WASHINGTON – On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and 37 of their Republican colleagues in introducing the Simplify Timelines and Assure Regulatory Transparency (START) Act. This legislation codifies improvements to the environmental review process and definition of navigable waters, reduces timelines for Endangered Species Act consultations and prohibits adoption of President Biden’s social cost of carbon.
In an effort to accelerate energy projects and cut costs, Sen. Johnson voted in favor of a similar amendment to the Democrats’ multi-billion dollar Inflation Reduction Act in August. Previously, Sen. Johnson joined his colleagues in an amicus brief opposing the EPA’s proposed expansion of the waters of the United States (WOTUS), which would burden Wisconsin farmers.
Sens. Johnson and Capito are joined on the legislation by Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
The full text of the bill can be found here.
