Kelly in May. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images
The Senate's CHIPS permitting rider may be the next shoe to drop in defense bill conference talks.
Why it matters: Semiconductor manufacturers want faster permits for federally-backed projects. Per one key lawmaker, members usually hungry for "permitting reform" appear to be in the way.
The backstory: Sens. Mark Kelly and Ted Cruz got language attached to their chamber's version of the NDAA to let federal agencies determine some projects funded under CHIPS are not "major federal actions" for comprehensive review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Driving the news: Kelly told Axios on Wednesday that hurdles remain to including his language in the final conference report, which is expected to be filed as soon as Thursday.
- "A couple things" were holding up the language, Kelly said, including "folks that generally like reforms of environmental reviews" — a not-so-subtle shot at Republicans who've opposed its being included in the final bill.
- "I've been working on this every day for two weeks," said Kelly, who said he's still pressing to get the language into the conference. "You know I used to fly a spaceship built by the lowest bidder, so you have to be an optimist."
State of play: Kelly's remarks were eerily similar to those offered by supporters of the ADVANCE Act before it was tossed out of talks.
- Yet there is still the chance something like this can make it into the final package, given the NDAA's high likelihood of becoming a Christmas tree.
