction of fossil fuel projects, as many in the environmental movement are advocating, would be an error.”

Wall Street Journal Editorial Board
“The country urgently needs permitting relief, and if this deal sticks, it’s worth passing.”

The Washington Post Editorial Board, “Democrats, don’t kill this win for U.S. energy”
“The package is enormous in scope and full of good ideas to boost every variety of energy development.”

Third Way
“The US needs more clean energy and more transmission to make energy reliable and affordable, and there’s no way to do that without permitting reform. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) is the legislation we need today to build the energy system of tomorrow.”

Progressive Policy Institute
“The bill is a major bipartisan breakthrough that would help America build faster and more cheaply, lower energy costs, and strengthen its competitive edge. The bill delivers on Congress’s promise to reduce costs for working Americans and advance environmental justice by accelerating the infrastructure needed to deliver reliable, cleaner power to communities that have long borne the brunt of high bills and pollution.”