Bruce Westerman in 2023. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman and Rep. Scott Peters plan to have their own permitting proposal ready in September.
Why it matters: The proposal — in the works for months — could complement the Manchin-Barraso energy permitting legislation unveiled this week in the Senate, Westerman told Axios.
Driving the news: The House proposal will also contain language to limit lawsuits under the National Environmental Policy Act, likely with broader scope than the energy-centric provision of the Senate bill.
- "Ours is more NEPA-focused, and theirs is more energy-focused," Westerman said.
- He didn't explicitly endorse the Senate legislation, but he said that "the two have a possibility of marrying up real nicely together."
Between the lines: This adds some bipartisan momentum in the House — but it could also complicate the path for a year-end permitting bill.
- It demonstrates that House committees will want to put their mark on a final product.
- Notably, however, Westerman said his bill won't address the Endangered Species or Clean Water acts (he's got a separate ESA proposal).
- "We've definitely got a place at the table, and I think the two bills could be complementary."
