Make Your Voice Heard On Federal Permitting Reform

As part of their fiscal year 2026 budget reconciliation, members of the U.S. House of Representatives will soon consider major changes to the federal permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects, including for oil and natural gas pipelines. Some of the reforms under consideration include:

• Shortening timeframes for environmental reviews;
• Shielding environmental review findings from opposition judicial and administrative challenges; and
• Establishing federal eminent domain authority for liquids pipelines, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen. (This authority currently exists for natural gas pipelines.)

The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) has long supported changes like these since they would provide major relief for project developers against the epidemic of litigation and other opposition that has stopped projects from moving forward and has discouraged project sponsors from proposing new infrastructure.

Now you can make your voice heard on this matter. U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) has asked for supportive comments from interested parties — short statements of support for the reforms. Individuals may submit comments using this link or send comments directly to Majority Whip Emmer’s Director of Business Coalitions, Annie Brody, at annie.brody@mail.house.gov.

Action is needed now. The U.S. House has approved the legislation and now it is in the U.S. Senate for passage by a simple majority. (If the Senate alters the bill, the House will have to vote on the legislation once more.)

MSCI believes this bill would lead to much-needed support for development of critical energy infrastructure by promoting timely environmental reviews, discouraging frivolous and costly litigation, and facilitating full development of the United States’ abundant natural gas and oil resources for the nation’s energy security, enhancing grid resilience and reliability, and ensuring affordable and reliable energy for U.S. homes, businesses, and industries.

Learn more about this legislation at this link.