FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 25, 2026
CONTACT:
Chrissy Harbin, Miranda Dabney
WASHINGTON, D.C. — America is entering an era of rapidly rising energy demand driven by artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and industrial reshoring, yet the federal permitting system remains one of the nation’s biggest obstacles to building the infrastructure needed to compete. Today, Senator Alan Armstrong (R-OK), joined by Senators Rick Scott, Cynthia Lummis, Katie Britt, and James Lankford, introduced the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act, to reform federal permitting and accelerate construction of critical energy and mineral infrastructure.
There is a growing schism between America’s surging energy demand and the infrastructure needed to meet it. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act directly addresses this by streamlining federal permitting, reducing opportunities for frivolous litigation that delays projects, and preventing politically motivated vetoes of critical American energy and mineral infrastructure.
“America has abundant energy resources and an ability to innovate, but these competitive advantages mean nothing if we can’t build. This isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about creating a permitting system that is faster, more predictable, and accountable,” said Senator Alan Armstrong (R-OK). “This bill replaces delay with accountability, uncertainty with predictability, and helps ensure America can meet growing energy demand, strengthen our economy, and stay ahead of our competitors.”
“Wyoming’s energy industry and infrastructure future depends on our ability to build. For far too long, environmental extremists have weaponized permitting processes to kill critical projects before they ever break ground. I am proud to partner with Senator Armstrong to streamline reviews and ensure Wyoming’s minerals and energy can reach the market,” said Senator Cynthia Lumis (R-WY).
AMERICAN ENERGY AND MINERAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 2026
- Strengthens the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERCs) role as the lead agency for interstate natural gas pipelines and LNG facilities, ensuring that no single state can unilaterally block federally authorized projects and reducing delays caused by duplicative or overlapping reviews.
- Ensures consistent evidence-based environmental decision-making and includes targeted reforms to the Clean Water Act 401 review process for all types of
- Provides certainty with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) general permits and nationwide permits by eliminating duplicative review, extending permit terms, and incorporating meaningful judicial reforms to avoid baseless
- Provides statutory clarification necessary to re-enable essential mining activities on federal
- Clarifies the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by codifying a targeted scope of review, preventing overly expansive environmental analyses, reaffirming the statute’s procedural nature, and establishing meaningful judicial review standards to ensure NEPA cannot be misused to stall critical infrastructure.
Bill text can be found here.
A one-pager on the bill can be found here. The section by section can be found here.
Read about the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act in Fox News here.
Read about Senator Armstrong’s Getting America Building Again event in the Washington Reporter here.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: STRONG SUPPORT AMONG INDUSTRY, POLICYMAKERS, UNIONS
The legislation is supported by a broad coalition representing labor, natural gas, mining, electric utilities, pipelines, manufacturers, public power, rural cooperatives, policy organizations, and infrastructure developers:
“The men and women of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) are proud to build and maintain the critical infrastructure that delivers affordable and reliable energy to American communities. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act will help our members get to work without unnecessary delays or uncertainty. The entire UA looks forward to continuing our work with Sen. Armstrong and our partners in Congress to enact long-overdue energy permitting reform,” said Mark McManus, General President, United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA).
“The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 is exactly what working people in Pennsylvania have been waiting for. As a Boilermaker out of Local 154 and someone who represents thousands of tradesmen and women across Central PA, I’ve watched too many good energy projects get tied up in red tape and lawsuits for years. This bill finally cuts through a lot of that nonsense so we can get shovels in the ground and put our guys to work. These are real, family-sustaining jobs with good pay and benefits – the kind of work that keeps people in Pennsylvania and lets them take care of their families. Our members are skilled, ready, and tired of sitting on the sidelines. Congress should pass this bill and let Pennsylvania trades workers do what we do best – build things.” said Shawn Steffee; President, South Central Pennsylvania Building Trades; Business Agent, Brotherhood of Boilermakers 154
“The Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing highly specialized union contractors who build the pipelines that safely and dependably move energy across the United States. Our member companies have a front row seat to the broken permitting system that creates delays, roadblocks and cost overruns on large-scale energy infrastructure projects. For years the PLCA has been urging Congress to pass comprehensive permitting reform legislation that will provide much-needed predictability to the process so that our member companies can keep their union workforce busy building the projects necessary to affordably and reliably power our nation. We thank Senator Armstrong for his leadership on this critically important issue with the introduction of the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026. This type of meaningful permitting reform is essential to meeting the country’s energy and economic goals. We urge Congress to act now,” said Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA).
