Electronic Permitting Modernization Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5509) to modernize permitting systems at the Department of the Interior, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5509

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Electronic Permitting Modernization Act''. SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PERMIT ACCESSIBILITY.

(a) In General.--In order to improve the overall economy, efficiency, and management of operations and activities of the Department of the Interior (referred to in this section as the ``Department''), reduce paperwork, and provide high- quality services and access to the public, the Secretary of the Interior shall, to the extent practicable--

(1) design and deliver modernized electronic permitting systems to accept, process, and record applications (including plan submissions, payment activity, and other related correspondence) for permits, forms, and other paperwork required for activities regulated by the Department;

(2) provide a centralized electronic permitting system online repository, available to the public on the Department's website, that includes--

(A) hyperlinks to facilitate navigation to all Department electronic permitting systems; and

(B) with respect to permits, the contact information for the appropriate Department employees providing assistance to State, Tribal, and local governments; and

(3) provide to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of paragraphs (1) and (2).

(b) Disclosure of Information Prohibited.--No information described in section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code, or protected from disclosure by another law of the United States shall be disclosed under this Act.

(c) Duplication of Systems Not Permitted.--No system shall be duplicated under this Act.

(d) Consultation.--In developing the permitting systems required under section 2 of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall consult with States, local governments, Indian Tribes and other stakeholders who apply for agency permits and will use the permitting systems. SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 2023. In developing the permitting systems required under section 2 of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that the Department's electronic permitting systems are consistent with the priorities identified in section 110 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336d) with respect to any permit that requires review under that Act.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WESTERMAN. 5509, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, Representative Porter's bipartisan legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to design and deliver electronic permitting systems for permits, forms, and other required paperwork to the extent practical.

Republicans have long supported streamlining and simplifying the permitting process. Additionally, the minority worked with us to address a concern raised with the legislation and how it would interact with recent changes to NEPA enacted under the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

These discussions led to changes to Ms. Porter's legislation to clarify that any permitting system related to NEPA be consistent with the priorities identified in the FRA's NEPA provision.

This legislation aims to streamline the management of operations of the Department of the Interior, improving access to our public lands and Department facilities.

Modernizing the permitting process is an overdue task needed to increase departmental efficiency and improve transparency.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government is long overdue in doing the work needed to bring its permitting processes into the 21st century. The bill before us instructs the Secretary to create an electronic permitting system to accept, process, and record applications for any permitting process under the Department's jurisdiction.

Mr. Speaker, even though the gentlewoman from California opposed my commonsense, straightforward forestry bill earlier today, I do recognize, commend, and support Representative Porter for her work on this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source