Senate Energy Committee Chair Joe Manchin ((link unavailable)) announced he will lead a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to undo the Biden administration’s final rule on permitting, announced Tuesday morning.
Manchin, a vocal proponent of permitting reform, criticized the administration for disregarding the bipartisan agreement and instead implementing a “radical agenda” that will lead to costly delays and litigation.
Sen. Joe Manchin (Credits: Atlantic Council)
The Energy Department rule alters the permitting process, streamlining categorical exclusions and undoing 2020 Trump-era rules that limited public participation. However, Manchin argues this move goes against the intent of the law and the deal made with Congress.
He stated, “All the White House had to do was implement the commonsense, bipartisan permitting reforms…but once again they’ve disregarded the deal…and are instead corrupting it with their own radical agenda.”
Joe Manchin (Credits: Axios)
Manchin, who announced last November he won’t seek reelection, has led and voted for several previous CRA resolutions to undo Biden administration energy policies. The CRA allows a simple majority in both chambers to repeal a federal rule, although subject to presidential vetoes.
Manchin has joined Republicans in backing CRA resolutions to undo Endangered Species Act rules, a Labor Department rule on environmental governance, and another to restore tariffs on solar panel parts paused by Biden. So far, Biden has vetoed all CRA resolutions targeting his administration’s energy and environment rules.
