On October 21, 2026, the Environmental Protection Network (EPN) sent a letter to Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Sheldon Whitehouse, Mike Lee, and Martin Heinrich offering technical recommendations on the bipartisan permitting reform bill (S. 5653). Drawing on the expertise of former EPA officials, EPN raised concerns that the bill’s “project certainty” provisions could unintentionally limit EPA’s ability to update pollution standards and enforce environmental laws. The letter proposes specific legislative corrections and recommends strengthening provisions to support additional permitting staff at EPA and other federal agencies. EPN does not take a position on the bill as a whole.
EPN Offers Technical Recommendations on Bipartisan Permitting Reform Bill
