To the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 3898, the “Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure for Today Act’’ or the ‘‘PERMIT Act,’’ and urges all Members to vote in favor when it comes to the House floor later this week.
Streamlining and modernizing our federal permitting systems is intrinsically linked to fostering economic growth. Improving the permitting process aligns with the Chamber's Growth and Opportunity Imperative, which calls for policies that help drive at least three percent annual economic growth, creating opportunities for American workers and businesses to thrive.
We are pleased to see that this bill includes longstanding priorities for businesses of all sizes such as extending NPDES permit terms, clarifying and expediting judicial review timelines, and improving coordination between federal and state agencies. These policies will significantly reduce delays and costs associated with advancing infrastructure projects. It also contains exclusions from the definition of “waters of the United States,” including those for ephemeral features, groundwater, prior converted cropland, and waste treatment systems. The proposal provides a pathway for promoting rapid deployment of commercially available and cost-effective technologies that will lead to improved water quality for communities across our nation.
We commend Chairmen Sam Graves (R-MO) and Mike Collins (R-GA) for their leadership on this important legislation and urge its swift passage.
Sincerely,
Neil L. Bradley
Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer,
and Head of Strategic Advocacy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
