Fedorchak advances Clean Air Act permitting reform

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) voted this week in favor of two key permitting reform bills, including legislation to rein in outdated and burdensome Clean Air Act regulations. The bills focus on restoring commonsense standards, reducing regulatory delays, and strengthening America's energy and manufacturing capacity.

"After more than a decade of permitting major energy infrastructure, I've seen how duplicative reviews, unclear standards, and delays drive up costs and stall investment. To meet the surge in power demand from AI and advanced manufacturing, we need a permitting framework that is predictable, timely, and grounded in reality," Fedorchak said. "These bills take a targeted approach in bringing clarity to how we account for emissions outside our country's boundaries and eliminating redundant federal reviews that add time without adding value. I strongly support these commonsense solutions and look forward to working with my colleagues in advancing comprehensive permitting reform."

H.R. 640, the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act, ensures all foreign emissions, both natural and manmade, are excluded when determining whether a state meets federal air quality standards or when reviewing permits. This bill restores fairness by allowing states to account for foreign emissions earlier in the process, ensuring that companies and local governments are not held accountable for emissions generated outside of the United States.

H.R. 6398, the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations (RED Tape) Act, streamlines permitting processes by eliminating redundant EPA reviews of other agencies' environmental analyses. By removing this duplicative layer, the bill reduces delays, lowers costs, and allows qualified agencies to lead reviews, helping move critical infrastructure projects forward more efficiently.

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