The Promoting New Manufacturing Act (H.R. 4795)

Authored by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)

America’s energy abundance has the potential to revitalize our manufacturing sector and bring industrial jobs back to America. In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama highlighted pending manufacturing projects, stating that businesses “plan to invest almost $100 billion in new factories that use natural gas,” and that he would “cut red tape to help states get those factories built.” But while the president is simply talking about the need for timely permitting, Congress is taking action.

This legislation seeks to promote new manufacturing and job creation by increasing transparency and reducing permitting delays for air permits required under the Clean Air Act’s New Source Review preconstruction permitting program. These permits may be subject to significant delays and regulatory uncertainty, as well as administrative appeals.

 The Promoting New Manufacturing Act will:

• Create a dashboard to provide increased transparency regarding the timing for permitting. This will provide the public with access to information regarding the number of permits issued annually and timelines for final preconstruction permit decisions. 
• Reduce permitting delays by ensuring EPA provides timely guidance about how to comply with new or revised air quality standards affecting the permit applications. 
• Promote more efficient processing of permits by requiring EPA provide to Congress annually a report on the actions being taken by the agency to expedite the permitting process. 

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