NFFS joins NAM in supporting the Lower Energy Costs Act

On March 20, the Non-Ferrous Founders' Society joined the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, legislation designed to reform our burdensome permitting system and increase domestic energy and resource production. H.R. 1 makes significant strides to increase the production and export of American energy and reduce the regulatory burdens that make it harder to build major infrastructure through comprehensive permitting reform. A copy of the letter is provided below, and the full text of the Lower Energy Costs Act can be viewed here.

The U.S. House subsequently approved the bill on Thursday, March 30, 2023, with a 225 to 204 vote, with 4 Democrats joining Republicans in voting for passage. However, President Biden has threatened to veto the bill if it reaches his desk, and Senate Majortity Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called it 'dead on arrival' in the Senate.

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ACT NOW: Urge Congress to Pass Permitting Reform, Energy Legislation (H.R. 1)

March 28, 2023

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

We, the undersigned trade associations, representing hundreds of thousands of businesses across the nation that collectively employ millions of Americans and add trillions of dollars to the U.S. economy, write to express our support of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act.

America’s success and leadership depend on a strong, competitive manufacturing industry, which employs 13 million people and adds more than $2.8 trillion to the U.S. economy. Some of the biggest obstacles preventing manufacturers—and therefore the entire American economy—from reaching our full potential are the permitting delays, red tape and complicated bureaucracy that have plagued us for decades. Today, though, as we work to modernize our infrastructure and shore up our supply chains, the need for reform is more urgent than ever.

The Lower Energy Costs Act takes significant strides to increase the production and export of American energy and reduce the regulatory burdens that make it harder to build major infrastructure through comprehensive permitting reform. Increasing domestic energy production, bolstering domestic production and processing of critical minerals, streamlining energy infrastructure and exports and enacting broad permitting reform all while maintaining the highest levels of environmental stewardship are critical for U.S. manufacturers and businesses.

It is crucial that Congress pass H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. Energy security and permitting affects every aspect of our lives—from our economic security to our national security. If we fail to utilize domestic natural resources and modernize permitting processes, the U.S. will fall behind international competitors that are taking every possible step to incentivize business and manufacturing development.