R Street Institute joins Coalition Letter on Permitting Reform
March 27, 2023
To the Members of the United States Congress:
Today, the single biggest obstacle to building the infrastructure of the future is a broken permitting system. That is why the undersigned list of diverse groups across the country and economy is calling on Congress to Permit America to Build by enacting meaningful, durable legislation to modernize America’s permitting processes before the end of the summer.
Public and private sector infrastructure projects will improve our economy and the lives of millions of Americans. Investing in highways, bridges, transit systems, and ports will move people and goods more quickly and efficiently. Building new energy production, transmission, and distribution projects promises to improve energy reliability and reduce emissions. Expanding access to broadband can close the digital divide, and rebuilding failing water systems will ensure safe drinking water. And we can strengthen our national security by expanding domestic production of critical technologies and the raw materials they require. But America cannot accomplish any of this if the outdated, inefficient, and unpredictable permitting process is not improved.
We are pleased to see support for modernizing our permitting process from across the ideological spectrum, and a recognition that the current system is broken. We know there are differing perspectives in Congress on how best to address current challenges. Our organizations will not agree on every issue. We are committed, however, to working with Congress to find solutions and pass meaningful and durable legislation.
As a starting point, we are united on the following principles:
- Predictability – Project developers and financers must have an appropriate level of certainty regarding the scope and timeline for project reviews, including any related judicial review.
- Efficiency – Interagency coordination must be improved to optimize public and private resources while driving better environmental and community outcomes.
- Transparency – Project sponsors and the public must have visibility into the project permitting milestones and schedule through an easily accessible public means.
- Stakeholder Input – All relevant stakeholders must be adequately informed and have the opportunity to provide input within a reasonable and consistent timeframe.
This effort won’t be easy but must be pursued to take full advantage of the once-in-a-generation investment opportunities before us. We are confident that this Congress can pass meaningful and durable legislation. We urge you to do so before the end of the summer.
Sincerely,
National/Regional
ACA Connects – America’s
Communications Association
Advanced Energy United
Airlines for America
Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Aluminum Association
American Association of Port Authorities
American Chemistry Council
American Clean Power Association
American Coke and Coal Chemicals
Institute
American Conservation Coalition
American Consumer Institute
American Council for Capital Formation
American Council of Engineering
Companies
American Council on Renewable Energy
American Exploration and Production
Council
American Forest & Paper Association
American Foundry Society
American Gas Association
American Hotel and Lodging Association
American Petroleum Institute
American Pipeline Contractors Association
American Public Gas Association
American Public Power Association
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Trucking Associations
Fiber Broadband Association
The Food Industry Association
Foodservice Equipment Distributors
Association
GPA Midstream Association
GPSA Association
Hardwood Federation
INCOMPAS
Independent Petroleum Association of
America
Industrial Energy Consumers of America
Institute of Makers of Explosives
International Sign Association
International Union of Operating Engineers
Interstate Natural Gas Association of
America
Laborers’ International Union of North
America
Liquid Energy Pipeline Association
LNG Allies, The USLNG Association
Manufacturer & Business Association
Metals Service Center Institute
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure
Contractors Association
National Asphalt Pavement Association
National Association of Realtors
National Lime Association
National Mining Association
National Ocean Industries Association
Alabama
Enterprise Chamber of Commerce
Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce
Selma and Dallas County Chamber of
Commerce and Tourism
South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce
Alaska
Alaska Chamber
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce
Arizona
Apache Junction Area Chamber of
Commerce
Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Arizona Manufacturers Council
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Chamber
Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of
Commerce & Visitor Center
Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
Nogales Santa Cruz County Chamber of
Commerce
Peoria Chamber of Commerce
Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce
Southwest Cable Communications
Association
Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Metro Chamber
Colorado
Colorado Chamber of Commerce
Connecticut
Connecticut Business and Industry
Association
Florida
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Greater Gainesville Chamber
Stuart/Martin County Chamber of
Commerce
Georgia
Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Donalsonville-Seminole County Chamber of
Commerce
Jackson County Area Chamber of
Commerce
Indiana
Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce
Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce
Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
South Bend Regional Chamber of
Commerce
Westfield Chamber of Commerce
Iowa
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Mason City Chamber of Commerce
Kansas
South Central Kansas Transportation
Coalition
Kentucky
Commerce Lexington Inc.
