Sen. Cramer Votes to Repeal Biden's Onerous NEPA Rules

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement after voting to repeal the Biden Administration's new regulation, "National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Regulations Revisions." The regulation reverses common sense permitting reforms implemented by the Trump Administration, further bogging down the federal permitting process and delaying vital infrastructure projects. The White House Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) NEPA rules also undermine important provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act intended to streamline key elements of our broken federal permitting process.

"In the midst of an economic recession with record-high inflation, the last thing we need is more bureaucratic red tape shutting down infrastructure projects or significantly increasing the cost of doing business. It's a serious problem these days when it takes longer to secure permits than build the project itself. Repealing the Biden Administration's NEPA rule would be a boost for American workers, critical infrastructure projects across the country, and a boon to everyone who drives over pot-hole ridden streets," said Senator Cramer.

Senator Cramer sponsored the joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) with every Republican Senate colleague. The CRA provides Congress an expedited mechanism to overturn certain federal agency regulations and actions through a joint resolution of disapproval. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is afforded special procedures, bypassing normal Senate rules and allowing for a vote on the Senate floor. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval is approved by a simple majority in both houses of Congress and signed by the President--or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto--the rule is invalidated.

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