Washington, D.C. - Recently, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) introduced the bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. Organizations, officials and a wide variety of industry leaders from across the country have voiced their support for the legislation that will create certainty in the permitting process and spur domestic investment in critical infrastructure, energy and conservation projects. Here is what leaders across industries are saying:
“Securing America's leadership in AI is fundamentally tied to energy. To out-innovate and outperform global competitors, we must build grid infrastructure that can power a new era of growth. We shared policy recommendations earlier this year. Infrastructure permitting reform measures like many of those in Representative Westerman and Representative Golden's SPEED Act are an important first step. These reforms can accelerate critical energy projects, which helps lower development costs and boosts the affordability of power. And infrastructure permitting reform must be paired with action on how we build transmission. A reliable, efficient, and fully modernized grid is essential to move electricity from where it's generated to where it is required, such as businesses, homes, and the data centers, ensuring reliable power supply. We urge Congress to ensure that transmission permitting reforms are prioritized alongside efforts like the SPEED Act. Together, these complementary policies will create a stronger, more reliable and affordable foundation for American households and America’s leadership.” – Google
"The SPEED Act is an important bipartisan effort to make the federal permitting process more efficient and predictable – helping to get AI technology into the hands of as many people as possible. Clearer timelines and modernized environmental reviews will help the United States deliver critical infrastructure at the pace needed to stay globally competitive, while maintaining transparency and accountability. We appreciate the leadership of Chairman Westerman and Congressman Golden in advancing these reforms that will enable the U.S. to build faster by building smarter.” – Chan Park, Head of U.S. and Canada Policy and Partnerships, OpenAI
"The AI Supply Chain Alliance supports bipartisan efforts in Congress, such as the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, to cut permitting delays for energy, manufacturing, and construction projects. America needs a more predictable regulatory framework to build the infrastructure that will drive AI leadership, economic growth, and job creation. We applaud House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden for introducing this bill, and we look forward to working with Congress to enact comprehensive permitting reform legislation." – Brandon Mooney, vice president, AI Supply Chain Alliance
“The American Forest Resource Council supports the bipartisan SPEED Act (H.R. 4776), which will create greater certainty in the federal permitting process and ensure that vital forest management projects can move forward. For too long, lengthy National Environmental Policy Act reviews and anti-forestry litigation have delayed urgently needed work to reduce the risk of wildfires on federal lands.” – Travis Joseph, president, American Forest Resource Council
“On behalf of the Associated General Contractors of America – the leading association in the construction industry representing more than 28,000 firms, including America’s leading general contractors, specialty-contracting firms, service providers, and suppliers – I write in support of H.R. 4776, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, which would reform the permitting and judicial review of projects under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 .” – Alex Etchen, vice president, Associated General Contractors of America
“On behalf of the nearly 1,000 forest management and logging small businesses represented by Associated Oregon Loggers, we write in strong support of the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act of 2025.” – Amanda Sullivan, forest policy manager, Associated Oregon Loggers
“On behalf of the Commercial Space Federation, the leading trade association for the U.S. commercial space industry, I am writing to encourage action to reform our Nation’s outdated environmental permitting system in support of maintaining U.S. leadership in space. Doing so would accelerate the development of critical space infrastructure and activities, bolstering America’s national security and economic competitiveness.” – Dave Cavossa, president, Commercial Space Federation
“On behalf of ConservAmerica, a non-profit organization dedicated to market-based, common-sense solutions to our nation’s energy, environmental, and conservation challenges, I write in support of H.R. 4776, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act.” – Jason Solomon, director of governmental affairs, ConservAmerica
“We write in support of H.R. 4776, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, which will modernize the National Environmental Policy Act and improve the efficiency of the environmental review process.” – Karl Sporleder, chairman, Huerfano County, Colorado, Board of County Commissioners
“On behalf of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association (LMOGA), the state trade association representing the full spectrum of Louisiana’s oil and natural gas industry, I write to express strong support for the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. We commend you and your colleagues for advancing this bipartisan legislation to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act and establish a more predictable and efficient permitting process.” – Tommy Faucheux, president, Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association
“Minnesota Forest Industries supports H.R. 4776 (Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act), as it proposes necessary reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Fear of litigation, judicial rulings and USDA Forest Service interpretations of NEPA have clouded its original intent, slowed the analysis process, and prevented needed forest management and restoration work. Without reforms we will continue to see wildfires raging in unmanaged forests and further forest products mill closures, just when we need them the most.” – Rick Horton, executive vice president, Minnesota Forest Industries
“On behalf of Missouri River Energy Services, I write to express strong support for H.R. 4503, the ePERMIT Act, and H.R. 4776, the SPEED Act.” – Matthew Schull, CEO, Missouri River Energy Services
“The National Electrical Contractors Association strongly supports the bipartisan SPEED Act for its pragmatic approach to streamlining NEPA reviews while preserving core environmental safeguards.” – Marco Giamberardino, vice president, National Electrical Contractors Association
“On behalf of the National Electrical Contractors Association’s (NECA) Oregon-Columbia Chapter, Oregon Pacific-Cascade Chapter, and Northwest Line Constructors Chapter, we are writing to express our support for the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. These NECA chapters represent electrical contractors in Oregon and Southwest Washington who are committed to rebuilding and modernizing our nation’s electrical infrastructure for future generations through a combination of conservation, technology, and innovation.” – Todd Mustard, executive manager, Oregon-Columbia Chapter, Oregon Pacific-Cascade Chapter and Northwest Line Constructors Chapter National Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association
“The Utah Rural Electric Cooperative Association wholeheartedly supports H.R. 4776, the SPEED Act, as a necessary, commonsense reform. The SPEED Act will enable cooperatives to upgrade and maintain infrastructure more efficiently, reduce overhead costs and the financial strain passed onto members.”- Utah Rural Electric Cooperative Association
