Press Releases

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held a legislative hearing entitled “From Gridlock to Growth: Permitting Reform Under the Clean Air Act.” The Subcommittee considered several measures, including H.R. 161, the New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act. This measure, introduced by U.S. Congressman Griffith (R-VA), seeks to clarify Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) interpretations of New Source Review (NSR) in relation to the Clean Air Act.

After the Environment Subcommittee Members questioned witnesses on his bill, Congressman Griffith issued the following statement:

“American factories and electric power plants refrain from making small or intermediate improvements to their facilities, improvements which reduce emissions or increase the efficiency of a plant, because of fears that their actions could result in the loss of their air permit. I believe this practice must be corrected by pushing for my bill to reform New Source Review regulations. I look forward to advancing this commonsense permitting reform to help American industry, reduce emissions and empower innovation.”

Numerous organizations and industry leaders expressed support for Congressman Griffith’s measure.

"One of the reasons the refining and petrochemical industries support permitting reform is because of problems with EPA's New Source Review (NSR) program. It is harder for our facilities to make safety and environmental upgrades under the current NSR regime. Long, drawn-out permitting timelines for these essential projects delay facility upgrades and dramatically increase price tags, diverting capital from projects that protect our workers, communities and environment. These sorts of projects should absolutely be exempted from NSR costs and delays. AFPM applauds Representative Griffith for introducing the NSR Permitting Improvement Act, and we hope this provision will be part of comprehensive permitting reform enacted during this Congress." – Chet Thompson, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO

“The Chamber commends Representative Griffith for introducing this important legislation to modernize Clean Air Act permitting, enabling industrial facilities to pursue efficiency upgrades and implement critical operational safety improvements without unnecessary delays. These targeted reforms will help reduce regulatory burdens that hinder innovation and investment, empowering America to build for the future—faster, smarter, and more sustainably.” – Chad Whiteman, Vice President, Environment and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

“The NMA urges prompt passage of H.R. 161, the New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act, and commends Congressman Morgan Griffith for its introduction. H.R. 161 addresses long-standing issues in the EPA’s outdated NSR-program framework, which discourages U.S. investment. Companies seeking to deploy modern technologies, reduce emissions, or improve efficiency have faced regulatory uncertainty that delays projects, increases costs, and undermines grid reliability. Passage of H.R. 161 will help ensure lasting clarity so that future administrations cannot reimpose unnecessary permitting barriers.” – Rich Nolan, President and CEO, National Mining Association

“Arizona’s job creators applaud Rep. Griffith’s leadership on this important reform of the New Source Review program. For too long, outdated permitting rules have discouraged companies from modernizing facilities, even when those improvements would reduce emissions and improve efficiency. This simple but important change to the Clean Air Act makes it easier for manufacturers, utilities, and other employers in Arizona to invest in upgrades that strengthen reliability, protect air quality, and support economic growth. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry is pleased to support this commonsense legislation that benefits both our environment and our economy.” – Danny Seiden, President and CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry

“AF&PA is grateful for Chairman Griffith’s tireless leadership to bring common sense into the air permit process. This is hard but crucial work to ensure the success of U.S. manufacturing, including forest products, and the family-wage jobs it provides.” – Paul Noe, Vice President, Public Policy, American Forest & Paper Association

"Too often, policymakers and regulators in Washington allow the 'perfect' to be the enemy of the 'good.' For years, federal air regulations created perverse incentives that actually discourage environmental improvements by treating efficiency upgrades as regulatory violations. Rep. Griffith's New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act fixes this broken system by allowing facilities to modernize with cleaner, more efficient technologies without triggering costly and time-consuming permitting delays. This common sense reform will accelerate emissions reductions and boost the competitiveness of American businesses." – Heather Reems, CRES President & CEO

"The American Cement Association supports Representative Morgan Griffith’s (R-VA) New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act (H.R. 161) for its modernization of the New Source Review (NSR) permitting process for manufacturing facilities. The Clean Air Act has helped bring about early tremendous improvements to our air quality in the 1970s and 1980s; however, the law has failed to keep up with ensuring manufacturing and energy generation keeps pace with economic growth. The NSR permitting process discourages sustainability, efficiency, and operational improvements to cement facilities that would benefit the environment and the American economy. ACA looks forward to working with Congress to enact commonsense legislation like Mr. Griffith’s that fosters American manufacturing and job growth." – Sean O’Neill, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, American Cement Association

“As demand for electricity skyrockets across the nation, we need more affordable and reliable electricity generation than ever before. This requires co-ops to build and upgrade power plants, which triggers a complex EPA permitting process that is mired in red tape and confusing inefficiencies. The New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act (H.R. 161) is a welcomed step in the right direction. It provides important streamlining and simplification to the EPA’s New Source Review program and lends greater clarity about what actions trigger NSR requirements.”– National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

BACKGROUND

To begin the 119^th Congress, Congressman Griffith served as chair of the Environment Subcommittee before his July appointment to Chair of the Health Subcommittee. 

Congressman Griffith has introduced various bills on this topic in previous congresses, including the 118^th Congress. 

Congressman Griffith actions this year on environmental issues include his sponsorship of H.J. Res. 61, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval overturning a Biden-era executive rule that hurt American rubber tire manufacturers. President Trump later signed Congressman Griffith’s CRA into law.

Congressman Griffith also helped lead efforts in the House to overturn California’s Clean Air Act waivers. President Trump signed the relevant CRAs into law.

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