Defense Policy Bill Excludes Manchin Energy Permitting Changes

The annual defense policy bill released Tuesday night excludes controversial changes to the federal permitting process for energy projects that Sen. Joe Manchin sought to include, likely punting any action on the proposal to the next Congress.

Despite “working and praying,” as Manchin said last week, the West Virginia Democrat was unable to insert language in the must-pass fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act that would streamline the federal environmental review process for fossil fuel and renewable energy projects. Manchin, who leads the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has wanted to speed up the process for energy projects, including ...