Leader Schumer Statement After Permitting Reform Bill Advances In The Senate

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released the following statement after the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), a permitting reform bill:

"Americans are paying too much for energy, and we need to do something about it. For too long, our broken permitting system has held back cleaner, cheaper energy; driven up costs; and delayed good-paying jobs. We should be making it easier to bring affordable energy onto the grid and to ensure data centers pay their fair share, so Americans don't get stuck with the bill. At the same time, we must uphold the environmental protections that keep New York's water clean and ensure communities have a voice in what projects are built in their backyards.

"Senators Whitehouse and Heinrich deserve tremendous credit for their hard work bringing this legislation together and moving forward a long-overdue conversation about permitting reform. While I have outstanding concerns with parts of the bill that I'll fight to address through the amendment process, I'm voting today to move this debate forward. Americans can't afford more years of delay, higher energy bills, and missed opportunities, but addressing those concerns does not need to come at the expense of protecting our land, water, and communities' voices. It's time to get this legislation right and deliver for American families."

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