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ABC Applauds the Reintroduction of the BUILDER Act to Modernize NEPA

April 21, 2021

On April 14, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Rep. Garrett Graves (R-La.), reintroduced the Building U.S. Infrastructure Through Limited Delays & Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act, which would modernize the outdated National Environmental Policy Act) to make infrastructure project reviews more efficient, reduce project costs, spur economic recovery and rebuild America. The BUILDER Act has been reintroduced as a leading priority of ABC and Congressional Republicans as negotiations continue on Capitol Hill on forming significant infrastructure legislation.

Following the reintroduction of the BUILDER Act, ABC Vice President of Legislative & Political Affairs Kristen Swearingen issued the following statement of support:

 “ABC applauds Rep. Graves and congressional leaders for reintroducing the BUILDER Act, which will go a long way towards eliminating unnecessary delays that cause budget overruns in construction. Construction businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic will surely benefit from these modifications, which will help reduce costs for hardworking taxpayers and speed up project approvals so that the U.S. workforce can get back on the job quickly and safely. The coordinated, predictable and transparent process to streamline permitting will also enable the construction industry to plan and execute even the most complex projects while safeguarding our communities, maintaining a healthy environment and stewarding public funds properly.”

ABC is a member of the Unlock American Investment Coalition, which focuses on modernizing NEPA and unlocking American investment in a modern, efficient infrastructure and creating middle-class-sustaining jobs while advancing good environmental stewardship.

On March 2, ABC joined dozens of members of the Unlock American Investment Coalition in calling on Congress to improve and modernize the federal permitting process under NEPA. In a letter, the coalition addressed the economic issues brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and how investment in various infrastructure projects will encourage recovery and growth as long as the federal environmental review and permitting process is improved.

ABC has also supported regulatory efforts to modernize and create a more efficient NEPA review process, including support for the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality’s final rule revising its regulations implementing the procedural provisions under NEPA in July 2020.

Additionally, ABC and several other organizations submitted comments in support of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s proposed revisions to its regulations implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA.

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