Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after voting in favor of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) Building American Energy Security Act, which he put forward as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The amendment failed.
“To secure America’s energy independence and fight climate change, we have to make it a lot easier and faster to build critical infrastructure while still protecting the environment and respecting the communities most affected.
“Today, the United States is a laggard among developed nations in how long it takes us to deploy vital energy projects. The status quo is at war with the urgent need to lower energy costs, rapidly deploy clean energy, and tackle climate change.
“Although Senator Manchin’s energy permitting proposal wasn’t perfect, it represented a sensible step forward. In the months ahead, I am prepared to work with anyone in either party on a path forward for common-sense permitting reforms.”