WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Efforts are moving forward in Congress to advance domestic energy development, with the House set to vote on the SPEED Act. The legislation aims to reform the National Environmental Policy Act and streamline the federal permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects.
House Natural Resources Committee Chair Congressman, Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, joined us for this week’s Champions of Rural America to discuss the proposal and its potential impact on rural communities and agriculture.
In his conversation with RFD-TV News, Westerman highlighted that the SPEED Act passed out of committee on November 20 by a 25–18 vote. He explained that the legislation is designed to better support rural America and assist U.S. farmers by reducing delays in the permitting process. He also discussed his work with the Trump administration to expand domestic energy production and how the SPEED Act fits into those broader efforts.
Westerman addressed recent updates from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding what qualifies as Waters of the U.S. for dredge-and-fill permits under the Clean Water Act. He also discussed how the PERMIT Act would further modify Clean Water Act permitting and what those changes could mean for farmers.
He concluded by outlining the key takeaways from both the SPEED Act and the PERMIT Act that he believes western and rural Americans should keep in mind as Congress considers the legislation.
AFBF Economist Danny Munch shares how passing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act could give the dairy industry a needed boost.
November 06, 2025 02:31 PM
·
Record output, larger stocks, and softer exports point to a well-supplied domestic ethanol market as harvest progresses.
November 06, 2025 10:53 AM
·
The Court may limit emergency tariff powers, complicating a key bargaining tool; ag could see shifts in input costs and export dynamics as China, Brazil, and India talks evolve.
November 06, 2025 10:04 AM
·
RFD-TV expert Roger McEowen explains why a “skinny” Farm Bill is likely in the future, but its scope may change due to provisions contained in the Big, Beautiful Bill.
November 05, 2025 03:19 PM
·
Wed, 12/10/25 – 7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | 5:30 PM MT | 4:30 PM PT
November 05, 2025 11:59 AM
The Farm Bureau urges trade enforcement, biofuel growth, fair input pricing, and pro-farmer policy reforms to restore long-term certainty.
November 05, 2025 11:41 AM
·
A SCOTUS ruling on Trump’s tariffs could have long-term implications on the authority of future administrations to control U.S. trade policy, according to RFD-TV legal expert Roger McEowen.
November 05, 2025 11:08 AM
·
The Sheinbaum–Rollins meeting signals progress, but the focus remains on fully containing screwworm before cross-border movement resumes.
November 05, 2025 10:18 AM
·
The first-ever “MICHELIN Guide to the American South” awards stars to top restaurants across Georgia, Louisiana, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, and pinpoints the region as a global food destination for the first time.
November 04, 2025 05:44 PM
·
