{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.armstrong.senate.gov/afp-oklahoma-praises-sen-armstrongs-permitting-reform-bill-in-thetulsa-world/", "AFP-Oklahoma Praises Sen. Armstrong\u2019s Permitting Reform Bill in theTulsa World", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "OK", "Alan Armstrong", "A000383", "www.armstrong.senate.gov", "armstrong", "https://www.armstrong.senate.gov/news/media-center/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nAugust 25, 2026\n\nCONTACT:\n\nChrissy Harbin, Miranda Dabney\n\nAFP-Oklahoma Praises Sen. Armstrong\u2019s Permitting Reform Bill in theTulsa World\n\nJOHN TIDWELL STRESSES THE URGENCY TO PASS ARMSTRONG\u2019S AEMI ACT TO MAINTAIN OKLAHOMA\u2019S STATUS AS A NATIONAL ENERGY LEADER\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In a recent opinion column published by the Tulsa World, John Tidwell, Oklahoma State Director of Americans for Prosperity, highlighted Senator Alan Armstrong\u2019s (R-OK) landmark legislation, S. 4944, the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure (AEMI) Act, as a critical step toward unlocking domestic energy growth and fixing the nation\u2019s broken permitting system.\n\nIn the op-ed, Tidwell outlines how excessive federal red tape, administrative delays, and endless litigation threaten Oklahoma\u2019s historic role as a national energy leader. Tidwell emphasizes that reforming the current regulatory process is necessary to lower energy costs, expand the electric grid, and ensure long-term energy independence.\n\nRead the full op-ed here. Key excerpts:\n\nON THE NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION\n\n\u201cSen. Alan Armstrong has introduced the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act, which would provide the predictability that Oklahoma needs to lead the way in building the next generation of energy.\u201d\n\nON PERMITTING OBSTACLES\n\n\u201cIt takes an average of 4 \u00bd years to obtain a permit to build energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, more than 4,000 miles of pipeline projects remain tied up in legal battles and permitting delays.\u201d\n\nON RISING POWER DEMANDS\n\n\u201cDemand for reliable electricity also is rising faster than it has in decades. This is an opportunity for energy-producing states like Oklahoma to help meet that need. Our ability to build and transmit energy will determine whether our country is prepared to meet the demands of an increasingly strained energy grid. Energy demand is expected to grow 52% by 2034, with data centers and manufacturing making up a large portion of this demand.\u201d\n\nON MODERNIZING FEDERAL REVIEWS\n\n\u201cArmstrong\u2019s bill would streamline overlapping federal reviews while ensuring environmental laws remain focused on evaluating legitimate environmental impacts rather than creating years of procedural delay.\u201d\n\nThe American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act targets these exact bottlenecks by modernizing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scope, strengthening the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission\u2019s (FERC) role over interstate natural gas projects, amending Clean Water Act Section 401 review processes, and establishing clear judicial review standards.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn June, Armstrong hosted an official event on Capitol Hill, Getting America Building Again: Permitting Reform and America\u2019s Competitive Future, which brought together more than 150 business leaders and policy experts to advance a shared blueprint for comprehensive permitting reform and discuss the urgent need to modernize America\u2019s permitting laws.", 1, "2026-09-24T10:30:22Z", "2026-09-24T10:31:42Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.armstrong.senate.gov/afp-oklahoma-praises-sen-armstrongs-permitting-reform-bill-in-thetulsa-world/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8285976946353912, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}