RAPID Act or short cut for donor interest?

With all the bruohaha from local environmental groups and paid protestors, I am very surprised that there is no news or petition or any murmur from these groups about this particular bill running through the legislature.

The bill will streamline the current permit approval process for energy, infrastructure, and other construction projects by setting hard deadlines, cracking down on prolonged lawsuits, and consolidating agency management of the approval process from start to finish. It was passed by the House by a bipartisan vote of 229-179.

In a press release from Marino's office:

Marino’s RAPID Act Passes House Judiciary Committee

Washington D.C.—Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10) issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015 (H.R. 348) today in the House Judiciary Committee:

“I am encouraged by the prospects of advancing and passing reasonable, meaningful and much-need regulatory reforms like the RAPID Act. This Act passed the House in both the 112th and 113th Congresses – every time with large bipartisan support, and I have every expectation it will do so again in the 114th. The RAPID Act’s mission is simple: federal agencies responsible for permitting critical infrastructure and construction projects, especially in the energy sector, must provide approval or disapproval of a project in a reasonable amount of time. This is a positive and significant step in the right direction which helps jump-start many commonsense projects across the country as well as create jobs. I am thankful to Chairman Goodlatte for his leadership on the Committee again and look forward to advancing more regulatory reform bills.”

See the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman, Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) statement below which was released earlier today:

The House Judiciary Committee today approved by a vote of 15-11 the Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015 (H.R. 348). This bill, sponsored by Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee Chairman Tom Marino (R-Pa.), streamlines the approval process for federally-funded and federally-permitted infrastructure, energy and other construction projects and delivers faster approvals.

The RAPID Act recognizes that delay and uncertainty in the process for new construction and infrastructure projects, undermines job creation, and economic growth for hardworking Americans.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Subcommittee Chairman Tom Marino (R-Pa.) praised today’s Committee vote.

Chairman Goodlatte: “Our country’s burdensome and time-consuming regulatory process only adds to the American people’s frustration with the federal government. Bureaucratic red tape slows the permit approval process for infrastructure investment, and continues to be a barrier for many Americans who look to these jobs for stable employment.

“The RAPID Act would bring accountability and expediency to the permit approval process by setting hard deadlines, instituting oversight on those who control the process, and cracking down on costly and time-consuming lawsuits.

“This legislation will be an open door for the American people who are looking for work in challenging economic times. The RAPID Act is a concrete mechanism that would act as a job creator for Americans across the country, to the effect of 1.9 million jobs annually during construction of the projects, and hundreds of thousands of jobs every year following the completion of the projects.”

And yet, SILENCE from those who are busy screaming about things they can do nothing about. This is something that requires closer scrutiny. Wonder where the naysayers are now.

Agree, disagree . . . it really doesn't matter to me. Just don't let others think for you. Don't believe their spin. Think for yourselves for a change. Don't even just blindly listen to me. I am just the voice in the wilderness bringing these things up for debate. But you know, this is just me . . . . thinking out loud.

Have yourselves a great day.

Charles

(Rep. Mike Kelly - R-PA 3rd District - defends the Act.)