“The American Public Power Association applauds Senator Armstrong’s introduction of the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 as an important step toward advancing federal permitting reform. Public power utilities need a more predictable and timelier permitting process to plan, invest, and deliver the infrastructure their communities depend on. Building on bipartisan progress in the House, this legislation helps move the conversation forward and underscores the urgency of getting projects approved and built,” said Scott Corwin, President and CEO, American Public Power Association.
“NRECA applauds the introduction of the American Energy Infrastructure Act and appreciates Sen. Armstrong’s efforts to help electric co-ops keep up with surging electricity demand across the country. Delivering reliable, affordable power requires a permitting framework that enables critical infrastructure to be built, maintained, and upgraded on time. This bill would streamline the federal permitting process while reducing unnecessary delays, limiting litigation risk and providing important regulatory certainty for electric co-ops as they work to meet the energy needs of local communities,” said Jim Matheson, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
“Modernizing the federal permitting process is an essential step to ensure our country’s critical infrastructure needs can be met. We support Senator Armstrong’s work to bring stakeholders to the table for a more efficient, transparent and predictable permitting system. Advancing the necessary reforms will support energy reliability, economic growth and long-term infrastructure investment for the nation,” said Sid McAnnally, CEO, ONE Gas, Inc.
“Demand is rising, technology is advancing and energy has never been more critical to American competitiveness and security. Consumers and small businesses rely on affordable, reliable energy to power their daily lives, yet outdated processes and endless litigation continue to slow the infrastructure our economy depends on. I thank Senator Armstrong for releasing this important legislation, a meaningful step toward timely, transparent and durable reviews. Now Congress must come together around bipartisan permitting reform that strengthens reliability, maintains affordability, upholds our strong environmental standards and delivers the energy future generations need,” said François Poirier, President and Chief Executive Officer, TC Energy.
“The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) commends Senator Alan Armstrong for his leadership on permitting reform and appreciates the practical perspective he brings from years of developing and building energy infrastructure. This legislation takes bold and meaningful steps to improve permitting certainty, strengthen interagency coordination, and promote more timely and predictable project reviews. We particularly appreciate the bill’s efforts to address long-standing Clean Water Act permitting challenges that have contributed to delays and frustrated deployment of critical infrastructure projects. As energy demand continues to grow, policies that support the timely development of safe, reliable infrastructure are vital for America’s economic competitiveness and national security. Senator Armstrong’s proposal advances that conversation in a thoughtful and constructive way, and we look forward to working with policymakers to advance comprehensive permitting reform,” said Amy Andryszak, President and CEO, Interstate Natural Gas Association of American (INGAA).
“American families are experiencing the costs of a broken permitting process in real time. Unnecessary and detrimental delays and a legal system that bogs down new projects for years in court are increasing the cost to build essential infrastructure that’s required to meet the needs of our communities, our economy and our national security, Sen. Armstrong’s bill would help to correct the permitting process and preserve energy affordability for American families and businesses in the process. AGA looks forward to continuing to work with Sen. Armstrong and his colleagues in Congress in supporting the American public by efficiently moving permitting legislation forward,” said Karen Harbert, President and CEO, American Gas Association (AGA).
“API appreciates Sen. Armstrong’s leadership in advancing meaningful reforms that would help end the weaponization of the Clean Water Act, modernize reviews and enhance coordination for critical infrastructure projects. Greater predictability in the permitting process is essential to supporting investment and building the infrastructure needed to meet growing energy demand, and this legislation is an important step toward an efficient and effective permitting system,” said Kristin Whitman, SVP of Government Relations, American Petroleum Institute.
“AXPC appreciates Senator Armstrong’s leadership in advancing a comprehensive approach to reform America’s broken permitting system that addresses many of the barriers blocking the development of critical energy infrastructure. We urge Congress to seize this unique opportunity to build on the momentum behind permitting reform and deliver a durable, bipartisan solution that unleashes affordable energy,” said Wendy Kirchoff, Senior Vice President of Policy, American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC).
