GRAY LEADS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO SPEED UP PERMITTING PROCESS AND CUT THROUGH BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE

This week, Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13), Scott Peters (CA-50), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced the Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act.

The bipartisan legislation would simplify the permitting process for infrastructure development by streamlining approval timelines, and requiring federal agencies to review all projects fairly and with transparency.

Previously, Congressman Gray played a key role in a bipartisan group that advanced the SPEED Act through the House Natural Resources Committee. Unfortunately, when the bill reached the House floor, Republicans added a provision that significantly weakened Gray-backed permit certainty language for energy projects. While the bill has advanced to the Senate, progress has since stalled. The CERTAIN Act builds on that language to continue bipartisan, bicameral negotiations on permitting reform.

"We need major reforms to our permitting process that ensure transparency, timelines, and certainty for all applicants." said Congressman Gray. "By working together to fix our permitting processes, we can save taxpayer dollars, strengthen our economy, and once again show that America can build great things."

This effort builds on Congressman Gray's work in Congress to reform our outdated and dysfunctional permitting process. Ensuring a reliable and efficient permitting process is crucial to build any infrastructure, including much needed water storage. Congressman Gray introduced the End the California Water Crisis Package last year, a suite of bills that would authorize additional California water storage projects, ease permitting restrictions and create enforceable timelines for environmental review.

Read the full text of the bill here.