Congressman Pat Harrigan of North Carolina’s 10th District voted on Apr. 16 in favor of H.R. 6398, known as the Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act. The legislation aims to remove a second layer of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review that has delayed federal construction and infrastructure projects.
The proposed changes are intended to streamline the permitting process for major projects while maintaining existing environmental protections. Supporters say the bill will help reduce bureaucratic delays that slow down job creation and economic growth.
“Every day that a project sits in regulatory limbo is a day American workers aren’t working, American businesses aren’t growing, and American infrastructure isn’t getting built,” said Congressman Harrigan. “This bill removes a duplicative EPA review that serves no purpose other than to delay. Federal agencies already conduct thorough environmental reviews under NEPA, and the Supreme Court confirmed they are fully equipped to do so. Having the EPA pile on with a second review of the same ground is wasteful, redundant, and it costs us time we don’t have.”
The act would amend Section 309 of the Clean Air Act by eliminating the requirement for an additional EPA review after an agency completes its own environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In May 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County that federal agencies have broad authority and expertise in conducting these reviews themselves, making further EPA involvement unnecessary.
Harrigan called on the Senate to advance this legislation in order to reduce red tape and move forward with needed infrastructure improvements across America.
In related news about Congressman Harrigan’s recent political background, he won his seat by defeating Ralph R. Scott, Jr., receiving approximately 57 percent of votes compared to Scott’s roughly 38 percent according to Ballotpedia.
