The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted 213 to 184 to pass legislation aimed at speeding up federal permitting for interstate natural gas pipelines. The bill would designate the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the lead agency for pipeline permitting reviews.
Under the legislation, FERC would be allowed to consider water quality assessments as part of its environmental review, rather than waiting for separate Clean Water Act certifications from states, Fox News noted.
Supporters say state-level certifications have often delayed pipeline approvals for years. The bill is titled the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act. It is one of several measures in Congress aimed at accelerating federal permitting processes.
Another bill, the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act, also passed the House with bipartisan support.
Lawmakers have made broad permitting reform a priority as they seek to expand energy infrastructure to meet rising electricity demand.
That demand has grown in part due to the rapid expansion of data centers across the country.
Supporters of the legislation also argue that faster permitting could help reduce household energy costs.
FERC is traditionally made up of five commissioners who are nominated by presidents and confirmed by the Senate.
The agency has approved most natural gas pipeline proposals that have come before it in recent years.
The Senate is pursuing a separate effort to reform energy permitting that would be broader than the bills passed by the House.
This comes as a government shutdown is looming in a few weeks.
Legislators on Capitol Hill have introduced a new spending bill amounting to a minimum of $174 billion, which may be voted on in the House of Representatives as soon as this week.
This represents a crucial advancement in preventing another government shutdown by January 30, the deadline established by congressional leaders following the conclusion of the recent 43-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, in November.
The legislation unveiled on Monday comprises a trio of the 12 annual appropriations bills that Congress is mandated to enact: commerce, justice, science, and affiliated agencies; energy and water development and associated agencies; and interior, environment, and related agencies.
Senior Republicans and Democrats expressed support for the bill, anticipated following its formulation through bipartisan negotiations between the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
“This bipartisan, bicameral package reflects steady progress toward completing FY26 funding responsibly. It invests in priorities crucial to the American people: making our communities safer, supporting affordable and reliable energy, and responsibly managing vital resources,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said in a statement. “It also delivers critical community projects nationwide, along with investments in water infrastructure, ports, and flood control that protect localities and keep commerce moving.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said its release is a step toward avoiding a “bloated omnibus bill” and would “spend less than another continuing resolution” in an apparent bid to ease conservative fiscal hawks’ concerns.
The predominant allocation of funding is directed towards the Commerce and Justice Departments, along with associated agencies.
It allocates approximately $78 billion in funding for NASA, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Prisons, among other sectors.
The energy funding bill ranks second, allocating over $58 billion primarily to the Department of Energy. The bill significantly increases funding for nuclear defense and energy production, designating approximately $25 billion to the National Nuclear Security Administration.
A significant portion of that funding will be allocated to nuclear weapons initiatives and stockpile enhancement.
The interior funding bill, completing the trio, allocates over $38 billion to the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, and other associated agencies.
The package comprises slightly more than $3 billion in “Community Project Funding,” commonly referred to as earmarks, which legislators solicit for particular projects in their constituencies.
Although the previous shutdown originated in the Senate, it seems that Senate Democrats are prepared to cooperate with Republicans in advance of the deadline.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stated prior to Congress’ holiday recess that the objective of the Democrats is to finalize the outstanding funding bills by the January 30 deadline, emphasizing the desire to “navigate through the process.”
Considering that the most recent package is a bicameral, bipartisan initiative, Senate Democrats are expected to endorse it.
Should the legislation be approved by both the House and Senate, Congress will have progressed on six of its twelve appropriations bills. It is important to emphasize that a subsequent shutdown would solely impact the agencies and offices that remain unfunded at its onset