Next American Era Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan Permitting Reform Bill in Congress
NAE Urges Congress to Keep Progress Moving Forward, Pass Permitting Bill & Send it to the House and President’s Desk
WASHINGTON, DC — September 30, 2026 — Next American Era President Cheri Bustos today applauded the news that Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) – the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Public Works Committee (EPW) – introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 to address permitting reform on the federal level. NAE has been advocating for Congress to act on this important issue, as it is a key factor in affordability and can go a long way to help reduce the rising energy prices that are hurting Americans every day.
“Today’s bipartisan permitting bill is real progress, and the lawmakers who got us here deserve credit. Our permitting system currently takes too long, costs too much, and leaves workers, families, and communities waiting,” said NAE President Cheri Bustos. “This bill lays a strong foundation for faster, more predictable reviews for every kind of energy project, from conventional power to the next generation of innovative technologies. Now Congress has to finish the job. Every month of delay means higher electric bills, stalled projects and lost jobs, and families already paying more to power their homes can’t afford to wait for a new Congress to start from scratch. Next American Era urges negotiators to keep talks moving and send this bill to the House and then the President’s desk before the end of the year.”
NAE recently commissioned a study through the Responsible Business Initiative, which detailed the cost of delay that results from our current energy permitting system. The independent report found that a broken, fragmented permitting system is driving up energy costs, holding back billions in economic activity, and leaving workers and communities waiting. This is happening while the infrastructure America urgently needs sits in queue for years. The report concludes that Congress must act on the federal level for the U.S. to receive the full benefits of permitting reform across all states, and the legislative window is narrowing before the end of the year.
About Next American Era
Next American Era is a national 501(c)(4) organization focused on advancing a pro-growth, pro-consumer, and pro-worker agenda that strengthens communities, fuels innovation, and expands economic opportunity for all Americans. NAE is led by Cheri Bustos, former Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and former U.S. Representative for Illinois's 17th congressional district.
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