Rep. Troy E. Nehls Leads Letter to Biden Administration to Streamline Presidential Permitting Process for Cross-Border Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Yesterday, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) and 12 of his colleagues led a letter to the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, demanding answers regarding the Presidential permitting process for cross-border projects at the Canadian and Mexican borders.
The United States State Department is responsible for receiving all applications for the issuance or amendment of Presidential permits for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance at the international boundaries of the United States for certain cross-border projects. These projects play an important role in not only the United States’ energy security but the entirety of North American energy security.
The State Department and other parts of the Executive Branch have left many Presidential permits for critical pipeline projects unaddressed. Despite the Biden Administration’s attempts to modernize the process to secure Presidential permits for cross-border projects, only one Presidential permit has been issued since 2021. As a part of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress included language to expedite the Presidential permitting process for these projects.
“Trade in energy commodities between Canada, Mexico, and the United States is an essential component to the security, economy, and sustainability of the continent,” the Members stated in the letter.
“This departure from the Administration’s stated goal has been detrimental to North American businesses investment and imperils future opportunities for our continent.”
“Energy is national security,” said Congressman Nehls. “The Biden Administration has done everything in its power to destroy American energy independence. Since 2021, only one Presidential permit for cross-border projects has been issued. This is unacceptable. I’m proud to lead a letter, with 12 of my colleagues, to demand answers from the Biden Administration regarding critical cross-border energy projects that would help our nation’s oil and gas industry.”
Congressman Nehls was joined by Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-AL), Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-03), Byron Donalds (R-FL-19), Wesley Hunt (R-TX-38), Michael Cloud (R-TX-27), Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Ralph Norman (R-SC-05), David Rouzer (R-NC-07), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), and Morgan Luttrell (R-TX-08).
Read the full letter HERE.