WASHINGTON, May 26, 2021 —Heather Reams, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) executive director, provided the following statement after the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously approved the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021:
“The comprehensive $303.5 billion surface transportation legislation approved by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is the direct result of the strong, bipartisan work of Republican Senators Shelly Moore Capito and Kevin Cramer and Democrat Senators Tom Carper and Ben Cardin, who were able to find commonsense solutions to boost America’s clean energy economy. This bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill includes much-needed reforms to reduce bureaucratic regulations, which prevent projects from progressing in a timely manner, by codifying One Federal Decision that will consolidate permitting decisions for major infrastructure projects into a single environmental review process that must be completed in two years, overseen by a single federal agency of jurisdiction. The bill, which is now headed to the full Senate, also includes $2.5 billion for charging and alternative vehicle infrastructure and $6.4 billion for states to reduce carbon emissions from transportation.
“The Energy Act of 2020 is proof that bipartisan clean energy and climate solutions are possible. My hope is that Congress can continue to work together to pass this bipartisan infrastructure legislation to put transportation sector emissions on the right trajectory.”
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Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) engages Republican policymakers and the public about responsible, conservative solutions to address our nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security while increasing America’s competitive edge. For more information, visit www.citizensfor.com.