Labor unions back McCormick’s plan to reform federal permitting

By John Cole
The Center Square

In a rare show of solidarity, building trade unions and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., want to streamline the federal permitting process so that projects stay on time and on budget.

On Thursday, the freshman senator announced the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026, which he says will target “four key chokepoints” that are slowing infrastructure projects, driving up costs, and blocking American energy from reaching global markets.

“Pennsylvania has the workers, resources, and infrastructure to power this region and the country for decades,” said McCormick. “What we’re missing is a federal permitting system with clear rules and predictable timelines.”

More than $1 trillion in infrastructure projects are currently tied up in federal permitting reform, according to McCormick’s office, which represents an estimated $2.4 trillion in unrealized economic activity and thousands of jobs. The federal Permitting Dashboard currently lists more than 650 projects.

Construction costs are 24% to 30% higher when projects are held up, McCormick’s office said.

His office cited a joint report conducted by the Foundation for American Innovation and the National Association of Manufacturers that showed “nearly 51 percent of manufacturers say permitting uncertainty discourages them from investing in new or expanded U.S. capacity, while nearly 66 percent say they would invest more if the process were faster and more predictable.”

McCormick also referenced rising electricity demands and global competition in his proposal and said the bill establishes “clear timelines, modernizes approval processes, removes unnecessary barriers, and reduces litigation-driven delays that have made it increasingly difficult to build in the United States.”

The four “specific chokepoints” the proposal addresses are water permitting reform, LNG export deregulation, nuclear licensing modernization, and NEPA litigation reform, which deals with the National Environmental Policy Act.

McCormick’s bill has the support of a wide variety of organizations, ranging from energy companies to organized labor, the latter of whom backed his opponent, former Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, in the 2024 election.

Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council President Rob Bair said they support McCormick’s push to lead on permitting at the federal level.

“For far too long, this cumbersome process has held up or prevented critical infrastructure and energy projects that Pennsylvania needs to grow our economy,” he said. “We look forward to his legislation passing both chambers and we look forward to working with the senator to build out Pennsylvania.”

Jim Snell, Steamfitters Local 420 business manager, said that they are ready to build, but “too many projects are stuck in permitting delays” and applauds McCormick’s proposal, which he thinks will help keep the state competitive and “unlocks potential to build critical energy infrastructure.”

Ryan Boyer, president of Laborers’ District Council of Philadelphia, echoed a similar sentiment and described the proposal as “commonsense legislation” which will “help create good-paying union jobs, strengthen our economy, and keep Pennsylvania on the rise.”

The announcement of the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026 also includes words of support from leaders of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, and Constellation.

“For Pennsylvania’s energy workforce and building trades, this bill is long overdue,” McCormick said. “It’s time we reform our current system and get America building again.”

Permitting reform has been a focus of McCormick’s since he was sworn into office last year.

During a telephone town hall in March, McCormick said that he believes that there was a “path to permitting reform this year.”

“I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I think there’s a decent chance it will happen and that’s a huge deal for the country and Pennsylvania,” he said on March 10. “And it’s necessary to meet the energy demand that’s going up because of data centers and things like that.”

McCormick referenced some permitting reform that has recently happened at the state level, but said there is a need for the federal government to address the matter, as well.