Natural Resources Chairman Says SPEED Act Unlocks Faster Infrastructure Deployment
Years-long federal permitting delays are slowing major infrastructure deployment, raising costs for consumers and undermining competitiveness.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2026 – House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., said federal permitting delays are inflating costs for broadband and infrastructure projects, warning that drawn-out approval timelines ultimately hit consumers’ pocketbooks and slow the deployment of new technologies.
Speaking at the INCOMPAS Policy Summit here, Westerman framed the SPEED Act, H.R. 4776, legislation passed by the House in December, as a bipartisan effort to shorten the federal permitting process while maintaining environmental protections.
The bill aims to accelerate reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act by setting clearer timelines and limiting prolonged judicial challenges.
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