WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and every Republican member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee introduced the Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources (SPUR) Act to substantively reform the nation’s broken permitting and environmental review processes, which are currently delaying key energy, infrastructure, and transportation projects across America.

“Energy security is national security,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The administration has blocked some needed energy projects by slow walking permits. Louisiana families are seeing this through higher prices at the pump and higher utility costs.”

“American energy can no longer be held hostage. That’s exactly what’s happening under the Biden administration. Environmental extremists are manipulating a broken permitting process. The bills Senator Capito and I are introducing will fix this problem,” said Senator Barrasso. “We need to lower prices for American families and unleash American energy. The way to do that is to impose strict deadlines and stop endless litigation. We must also block the administration from hijacking the permitting process to kill worthy projects. Our current system stifles development and undermines American energy security. Americans still know how to build things. Today’s broken process won’t allow it. That must change.”

“The current permitting and project review process slows the construction of roads and bridges, discourages domestic energy production, and minimizes investments made in our nation’s infrastructure, all of which has resulted in fewer jobs and higher prices for Americans,” said Senator Capito. “The two bills Senator Barrasso and I are introducing fix this broken system with substantive changes that cut red tape, modernize and streamline the permitting process, and prevent endless delays that have plagued job-creating projects across the country. As the Ranking Members of the EPW and ENR committees, we’re introducing both of these bills to underscore the need to approach permitting reform the right way, which is through the proper committees of jurisdiction here in Congress. I’m confident we can find bipartisan consensus and accomplish real permitting reform, which will create jobs, boost energy production, lower prices for consumers, and make it easier to build in America.”

SPUR Act, covers key reforms in ENR’s jurisdiction, including provisions to increase domestic energy and mineral development, ensure federal lands remain open to productive uses, and streamline permitting of energy infrastructure.

Cassidy, Barrasso, and Capito were joined by U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Lee (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) in introducing the SPUR Act.