Greater Louisville Inc. – The Metro
Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Union County Chamber of Commerce
Mississippi
Mississippi Economic Council – The State
Chamber
Missouri
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
Montana
Billings Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Montana Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska
Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce
Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &
Industry
Ohio
Ashland Chamber of Commerce
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Greater Springfield Partnership
Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce
Union County Chamber of Commerce
Oklahoma
Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce
State Chamber of Oklahoma
Tulsa Regional Chamber
Oregon
Albany Area Chamber of Commerce
Corvallis Chamber of Commerce
Oregon Business & Industry
Portland Business Alliance
Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce
Salem Area Chamber of Commerce
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Washington County Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina
Aiken Chamber of Commerce
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce
Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
South Dakota
Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce
Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee
Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce
Texas
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
Galveston Coalition, Jefferson County, Port
Arthur and Greater Port Arthur Chamber of
Commerce
Greater Houston Partnership
Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce
Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
League City Regional Chamber of
Commerce
Longview Chamber of Commerce
Rowlett Area Chamber & Visitors Center
Texas Association of Business
Utah
Salt Lake Chamber
South Valley Chamber of Commerce
Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
West Virginia
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Wisconsin
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
Wisconsin Restaurant Association
Wyoming
Campbell County Chamber of Commerce
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
American Wood Council
Americans for Tax Reform
Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated Equipment Distributors
Associated General Contractors of America
Bipartisan Policy Center
Business Roundtable
C3 Solutions
Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions
Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Clean Energy Buyers Association
Competitive Carriers Association
Composite Panel Association
Computer & Communications Industry
Association
ConservAmerica
Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Technology Association
Council of Industrial Boiler Owners
CrossState Credit Union Association
Digital Liberty
Digital Progress Institute
Distribution Contractors Association
Edison Electric Institute
Electric Power Supply Association
Energy Equipment and Infrastructure
Alliance
Energy Workforce & Technology Council
The Fertilizer Institute
National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
National Utility Contractors Association
Natural Gas Supply Association
North America’s Building Trades Unions
Plastics Pipe Institute
Portland Cement Association
Power and Communication Contractors
Association
Process Gas Consumers Group
Progressive Policy Institute
R Street Institute
Solar Energy Industries Association
Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers
Association
TechNet
USTelecom – The Broadband Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Vinyl Institute
Water and Sewer Distributors of America
Water and Wastewater Equipment
Manufacturers Association
Western States Trucking Association
Arkansas
Mountain Home Area Chamber of
Commerce
California
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
Brea Chamber of Commerce
California Chamber of Commerce
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
Chatsworth Porter Ranch Chamber of
Commerce
Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce
Coalition of California Chambers – Orange
County
Dana Point Chamber of Commerce
Fresno Chamber of Commerce
Glendora Chamber of Commerce
Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of
Commerce
Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce
La Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce
North San Diego Business Chamber
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce
Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of
Commerce
Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce
Tulare Chamber of Commerce
Valley Industry & Commerce Association
West Ventura County Business Alliance
Hawaii
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
Idaho
Boise Metro Chamber
Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce
Idaho Association of Commerce and
Industry
Meridian Chamber of Commerce
Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce
Illinois
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Cook County Black Chamber of Commerce
Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce
GLMV Chamber of Commerce
Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Heritage Corridor Business Alliance
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce &
Industry
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce
Westmont Chamber of Commerce and
Tourism Bureau
Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of
Commerce
Louisiana
Bossier Chamber of Commerce
Maryland
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Massachusetts
Metro South Chamber of Commerce
Michigan
Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce
Detroit Regional Chamber
Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce
Holly Area Chamber of Commerce
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Reed City Area Chamber of Commerce
Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota
Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce
Austin Area Chamber of Commerce
Crookston Area Chamber of Commerce
Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Laurentian Chamber of Commerce
Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of
Commerce
Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce
Saint Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
Shakopee Chamber and Visitors Bureau
Winona Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Nevada
Carson City Chamber of Commerce
Vegas Chamber
New Hampshire
Business and Industry Association of New
Hampshire
New Jersey
Greater Westfield Area Chamber of
Commerce
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
Newark Regional Business Partnership
New Mexico
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
New Mexico Chamber of Commerce
New York
Business Council of New York State
Capital Region Chamber of Commerce
North Country Chamber of Commerce
North Carolina
Gaston Business Association
NC Chamber
North Dakota
Chamber Grand Forks / East Grand Forks
Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of
Commerce
Greater North Dakota Chamber
Williston Area Chamber of Commerce
Pennsylvania
Alle Kiski Strong Chamber of Commerce
American Petroleum Institute – Pennsylvania
Cambria Regional Chamber
Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce
Chester County Chamber of Business &
Industry
Delaware County Chamber of Commerce
Energy Association of Pennsylvania
Greater Latrobe Laurel Valley Regional
Chamber of Commerce
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Greater West Chester Chamber of
Commerce
Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce
Harrisburg Regional Chamber
Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce
Keystone Contractors Association
Marcellus Shale Coalition
Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete
Association
Pennsylvania Builders Association
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and
Industry
Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council
Pennsylvania Economic Development
Association
Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association
Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas
Association
Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association
Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging
Association
Peters Township Chamber of Commerce
Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of
Commerce
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
Westmoreland County Chamber of
Commerce
Virginia
Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Washington
Association of Washington Business
Coupeville Chamber of Commerce
Economic Alliance Snohomish County
Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.
Greater Lake Stevens Chamber of
Commerce
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce
Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce
Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce
Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce
South Kitsap Chamber of Commerce
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
Washington Retail Association
West Plains Chamber of Commerce
A copy of the official letter is below: