HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — The House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at easing the federal environmental review process.

Two-hundred and twenty-one of the 417 voting members approved the bill, called the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development, or SPEED, Act on Thursday. The bill would change the National Environmental Policy Act, a 1969 law requiring federal environmental impact studies, to make the approval process for government projects easier.

Eleven Democrats joined 210 Republicans to support the bill, introduced by Arkansas Republican Bruce Westerman, while one GOP moderate voted against it. Westerman said after the act passed that it would reduce unnecessary permitting delays and make it easier for local governments to complete “economy-stimulating” projects.

“You may not realize it but permitting touches all aspects of life, from the ability to complete roadways and bridges that can prevent traffic jams all the way to the ability to lower the cost of your monthly electricity bill,” the congressman said in a statement.

“This isn’t just legislation for large, federal industries, it’s a bill for you and every other taxpaying Arkansan.”

Some Democrats who voted against the act include party leadership and members of the progressive caucus. The bill favors the Trump administration’s energy agenda, according to the caucus, which opposes fossil fuel industries.

“Environmental protection groups warn that this is a dangerous attempt to gut NEPA, the nation’s bedrock environmental law, turning it into a toothless procedural formality,” the group said in a statement. “The effect of this bill will be to prioritize oil and gas, and SPEED Act does nothing to advance permitting reforms for clean energy that progressives have long championed.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, contrastingly described the bill as part of a “pro-growth” agenda. He said the permitting process has “driven up” costs and blocked critical energy and infrastructure projects for far too long.

“The National Environmental Policy Act has been stretched far beyond its original intent, and we are taking away its ability to be weaponized or misused for activist-driven litigation and partisan agendas,” Johnson explained. “House Republicans continue to pass commonsense legislation that codifies President Trump’s executive orders and advances a pro-growth agenda to lower energy costs, strengthen national security, unleash American energy production, and get American workers and industry building again.”

The Trump administration has prioritized fossil fuel energy sources over renewable ones, and Democrats have expressed concern about the environmental impacts of its approach.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.