Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Gary Palmer have announced a hearing to address permitting reform under the Clean Air Act. The hearing, titled “From Gridlock to Growth: Permitting Reform Under the Clean Air Act,” will take place on September 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET in the Rayburn House Office Building. The session is organized by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Environment.
The hearing aims to examine regulations that are considered outdated and ineffective, potentially stifling U.S. economic growth. “Red tape and burdensome permitting requirements are stifling U.S. economic growth and sending American jobs overseas,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer. They emphasized the need for reform to secure critical infrastructure and retain American jobs.
Several bills will be discussed during the hearing, including H.R. 161, New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act, among others related to environmental regulations and national security.
Danny Seiden, President & CEO of the Arizona Chamber Of Commerce And Industry, testified about Arizona’s economic progress despite challenges with ozone nonattainment largely caused by external factors like international pollution. He highlighted Arizona’s leadership in semiconductors and clean energy sectors.
Seiden noted that Arizona’s GDP has grown significantly since 1990 while air quality has improved. However, over 80% of ozone in nonattainment areas comes from out-of-state sources. He warned that reclassification to “serious” nonattainment could impose stricter permitting rules affecting key industries such as semiconductors.
Recent actions by EPA Administrator Zeldin have included pausing unfair reclassifications and recognizing uncontrollable pollution sources. Seiden urged Congress to modernize the Clean Air Act to avoid penalizing states for pollution beyond their control.
The hearing will be open to the public and live-streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov.
Information from this article can be found here.
