House Approves Legislation to Streamline Environmental Reviews, Permitting Process

摘要

The House passed a bill March 6 to streamline environmental reviews in order to speed the federal permitting process, despite a threatened veto by President Obama. The Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act (H.R. 2641), which was passed on a vote of 229-179, was introduced by Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) in July 2013 and is supported by manufacturers and business interests. During debate on the House floor, Marino said that bureaucracy is holding up construction projects and preventing job growth. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which requires environmental review, serves worthy goals that should be preserved, he said.