“America’s natural gas resource base is unmatched, but bringing affordable and reliable energy to consumers requires the infrastructure to move it where it’s needed. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 will help improve permitting efficiency, reduce unnecessary delays, and provide greater certainty for critical energy infrastructure investments. These reforms will assist the natural gas industry in meeting growing energy demand while reinforcing the reliability and affordability that natural gas delivers to American homes, businesses, and manufacturers,” said Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA).
“United States LNG is an increasingly indispensable source of energy security for our allies around the world, but continued leadership requires infrastructure that can keep pace with growing global demand. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 would help streamline permitting, reduce project uncertainty, and support the timely development of the infrastructure needed to deliver U.S. LNG to global markets. These reforms will strengthen America’s position as a reliable energy partner and reinforce the economic and geopolitical benefits of LNG exports,” said Center for LNG (CLNG).
“We appreciate Sen. Armstrong’s leadership in the effort to modernize the permitting process for critical infrastructure, helping ensure Americans and our allies have access to the energy they need. GPA Midstream and GPSA support this legislation because it recognizes the essential role midstream infrastructure plays in delivering reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy to households and businesses. America’s energy future depends on a strong, resilient midstream sector. GPA Midstream and GPSA look forward to working with Sen. Armstrong and his colleagues to advance legislation that supports reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible energy delivery,” said GPA Midstream and GPSA.
“LEPA is excited for the work of Sen. Armstrong showing the full potential of permitting reform. Senator Armstrong’s leadership is what we need to bring the energy infrastructure for more energy supply and lower energy prices,” said Andy Black, President and CEO, Liquid Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA).
“The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 recognizes a simple reality: American prosperity depends on abundant, reliable energy. As electricity demand surges at an unprecedented pace, natural gas will be essential to keeping the lights on, powering innovation, and strengthening our economy. This legislation helps America’s oil and natural gas industry deliver the energy our nation needs by cutting unnecessary delays and allowing critical infrastructure projects to move forward. When American energy leads, American families, businesses, and workers prosper,” said Brook A. Simmons, President, The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma.
“We applaud Senator Armstrong for putting forth bold reform that would drastically streamline and improve federal permitting – stimulating energy production and transmission throughout the United States. If passed into law, this legislation would provide a huge boost to the natural gas industry throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Lawton Mullins, President of Virginia Oil & Gas Association.
“Senator Armstrong’s bill solves real-world permitting impediments to building infrastructure in the U.S. By amending the Clean Water Act and adding NEPA judicial review provisions from bipartisan House bills into a Senate product, Senator Armstrong’s bill is a necessary component of meaningful permitting reform. We urge all Republican and Democratic Senators who want to get America ‘Back to Building’ and ‘Win the Race against China for AI’ to support this bill,” said Chad Zamarin, Williams President and CEO.
“Senator Armstrong has a deep understanding that America cannot meet our country’s growing energy demand without building more infrastructure – and we cannot build more infrastructure without permitting reform. Just as importantly, we cannot keep energy affordable for American families and businesses if critical projects are delayed for years by an outdated permitting system. We appreciate his leadership on the American Energy Infrastructure Act and are encouraged to see bipartisan support continuing to build around common-sense reforms that deliver certainty, accountability and timely decisions that help lower costs for consumers,” said Toby Z. Rice, President & CEO, EQT.
“The American Energy & Mineral Infrastructure Act represents another important step toward advancing meaningful permitting reform in the United States. Woodside Energy is grateful for Senator Armstrong’s leadership on this issue and supports practical, commonsense reforms that streamline the permitting process, enable timely project development while maintaining strong environmental standards,” said Daniel Kalms, Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President, Woodside Energy USA.
“As the nation’s largest energy infrastructure investor, NextEra Energy applauds Sen. Armstrong’s leadership in advancing thoughtful permitting reform. Permitting reform is essential to unlocking the investment needed to deliver the reliable, affordable power needed to support America’s economic growth and strengthen energy security. We look forward to working with Sen. Armstrong and his colleagues in Congress to advance durable, commonsense permitting reforms that help America build faster and compete more effectively,” said John Ketchum, Chairman and CEO, NextERA Energy.
