Champions of Rural America: House Moves Forward on the SPEED Act

Western Caucus member Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) details the SPEED Act on Champions of Rural America. The legislation aims to reform NEPA, streamline permitting, and expand domestic energy development.

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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Marion is a digital content manager for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, adding a decade of experience in the digital side of broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

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