This is a HIGHLY controversial bill. If you love your creeks, rivers, and Puget Sound sea life and especially if you oppose data centers, pipeline and other big development projects steamrolling our landscapes, get on this today.

Sen. Murray 202-224-2621, 206-553-5545, 866-481-9186
Sen. Cantwell 202-224-3441, 206-220-6400, 888-648-7328

Senate Bill 5653 (S. 5653), formally titled the Bipartisan Amerian Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA), is a comprehensive federal permitting reform package introduced in the U.S. Senate on September 30, 2026, by Senator Shelley Moore Capito and bipartisan co-sponsors.

Key Objectives and Provisions

Permitting & Review Deadlines: The bill sets strict statutory timelines for federal environmental reviews, limiting environmental assessments to one year and environmental impact statements to two years, with subsequent authorization decisions capped at 90 to 120 days.

Statute of Limitations & Remedies: It establishes a 150-day statute of limitations for litigants and restricts certain court remedies (such as vacatur and permanent injunctions) for covered claims alleging only National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) violations.

Statutory Amendments: The package proposes changes across multiple major environmental and energy statutes, including NEPA, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Clean Water Act, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the Federal Power Act.

Wildfire Management: Following an amendment in the nature of a substitute released on November 7, 2026, the bill incorporates elements of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act to streamline prescribed burns for forest management.

Perspectives and Debate

Supporters (including industry groups and some bipartisan lawmakers) argue that the legislation is necessary to modernize infrastructure, accelerate clean energy and transmission buildouts, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and prevent the rescission of previously authorized permits.

Critics (including environmental organizations, tribal groups, and conservation advocates such as the National Parks Conservation Association and the Animal Welfare Institute) contend that the bill weakens core environmental and wildlife protections, curtails tribal consultation and sovereign rights, and limits public accountability in court.