“The world critically needs natural gas supply to meet rapidly rising power demand, growing industrial activity, and global LNG expansion to address a global reset in energy security. As North America’s largest natural gas producer we recognize permitting reform as a critical part of our ability to deliver the fuel America and the world needs. The legislation Senator Armstrong is proposing is critically important and would ensure the United States is properly positioned for the future,” said Expand Energy.
“Demand for energy and mineral resources necessary to support U.S. economic and national security priorities continues to skyrocket. To meet this demand, we need policy and judicial reforms that will allow us to responsibly permit needed projects. Senator Armstrong has a strong track record of working to find solutions to these issues. His American Energy & Mineral Infrastructure Act will help inform and advance permitting reform discussions in the Senate. We applaud the Senator for his leadership and continued efforts to advance permitting reform,” said Rich Nolan, President and CEO, National Mining Association (NMA).
“The hydropower provisions in this legislation will help restore the Clean Water Act to its intended purpose: protecting water quality. The bill would provide greater clarity and certainty in the hydropower relicensing process, which must be streamlined to help meet growing electricity demand and keep power bills lower for consumers. I thank Senator Armstrong for advancing this bill and urge Congress to pass it swiftly,” said Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO, National Hydropower Association (NHA).
“The Energy Infrastructure Council (EIC) strongly supports the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 and commends Senator Armstrong for his long-standing leadership on permitting reform. Electrification, advanced manufacturing, and AI are fueling a surge in energy demand that the nation’s permitting system was never designed to meet. This legislation meets that challenge – streamlining federal review, restoring regulatory certainty, and reducing the litigation risk that has hindered critical infrastructure projects. It incorporates Clean Water Act Section 401 review into FERC’s process, sets clear timelines and reasonable guardrails on state review, and modernizes NEPA and nationwide permitting – building on bipartisan proposals while preserving environmental protection. EIC and its members look forward to working with Senator Armstrong and his colleagues on passing this important legislation,” said Lori Ziebart, President & CEO, Energy Infrastructure Council (EIC).
“America’s infrastructure deficit is the product of decades of bureaucratic delay, duplicative review, and regulatory uncertainty that has made it nearly impossible to develop the domestic mineral production our economy depends on. “The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act fixes that by bringing together commonsense, bipartisan permitting reforms — from incorporating water quality review into FERC’s unified NEPA process to modernizing environmental review so it’s rigorous but not endless — ensuring federal permitting serves the public interest, not the interests of those who profit from obstruction,” – said Chris Greissing, President, Essential Minerals Association.
“The Colorado Oil and Gas Association strongly supports the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure (AEMI) Act of 2026. With electricity demand projected to surge at least 52 percent over the next decade and more than 4,000 miles of pipeline projects sitting idle due to litigation risk and permitting uncertainty, the country cannot afford to maintain the broken status quo. The AEMI Act takes a commonsense approach, strengthening FERC’s role, reforming NEPA, and eliminating duplicative review, without compromising environmental protection. Colorado energy producers are committed to responsible development and sensible regulatory oversight. This legislation provides the necessary reforms to provide energy producers certainty to meet America’s growing energy demands,” said Lynn Granger, President & CEO, Colorado Oil and Gas Association.
“The American Energy & Mineral Infrastructure Act is exactly the type of legislation we need in America today. Energy infrastructure is critical to Wyoming’s oil and natural gas industry; connecting our abundant natural resources with this country’s hard-working families who rely on safe, reliable, affordable energy. The Petroleum Association of Wyoming has long advocated for Congress to pass permitting and judicial reforms that return NEPA and the Endangered Species Act to their original intent and spurring investment in domestic energy production. We look forward to Senator Armstrong’s efforts to get this important legislation passed,” said Pete Obermuller, President, Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW).
“The pipeline industry is always in favor of rules that will expedite energy projects, especially those that help domestic energy. Industry has always supported efficient reviews of regulatory agencies and making that oversight consistent and known, which help pipeline operators and investors move forward more confidently in respect to high-stakes energy infrastructure projects. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act is an important measure to advance such reforms,” said Thure Cannon, President, Texas Pipeline Association.
