[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 28, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1517-H1518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FIGHTING TO REESTABLISH ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the topic of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, throughout the month of March, the Western 
Caucus has been highlighting the need for permitting reform in almost 
every aspect of the Federal Government.
  Permitting and regulatory reform have long been a priority for the 
Western Caucus and it has become even more important in recent months.
  As our Nation fights to reestablish energy independence, we need 
certainty for American energy producers and a reliable process for 
increased critical mineral mining.

  As catastrophic wildfires threaten the West year after year, we need 
permitting processes that empower State and local land managers to 
effectively manage our forests and our grasslands.
  As rural communities are faced with more and more Federal overreach 
from the Biden administration, they deserve certainty and transparency. 
That is why we must reform our broken permitting processes to unlock 
American investment and unleash the potential of rural America.
  Landmark environmental protection laws like NEPA and the ESA have 
truly gotten out of control. While well intentioned they are, they are 
now used by serial litigants to stall critical infrastructure and 
management projects.
  These far-left environmental groups use these statutes to drive 
political wedges and ensure America is dependent on her adversaries. 
Endless cycles of litigation tie the hands of project developers, of 
land managers, and of private conservationists, all while posing a 
serious threat to both our local economies as well as our environment.
  As a farmer from the central part of the State of Washington and as 
chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, I see how regulations 
from the Federal Government have disproportionately negatively impacted 
our rural communities. This is unfair for so many reasons, but the main 
one being that these are exactly the men and women that we should be 
empowering.
  In rural America, our livelihoods depend on a healthy environment and 
on our natural resources. We truly have a vested interest in and a 
storied history of protecting our lands and our waters. We just need 
the Federal Government to literally get out of our way.
  That is why House Republicans have introduced H.R. 1, the Lower 
Energy Costs Act, to deliver on our promise to unleash American energy 
and lower prices for all consumers, regardless of what industry they 
are engaged in.
  H.R. 1 updates our broken permitting process to actually let 
Americans mine, let Americans farm, let Americans manufacture, to 
process, and to build so that our country can grow and thrive once 
more.
  Today, I am joined by Western Caucus members from across our country 
who will shed light on how broke permitting processes throughout the 
Federal Government have kneecapped

[[Page H1518]]

rural communities and how H.R. 1 can help resolve many of these 
challenges.
  In order to truly unleash American potential, we must reform our 
permitting processes and we will continue to advocate for commonsense 
policies that will do just that.
  As the preeminent voice for rural America on Capitol Hill, we have an 
expansive membership who have been on the front lines of the crafting 
of H.R. 1, our top legislative priority. We will continue to highlight 
the need for permitting reform to get more energy projects online and 
lower the cost to battle the inflation caused by the Biden 
administration's reckless agenda. This evening, many of our members of 
the Western Caucus will be here participating.
  I ask the Speaker's indulgence that Mr. Stauber from Minnesota 
actually manage the time for our Special Order tonight.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________