Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said on Monday that lawmakers are almost at a deal to improve the nation’s process for approving infrastructure projects.
“We are very near,” he said during an energy conference on Monday, talking about progress towards creating a compromise law on what is now called “permitting reform.”
“I want to do it before we go on the August break,” he added.
Businesses, particularly in the energy industry, have complained for a long time about how long it takes to get projects approved by the government. Manchin has been a leading advocate in Congress to change that system.
Some lawmakers from both parties have shown interest, as some Democrats believe changes are necessary to support the development of eco-friendly energy sources. However, creating a deal has been difficult as lawmakers have struggled to agree on issues such as how to allocate costs for electric grid infrastructure.
But at the CERAWeek conference in Houston, Texas, Manchin promised to address the remaining challenges.
“We are going to change, we are going to change how we do business,” he said.
Manchin is not running for reelection, and his term ends in January.
