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.
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Two more key developments in ag law and taxation from 2023, a crackdown on biodiesel fraud and developments in self-employment taxation (#7 and #6), are the topic of today’s Firm to Farm blog post, the second in a series by RFD-TV agri-legal expert Roger McEowen.
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The start of the review of the most important ag law and tax developments of 2023—that is the topic of today’s Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV agri-legal expert Roger A. McEowen
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As we start the new year, let’s take a look at some of the legislative items from 2023 affecting agriculture that will continue to play out in the political area for months to come.
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