Amata Highlights Energy Security in Hearing on Permitting Reform

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata emphasized energy security in her questions during a Natural Resources Committee hearing this week examining legislation, including a bipartisan permitting reform bill.

The Congresswoman's questions and the testimony in response are available HERE.

"Energy security is a key to national security, economic security, even food security," said Congresswoman Amata. "As an island people, we depend on imported energy and good U.S. planning to keep energy available and affordable to us. I appreciate this discussion on multiple sources of energy production and the recognition of how China affects the Pacific region, within the examination of three important bills."

Congresswoman Amata addressed questions to the following expert witnesses: Mr. Jeremy Harrell, Chief Executive Officer of ClearPath; Mr. Thomas Hochman, Director of Infrastructure Policy, Foundation for American Innovation; and Mr. Nick Loris, Vice President of Public Policy, C3 Solutions. Her questions prompted elaboration on U.S. efforts to keep up with China in energy access, the role of energy in national security, getting on the right track in this priority, and expanding on earlier testimony regarding Russia and China.

The House Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee legislative hearing on three bipartisan bills that will help streamline the permitting process, including House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman's (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden's (D-Maine) Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act.

Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) said, "With the bipartisan SPEED Act, we can ensure America meets its growing energy needs, revitalizes its crumbling infrastructure, wins the AI race and keeps its citizens safe and secure while upholding the world's highest environmental standards and responsibly managing our natural resources."

Legislation Examined:

The Studying NEPA's Impact on Projects Act, H.R. 573, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.), will inform policymakers on the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969's (NEPA) impacts by requiring the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to publish an annual report on NEPA projects and outcomes, for greater transparency.

The ePermit Act, H.R. 4503, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), will provide legislative direction on how federal agencies should implement electronic permitting systems.

The SPEED Act, H.R. 4777, introduced by Chairman Westerman (R-Ark.), and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) will streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose, including shorten permitting timelines, reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation, limit judicial review timelines and clarify when NEPA is activated.

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