16 Sep 2026 With Weeks Left on the Congressional Calendar, Governors Press Congress to Finish Permitting Reform in Energy and Environment

30-second spot available to view here 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

September 16, 2026 

Contact: Loren Scribner 
202-637-7390 
LScribner@bpcaction.org 

Washington, DC—Today, Bipartisan Policy Center Action launched a national advertising campaign featuring five governors from both parties urging Congress to finish permitting reform this year. 

The 30-second spot, available here, features Govs. Spencer Cox (R-UT), Mark Gordon (R-WY), Wes Moore (D-MD), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Kevin Stitt (R-OK), each delivering a single argument: that a slow and unpredictable federal permitting system is raising energy costs, stalling projects that would create jobs, and producing worse outcomes for the economy and the environment alike. 

The ad ends with Gov. Cox calling on Congress: “We need bipartisan permitting reform now.” 

Why these messengers 

Governors occupy a unique position in this debate, answering for projects that do not get built, grid reliability, and utility bills. These five governors were among 13 from both parties who signed a letter, organized by the National Governors Association, to congressional committee leaders in October 2025 outlining states’ priorities and urging federal action. 

“Governors from both parties are saying the same thing about the same problem, which is exactly the signal Congress has said it was waiting for. The disagreement in Washington is now narrower than the consensus outside it; there is still time to act this year,” said Michele Stockwell, president of BPC Action. 

Where permitting reform stands 

The House passed multiple permitting bills, including the SPEED Act, in December 2025. Since then, Senate negotiators from both parties have worked toward a compromise through 2026, with talks pausing and resuming throughout the year. 

The congressional calendar is now the binding constraint. With both chambers in recess for much of the fall ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, Congress has a narrow window to act. 

About BPC Action 

Bipartisan Policy Center Action is the 501(c)(4) advocacy affiliate of the Bipartisan Policy Center. BPC Action works directly with policymakers to turn BPC’s data-driven policy solutions into law, building bipartisan consensus to advance durable legislation in Congress.