SW Arkansas Times

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) has commented on the ongoing efforts and challenges surrounding permitting reform. In his statement, Westerman highlighted the long-standing work by House Republicans to address issues within the permitting process, which he described as "broken and litigious."

Westerman referred to a bill proposed by Senators Manchin and Barrasso, noting that it had only passed out of committee in the Senate and not reached a full vote. He emphasized that while this bill addressed some reforms, it lacked necessary provisions from the House National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to enhance its effectiveness.

According to Westerman, progress on permitting reform stalled due to disagreements over legislative text needed to rectify existing problems. He stressed that compromise must be balanced, criticizing how House priorities were either diluted or overlooked. This situation, he argued, would have resulted in a superficial reform bill.

Westerman concluded with an optimistic outlook for future collaboration: "I look forward to working in the next Congress with President Trump and a Republican House and Senate along with those across the aisle who desire meaningful permitting reform."