Natural Resources Committee approves NEPA overhaul

Only two Democrats voted for the permitting legislation.

November 20, 2025

The House Natural Resources Committee passed broad permitting legislation Thursday, which may become part of a broader package lawmakers hope to pass this Congress.

The committee voted 25-18 for an amended version of Chair Bruce Westerman's (R-Ark.) “Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act," H.R. 4776.

Only two Democrats, primary co-sponsor Jared Golden of Maine and Adam Gray of California, ended up voting "yes" despite Westerman efforts to get more on board.

The bill would tighten timelines for National Environmental Policy Act reviews and reduce the potential for litigation. Westerman, a forester by training, stressed he simply wanted to "restore NEPA to its original form" and that his proposal would accelerate reviews for projects of all kinds.

Throughout the hourslong markup, Democrats stressed they were open to amending NEPA — long considered sacrosanct in the party — but the last-minute changes offered by Westerman did not do enough to undo the Trump administration's attacks on clean energy.

Indeed, one amendment does seek "certainty" for renewables, but Democrats remained worried about projects that have already been targeted this year.

“It’s an insane war on the energy of the future, and you all want to pretend it’s not happening,” said ranking member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.).

Westerman hopes to get a floor vote on the bill by the end of the year.


By:  Kelsey Brugger
Source: E&E Daily