Goodlatte and Marino Praise House Passage of Amendment to the DRIVE Act to Expedite Federal Permit Approval

Washington, D.C.— The House of Representatives today passed an amendment to the Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 (DRIVE Act) (H.R. 22) by a voice vote. This amendment, sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Chairman Tom Marino (R-Pa.), helps to streamline the review process for federally-funded and federally-permitted infrastructure, energy and other construction projects and delivers faster approvals. Modeled on provisions of the RAPID Act (H.R. 348), passed in September by the House of Representatives, the amendment recognizes that delay and uncertainty in the process for new construction and infrastructure projects undermines job creation and economic growth for hardworking Americans. Chairman Goodlatte and Subcommittee Chairman Marino’s amendment complements Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Senator Claire McCaskill’s (D-Mo.) Federal Permitting Improvement Act (S. 280), which closely parallels the RAPID Act and was adopted by the Senate in the DRIVE Act. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Subcommittee Chairman Tom Marino praised today’s House vote: “We are pleased to see the House once again show support for legislation like the RAPID Act, which will expedite the federal permit approval process by setting real deadlines, instituting oversight on those who control the process, and cracking down on costly and time-consuming lawsuits.” “Our country’s burdensome and time-consuming regulatory process only adds to the American people’s frustration with the federal government. Bureaucratic red tape slows the permit approval process for infrastructure investment, and continues to be a barrier for many Americans who look to jobs on approved projects for stable employment.”Click here to learn more about the RAPID Act, which provided the model for today’s amendment.