Senate Republicans advanced a sweeping energy and infrastructure permitting package Monday, overcoming opposition from most Democrats and clearing a major procedural hurdle for legislation backed by President Donald Trump. Better late than never, I guess.
The Senate voted 73-25 to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, allowing the Republican-controlled chamber to begin formal consideration of the legislation.
The vote was not final passage of the bill. All but one Republican voted to advance the measure, while 24 Democrats or Democratic-aligned senators opposed moving forward.
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota was the only GOP senator to vote against advancing the legislation.
The bill was written by Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Mike Lee of Utah alongside Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.
Supporters say the legislation would overhaul federal permitting rules that can delay construction of pipelines, power plants, mines, transmission lines and other major infrastructure projects for years.
“For far too long, critical investments in our nation’s infrastructure, energy production, and economy have been forced to sit on the sidelines due to endless red tape, duplicative reviews, and regulatory uncertainty,” Capito said.
“Businesses large and small, looking to invest meaningfully in our country, lack the certainty they need to make decisions,” she added.
The legislation would make significant changes to federal environmental and infrastructure permitting requirements, including provisions involving the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
It also addresses electricity transmission, energy permitting and historic preservation requirements.
One provision would require large data centers to bear more of the costs associated with the power and transmission infrastructure they require rather than shifting those expenses onto ordinary electricity customers.
The Trump administration strongly endorsed the legislation ahead of Monday’s vote.
“The Administration strongly supports passage of S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026,” the White House said in its official statement of administration policy. “For too long, a broken Federal permitting system has blocked American workers from building the pipelines, power plants, and mines our economy needs.”
The administration said the legislation would “deliver cheaper energy, more jobs, and economic growth across the United States.”
Trump also personally praised the permitting package, arguing that faster approvals are necessary for expanding American energy production and manufacturing.
Despite the bill’s bipartisan group of four principal Senate negotiators, most Democratic senators opposed Monday’s procedural vote.
Democratic Sens. Angela Alsobrooks, Tammy Baldwin, Michael Bennet, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Cory Booker, Maria Cantwell, Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, Maggie Hassan, Mazie Hirono and Tim Kaine were among those voting no – because they’d rather allow their Trump Derangement Syndrome to guide their actions rather than needy constituents.
Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly, Ben Ray Luján, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Patty Murray, Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff, Tina Smith, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Welch and Ron Wyden also opposed advancing the bill – because (see above).
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont voted against the motion as well, but that’s expected because communists like him wreck economies, they don’t build them.
Whitehouse and Heinrich have defended the legislation from criticism within their own party. Heinrich said the proposal would “help lower energy costs, strengthen Tribal consultation, and create more good-paying jobs.”
“Americans can’t afford to wait for lower electricity prices,” Heinrich said. “We need to pass this bill now.”
Whitehouse argued the legislation could accelerate construction of clean-energy projects while reducing pollution and creating good jobs.
