Which energy permitting reform bills are moving in Congress, and who sponsors them? Map the sponsors, the bills, and the provisions - NEPA streamlining, Clean Water Act scope, and permit litigation limits - cited to the official record.

Energy Permitting Reform Bills in Motion

Three major energy permitting reform bills are actively moving in the 119th Congress, each targeting different aspects of federal environmental review and permitting:

1. SPEED Act (Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act)

Status: H.R. 4776 passed the House (221–196, December 18, 2025); S. 3224 referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Westerman [R-AR-4]; Sen. John Kennedy [R-LA]

Cosponsors (H.R. 4776): 14 members including bipartisan support—Reps. Jared Golden [D-ME], Henry Cuellar [D-TX], Vicente Gonzalez [D-TX], Jim Costa [D-CA], Adam Gray [D-CA], and others.

NEPA Streamlining Provisions:

• Redefines "major federal actions" to exclude actions based solely on federal funding provision (H.R. 4776 § 111)
• Limits environmental review scope to effects "proximately caused by the immediate project or action," excluding speculative or attenuated effects (H.R. 4776 § 106)
• Extends programmatic environmental document validity from 5 to 10 years (H.R. 4776 § 108)
• Establishes firm deadlines for Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements (H.R. 4776 § 107(g))

Permit Litigation Limits:

• Restricts judicial review of NEPA cases by establishing standing requirements and limiting injunctive relief (H.R. 4776 § 3)

2. Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (S. 5653)

Status: Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (September 30, 2026)

Sponsor: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito [R-WV]

Cosponsors: Sens. Mike Lee [R-UT], Martin Heinrich [D-NM], Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]

NEPA Streamlining Provisions:

• Limits types of federal actions triggering environmental review and narrows alternatives that must be considered (S. 5653 § 1101–1110)
• Establishes deadlines for permit issuance once environmental review is complete (S. 5653 § 1106)
• Creates an Environmental Review and Permitting Tracker to monitor project status (S. 5653 § 1132)
• Establishes a $20 million Permitting Improvement Fund for key agencies (S. 5653 § 1133)

Clean Water Act Scope Narrowing:

• Narrows scope of water quality certifications under Section 401 (S. 5653 § 1202)
• Extends NPDES permit terms from 5 to 10 years (S. 5653 § 1203)
• Limits time period for review of Section 404 dredge-and-fill permits (S. 5653 § 1204)

Permit Litigation Limits:

• Protects existing federal authorizations from revocation unless required by court order, fraud, material breach, or urgent harm (S. 5653 § 1401)
• Shifts burden of proof to federal agencies to demonstrate by "clear and convincing evidence" grounds for permit revocation (S. 5653 § 1401(b)(B))
• Authorizes courts to award attorney fees, litigation costs, and project delay damages (25–50% of total project costs) (S. 5653 § 1401(d))

3. Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act (S. 4475)

Status: Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (April 30, 2026)

Sponsor: Sen. David McCormick [R-PA]

Clean Water Act Scope Narrowing:

• Amends Section 401 water quality certification process for energy infrastructure (S. 4475 § 2(a))
• Extends Section 404 permit terms from 5 to 10 years and ratifies existing nationwide permits as causing "minimal adverse environmental effects" (S. 4475 § 2(b))

Additional Energy Infrastructure Provisions:

• Extends LNG terminal licensing authority (S. 4475 § 3)
• Extends nuclear reactor license terms and makes early site permits indefinite (S. 4475 § 4)

4. CLEAR Act (Curtailing Litigation Excess and Abuse Reform Act)

Status: S. 3305 and H.R. 6352 both referred to Judiciary Committees (December 2, 2025)

Sponsors: Sen. Tom Cotton [R-AR]; Rep. Troy Balderson [R-OH-12]

Permit Litigation Limits:

• Bars new legal challenges to energy projects once any aspect has been "finally adjudicated" (S. 3305 § 1(A)(iii))
• Distinguishes between pre-completion construction litigation and post-completion operational violations (S. 3305 § 1(1)–(2))

Key Takeaways

Momentum: H.R. 4776 (SPEED Act) is furthest along, having passed the House with bipartisan support. S. 5653 has the broadest scope, combining NEPA, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act reforms with litigation protections. All bills reflect a Republican-led push to streamline permitting, with selective Democratic cosponsorship on the SPEED Act and S. 5653.

Sources:

• H.R. 4776 (SPEED Act)
• S. 5653 (Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act)
• S. 4475 (Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act)
• S. 3305 (CLEAR Act)
• H.R. 6352 (CLEAR Act)