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House Passes Debt Ceiling Bill; Fiscal Responsibility Act Heads to the Senate

By Joshua St.Pierre posted 06-01-2023 01:02 PM

  
After weeks of negotiation, the Biden administration and congressional leaders released the text of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) over Memorial Day Weekend. The 99-page bill would, among other things, cut back on government spending and allow the U.S. government to avert a catastrophic default on the nation’s debt. Of particular importance to APGA’s members is that the FRA also includes a number of provisions designed to improve the energy permitting process. 

These energy-permitting reform provisions include: 
  • Reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) including review deadlines (one year for environmental assessments and two years for environmental impact statements), mandates for interagency coordination and streamlining, and clarifying “major Federal actions.”
  • Expediting the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) 

While the inclusion of these provisions signals positive movement that will impact APGA’s members, the work in this arena is far from complete.

The FRA’s energy-permitting reforms will provide for a quicker path to investment in our nation’s pipeline infrastructure and will likely lead to more affordable energy costs for APGA members. However, APGA and other industry partners will continue to push Congress to enact additional, much needed reforms regardless of the outcome of the FRA. Public utilities need further regulatory reforms like our proposed amendment to Section 5 of the Natural Gas Act that would provide the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with appropriate refund authority, in order to continue to provide reliable and affordable natural gas to their customers. See APGA’s priorities for permitting reform legislation here

Given this positive step, APGA staff engaged with the House Majority Whip’s office, as the bill moved through that chamber. It now heads to the Senate where debate is expected on both sides of the aisle. Pending passage in the Senate, the FRA will make its way to the White House where President Biden hopes to sign it avoiding the June 5 default deadline. 

For questions on this article please contact Josh St. Pierre of APGA staff by phone at 202-470-4262 or by email at jstpierre@apga.org.

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