A last-ditch effort by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to get a modest permitting reform measure attached to the $858-billion National Defense Authorization bill failed to win enough votes during Senate consideration of the bill Dec. 15—all but ending chances that significant reform to the environmental review process for energy infrastructure projects will occur before lawmakers leave for winter recess.
The amendment attaching Manchin’s permitting legislation failed by a 47-47 vote, with the bill and a stop-gap spending bill sent on Dec. 16 to President Joe Biden for his signature.