“Permitting reform is both an economic and energy security imperative. Senator Armstrong’s bill helps to solve for the permitting bottlenecks that have paralyzed our nation’s energy infrastructure for years. PAGE is committed to working with Senator Armstrong and his colleagues in Congress to turn this legislation into law and unlock the affordable, reliable energy that Americans demand,” said Chris Treanor, Executive Director of Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE).
“The ACCF strongly supports Senator Armstrong’s American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act. This legislation modernizes our outdated permitting system by reducing delays, increasing regulatory certainty, and accelerating critical energy, infrastructure, mining, and manufacturing projects. The bill builds on efforts to deliver faster, more predictable outcomes while preserving environmental protections. These improvements will lower costs, strengthen supply chains, boost competitiveness, and advance energy security. ACCF commends Senator Armstrong’s leadership,” said George David Banks, President & CEO, American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF).
“If we want to help lower costs for families and jumpstart America building again, we need to eradicate the mountain of red tape weighing down our permitting system and instead design one that is predictable and grounded in clear rules. The American Energy & Mineral Infrastructure Act takes important steps toward that goal by bringing greater certainty to the Clean Water Act permitting process, reducing duplicative reviews, and directing that projects be evaluated based on clear and consistent standards. The bill also provides for agency coordination in reviews of natural gas pipeline projects and amends the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to clearly state that the Act is a procedural statute. Everyone benefits when we cut red tape and free the private sector to innovate,” said Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
“Senator Armstrong has made it his mission to modernize permitting by translating his private sector expertise into legislation. His laser focus on this issue has elevated the conversation and we look forward to seeing many of these themes included in the final bill,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath Action.
“ACC Action and our thousands of grassroots members applaud Senator Armstrong for his proposed reforms to let America build, efficiently and with certainty. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act contains helpful additions toward a robust, bipartisan permitting package we need,” said Chris Barnard, President, ACC Action.
“Multi-year approval processes, coupled with bloated, complex regulations, prevent innovation and weaken economic growth. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act is a commonsense approach that takes this problem seriously. By setting clear agency deadlines, encouraging federal coordination, streamlining NEPA, expanding general permits, and addressing litigation-related delays, these reforms seek to help our Nation achieve energy dominance, create jobs, and provide affordable energy for families across the country. Environmental review should protect the environment, not become an endless bureaucratic trap that delays projects essential to our economy and well-being,” said Ted Ellis, Deputy Director, Energy and Environment and Director, Power America Campaign, America First Policy Institute.
“We’ve known for years that we need federal permitting reform if we want America to build again. What stands out about Senator Armstrong and his team is their tireless effort to find workable, bipartisan reforms that Congress can enact this year. I applaud their efforts and look forward to working with them to remove the barriers holding back American energy,” said Travis Fischer, Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies, Cato Institute.
“For too long, America’s permitting system has unnecessarily delayed critical infrastructure and energy projects, increased costs for families and businesses, and undermined our nation’s economic competitiveness. Pacific Legal Foundation applauds Senator Armstrong for introducing the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026, a comprehensive proposal to modernize and streamline the Clean Water Act, the Natural Gas Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and federal mining law. By reducing unnecessary delays and bringing greater certainty to project approvals, this legislation will unleash American innovation, strengthen our economy, lower costs, and help build the infrastructure needed to power our nation for generations to come,” said Josh Smith, Senior Fellow, Pacific Legal Foundation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON SEN. ARMSTRONG
Before coming to the Senate, Armstrong spent decades developing and operating American energy infrastructure, eventually leading a company responsible for moving roughly one-third of the nation’s natural gas. Having experienced firsthand how permitting delays increase costs and stall investment, he entered public service with the goal of modernizing the federal permitting system and helping America build again.
READ MORE FROM SEN. ARMSTRONG
The Hill | America’s Energy Weakness isn’t Overseas – It’s at Home
Washington Reporter | The Same Permit Snare that Stops Pipelines Will Stop the Grid Buildout Too
The Oklahoman | OK Has Become One of the Best Places to Build in the US. Here’s How
Washington Examiner | Global Energy Security Hangs in the Balance. Here’s How America Can Restore It
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