Pete Stauber: “Our permitting system is a great burden to our Nation. It delays infrastructure projects indefinitely, stops us from…”

“Our permitting system is a great burden to our Nation. It delays infrastructure projects indefinitely, stops us from bringing energy sources online, and deters investments in our communities. Let's make no mistake, permitting is holding back America. H.R. 7023, the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act, seeks to unleash the American economy. It is a package of commonsense reforms that will reduce regulatory burdens, establish certainty, and increase transparency in our permitting system. This bill will, in turn, create opportunities for home builders, farmers, loggers, and small business owners alike, enticing them to invest in projects that help our local economies grow and our rural communities flourish. I highlight section 5 of H.R. 7023. Section 5 is the language of my bill, the Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act. Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act allows the EPA to veto a dredge and fill permit. However, the EPA has taken it upon itself to proactively reject the permits and retroactively take away permits. In a country of due process, it seems absurd that a Federal agency can dictate whether a project is good or bad before an application is even filed. If we reject ideas before they mature, we crush any chance of ingenuity, growth, and progress in this country. Do innovators no longer deserve the opportunity to make their case and share their creative solutions?…”