As a follow-up to a special Washington Wire that NAED released earlier this month, several other industry associations are now asking Congress to pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, a 417-page proposal intended to modernize federal environmental review and permitting processes for energy, infrastructure, and other major projects.
Several provisions could be particularly significant for NAED members. tED magazine took a deeper dive into permitting reform in it’s cover story of the August issue, showing this is a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity for our supply chain.
Bill Owens, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio, issued the following statement after Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act.
“NAHB applauds Senators Lee, Capito, Heinrich and Whitehouse and for their leadership and bipartisan approach to crafting the most meaningful reforms in decades to several key federal environmental permitting programs.
“The housing sector stands to benefit from many of these federal permitting reforms, including an increase in acreage thresholds under the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) Nationwide Permit program along with extending the statutory timeframe from five to 10 years for the CWA permit programs. These provisions provide the industry with needed clarity and consistency during the federal permitting process.”
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) released the following statement from CEO David Long:
“This bipartisan agreement is an important step toward making our nation’s permitting process more efficient and predictable. Improving transmission planning and siting, accelerating interconnections and streamlining approvals will help move critical projects from planning to construction faster.
NECA contractors are already building the infrastructure that powers America, from transmission and substations to power generation, schools, hospitals, manufacturing facilities and the electrical systems that support communities nationwide. Permitting reform will help ensure the regulatory process can keep pace with the tremendous investment and growing demand across our industry.
We appreciate Senators Lee, Capito, Heinrich and Whitehouse for working together on this agreement, as well as the Administration’s engagement in the process. NECA looks forward to continuing to work with Congress and the White House to advance comprehensive permitting reform and get America building.”
Associated Builders and Contractors issued a letter of support for S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. ABC urged the U.S. Senate to quickly pass the legislation, which includes reforms that ABC has long sought for the construction industry and would also benefit taxpayers, communities and owners.
“The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act’s comprehensive and balanced reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act would address bureaucratic and procedural inefficiencies that deter and delay development,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of government affairs. “By streamlining reviews, increasing transparency and setting clearer timelines, the legislation would create a more predictable permitting process that helps contractors plan work, invest in their workforce and deliver housing, infrastructure and other critical projects while continuing to protect the environment.
“ABC applauds Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leaders Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leaders Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. for reaching this bipartisan agreement,” Swearingen said. “The Senate must now pass this important permitting reform bill to help contractors put people to work and deliver the projects communities need.”
The National Association of Manufacturers, joined by members of its Council of Manufacturing Associations, Conference of State Manufacturers Associations and other leading manufacturing and business organizations, sent a coalition letter urging Congress to swiftly pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. Representing businesses across the country and industries throughout the manufacturing economy, the coalition called on lawmakers to advance the bipartisan permitting deal to reduce costly delays, provide greater certainty for investment and make it easier to build and expand manufacturing operations in America.
Tagged with ABC, NAED, NAHB, NAM, NECAThe undersigned organizations, members of the NAM’s Council of Manufacturing Associations and Conference of State Manufacturers Associations and other aligned manufacturing and business organizations, represent businesses, manufacturers, and energy producers that employ millions of Americans in every industrial sector and in every state, as well as U.S. territories and Puerto Rico. We write in strong and unified support for S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act and respectfully urge you to bring it to the Senate floor for immediate consideration.
Our organizations applaud the hard work that the bipartisan negotiators have done to find practical solutions to the challenges our industry faces in permitting projects to expand and grow manufacturing. It is a testament to our democracy that leaders from both parties can come together to seek common ground and address the major challenges that are facing our industry in the United States. Reforming our permitting processes will make it easier and more cost-efficient for manufacturers to get shovels in the ground on job-creating projects.
Finalizing and passing S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, is an historic opportunity to deliver long-overdue reforms to our nation’s permitting process while maintaining America’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Manufacturers cannot afford inaction.
Our nation’s broken permitting system affects projects in every industry and of every energy source, directly contributing to the rising cost of electricity to homeowners and businesses. Right now, in the United States, it takes 80% longer to get a permit authorized for a manufacturing facility than it does in any other free market economy.
Permitting delays cost manufacturers at least $8 billion every year. That’s money not being spent on hiring new workers, expanding shop floors, or going back into the local economy. Manufacturers are ready to build in America; we just need the certainty and a modernized permitting process to make it happen.
Should the Senate pass this critical legislation, we would call on the House to move expeditiously to consider the bipartisan comprehensive agreement and deliver this manufacturing win to the American people.
Now is the time for action. Manufacturers are ready to build, and modernized permitting will help us race to the future. Thank you for your leadership and dedication to supporting manufacturers in the United States.