AFFM & Allied Pro-Growth Organizations Urge Congress to Slash Permitting Red Tape, Cut Housing and Energy Costs

National and state organizations call on lawmakers to seize bipartisan momentum to unlock investment and improve affordability

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, more than two dozen national and state organizations sent a joint letter to congressional leadership urging lawmakers to seize the opportunity to enact meaningful permitting reform.

The letter calls on Congress to act on growing bipartisan momentum by advancing legislation that reduces unnecessary regulatory delays, accelerates project approvals and strengthens America’s economic competitiveness and national security. Current permitting reviews can take years to complete, with litigation and additional approvals creating further delays. These costs are ultimately reflected in more expensive housing, energy, critical minerals, and infrastructure. Reforming the permitting process will help increase supply, encourage private investment, and improve affordability for all Americans.

Letter signatories include: Abilene Chamber, Advanced Power Alliance, Advancing American Freedom, American Commitment, Americans for Free Markets, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens for a New Louisiana, Commonwealth Foundation, Consumer Energy Alliance, Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Goldwater Institute, Longview Chamber, Metrocrest Area Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi Center for Public Policy, National Taxpayers Union, Oklahoma Rural Association, Pelican Institute for Public Policy, Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, PinPoint Policy Institute, Southwest Public Policy Institute, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Teller Strategies, The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, and The State Chamber of Oklahoma.

The coalition’s letter highlights three bipartisan permitting reform proposals currently before Congress:

• The SPEED Act, which would streamline National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews and reduce unnecessary litigation.
• The FREEDOM Act, which would establish enforceable timelines for energy and critical mineral projects that are essential to domestic supply chains and national defense while expediting judicial review.
• The PERMIT Act, which would modernize Clean Water Act permitting, improve regulatory clarity and require more timely agency decisions on permit applications.

Americans for Free Markets (AFFM) Executive Director David Ibsen issued the following statement on the letter:

“For too long, an outdated permitting system has slowed investment, delayed critical projects and contributed to higher housing, energy and infrastructure costs. Permitting reform is the most effective step Congress can take to increase housing supply, strengthen energy security and deliver affordability for American families.”

“AFFM is proud to stand with this broad coalition of national and state organizations in urging lawmakers to seize this opportunity and advance commonsense legislation that will unlock investment, strengthen our economy and help ensure Americans benefit from a more efficient and predictable permitting process.”

Read the full letter to congressional leadership HERE.