A bipartisan permitting reform bill co-led by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is drawing broad support from labor unions, energy producers, environmental and policy nonprofits, business organizations, and state and local government groups as it seeks to speed federal approval of energy and infrastructure projects while maintaining environmental safeguards.
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Heinrich, who serves as the Ranking Member, or top Democrat, of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In a sign of momentum and cooperation, he co-authored and introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S.5653) alongside Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Democrat Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. The co-sponsors are all chairs or ranking members of key committees dealing with environment, business and permitting.
The legislation is designed to lower energy costs, create well-paying jobs, and deliver responsible economic growth by accelerating the permitting and construction of critical energy and infrastructure projects. Earlier this year, Heinrich told New Mexico Political Reporter that he was particularly focused on ensuring that environmental reviews were protected, but with defined periods for review and challenges so that worthwhile and responsible projects, and the local construction jobs they would create, were not litigated to death.
It also features targeted provisions to expand and modernize the electric grid, speed the development of geothermal and clean energy projects, and require rapidly growing data centers to pay the full cost of their transmission infrastructure rather than passing those expenses onto families and small businesses.
Labor organizations strongly endorsed the bill for its potential to accelerate construction and create good-paying union jobs.
“For LIUNA, the key consideration is whether a permitting package will translate to good union jobs, with prevailing wages and robust apprenticeship opportunities. S.5653 exceeds those standards while maintaining proper regulations and safeguards that protect both our members on the job as well as the local communities in which projects take place. Moreover, it will lower energy costs for all Americans at a time when prices of everyday living expenses are at an all-time high.”
Brent Booker, General President of LIUNA, one of the largest unions of laborers in the country.
Similarly, plumbers and pipefitters and operating engineers praised the deal as one with real potential to create work for experienced trades persons:
“In our industry, uncertainty means one thing: unemployment. It is long past time that Congress enacts meaningful permitting reform to put UA members to work faster delivering reliable and affordable energy to American communities. Today’s announcement is the culmination of a long process to reach a bipartisan deal and take a critical step towards a long-overdue modernization of our country’s permitting process.”
-General President Mark McManus,United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA)
““We have seen too many projects unnecessarily delayed for years through litigation, and other projects abandoned by contractors or terminated by the federal government because of our nation’s antiquated permitting process. As a result, thousands of good-paying union jobs have been lost, and taxpayers have been deprived of safer infrastructure and more affordable energy.”
– John L. Downey, General President of the International Union of Operating Engineers
Petrolium and clean energy leaders united in support
Energy industry leaders praised Heinrich and his bipartisan colleagues for developing the technology-neutral package. Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, commended the leadership of Sens. Heinrich, Capito, Whitehouse, and Lee, noting that the bill’s transmission provisions will enhance grid reliability and enable substantial clean energy deployment. American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers also credited Heinrich and the cross-party group for working to modernize NEPA, reduce duplicative reviews, and bring durable regulatory certainty. Additionally, Clean Energy Buyers Association CEO Rich Powell called the package a “generational opportunity to unleash American energy”.
The proposal has gained backing across the political, environmental, and business spectrums, including the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Climate Leadership Council, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Progressive Policy Institute, Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth, National Association of Manufacturers, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and National Association of Home Builders. State and local government groups—including the National Governors Association, the National Association of Counties, and 21 governors in a joint statement—have also called for swift passage to reduce regulatory delays on critical local infrastructure.
Despite the progress, time is running out for Congress to act on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. Members will return to Congress after the November 3 elections with a long list of legislation to consider before the Congress adjourns at year-end.
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