2023: Schweikert Voted To Prohibit The President From Declaring A Moratorium On Fracking And From Taking Actions That Would Delay New Leases, Sales And Drilling Permits For Oil And Gas, Coal Or Mineral Exploration. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act, which would "prohibit the president from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing and from taking any action that would delay new leases, sales and drill permits for oil and gas, coal or mineral exploration." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 225 to 204, thus the bill was sent to the Senate for their consideration. [House Vote 182, 3/30/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/30/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2023: Schweikert Voted For The Fiscal Responsibility Act Of 2023, Which Streamlined The Permitting Process And Review For Federal Projects Under The National Environmental Policy Act. In May 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which, "Among provisions to streamline the permitting process under the National Environmental Policy Act, the bill would set deadlines of one year for environmental assessments and two years for environmental impact statements; limit the page length of such documents; adjust thresholds for levels of review; limit the scope of reviews to 'reasonably foreseeable' environmental effects of an action; and limit the definition of major federal actions under NEPA to those subject to 'substantial federal control and responsibility.'" The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 314 to 117, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate passed the bill, sent it to President Biden, and it was signed into law. [House Vote 243, 5/31/23; Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3746]
The Bill Provided Legislative Approval For The West Virginia-To-Virginia Mountain Valley Pipeline. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would also legislatively approve the West Virginia-to-Virginia Mountain Valley Pipeline." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
Left-Leaning Democrats Opposed The Package Due To Work Requirement Expansions For Welfare Programs And Changes To The Permitting Process For Federal Projects. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Left-leaning House Democrats opposed the bill over its expansion of work requirements for welfare programs and modifications made to the environmental review process for federal projects, among other complaints." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
The Bill Included A Streamlining Of Federal Permitting To Boost Coordination, Predictability And Certainty In Federal Decision-Making. According to CNN, "The package also includes new measures in the National Environmental Policy Act aimed at boosting the coordination, predictability and certainty associated with federal agency decision making, according to the White House source." [CNN, 6/2/23]
The Bill Designated A Single Lead Agency To Develop An Environmental Review Document And Required Agencies To Complete Environmental Reviews Within One Year Or Two Years For Complex Projects. According to CNN, "It will designate a single lead agency, charged with developing a single environmental review document, and also will require agencies to complete environmental reviews in one year, or two years for the most environmentally complex projects." [CNN, 6/2/23]
2023: Schweikert Voted To Streamline The Federal Energy Permitting Process, Including Codifying 2020 Regulations That Removed Climate Change Impacts In The Review Process. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act, which, "Among provisions to streamline the permitting process under the National Environmental Policy Act, the bill would set deadlines for the completion of NEPA environmental reviews and adjust thresholds for levels of review; limit the scope of reviews to 'reasonably foreseeable' effects and codify 2020 regulations removing requirements to consider climate change impacts in the review process; and direct agencies to use previously completed reviews to satisfy NEPA requirements for substantially similar proposed actions." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 225 to 204, thus the bill was sent to the Senate for their consideration. [House Vote 182, 3/30/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/30/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
For Oil And Gas Permits, The Bill Would Restrict The Scope Of Environmental Reviews To Areas Within Or Adjacent To Affected Plots And Ban Consideration Of Downstream, Indirect Effects. According to Congressional Quarterly, "For oil and gas projects, it would limit the scope of environmental reviews to areas within or immediately adjacent to affected plots and prohibit the consideration of downstream, indirect effects of oil and gas consumption." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/30/23]
The Bill Would Establish A 120-Day Deadline For Federal Agencies To Review Applications For Cross-Border Oil And Gas Pipelines And Make The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The Lead Agencies For Natural Gas Permitting. According to Congressional Quarterly, "To expedite certain energy production and infrastructure projects, it would establish procedures and a 120-day expedited deadline for federal agencies to review applications for cross-border oil and natural gas pipelines; and expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's role as the lead agency for natural gas pipeline permitting." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/30/23]
The Bill Would Overhaul The Permitting Process By Establishing A 2-Year Deadline For Major Environmental Reviews For Pipelines And Clean Energy Projects And Mines And Making It Harder For Environmentalists To Sue To Delay Projects. According to Politico, "The GOP bill would overhaul rules for reviews conducted under the bedrock 1970 National Environmental Policy Act for energy infrastructure, ranging from pipelines to clean energy projects and mines, by setting a two-year deadline for major reviews and making it more difficult for environmentalists to sue to stop projects." [Politico, 3/30/23]
The Bill Would Streamline The Permitting Process Under The National Environmental Policy Act, Require More Oil And Gas Lease Sales, And Encourage The Export Of Liquefied Natural Gas. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would accelerate the permitting process under the National Environmental Policy Act, mandate more oil and gas lease sales and support the export of liquefied natural gas, or LNG." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/30/23]
The Bill Passed After The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change Urged Action To Swiftly Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions And End Burning Fossil Fuels To Prevent Catastrophic Climate Change. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Passage comes a little more than a week after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world's leading body of climate scientists, warned humanity must work swiftly to slash greenhouse gas emissions and stop burning fossil fuels to avert catastrophic rapid climate change." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/30/23]