WHO GETS A SAY?
WHO GETS A SAY?
Protecting how communities are heard in decisions about our land, water, wildlife, and health
PRIORITY, PROJECTS, & CAMPAIGNS COMMITTEE
Every community deserves the right to have its voice heard in what gets built where its people live, work, and rest.
THIS MOMENT: The Senate Permitting Bill
The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA, S. 5653) was introduced on September 30, 2026, by a bipartisan group of Senate committee leaders. It is a 400+ page permitting package meant to speed approvals for energy, transmission, mining, manufacturing, and other large infrastructure projects, and it also reaches historic preservation, hydropower licensing, and offshore energy.
At its core, BAAJA rewrites process, which means it rewrites how people are heard. It amends five core laws: the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the Federal Power Act (FPA). It also changes the Natural Gas Act and federal mining law. Rewriting those rules at once changes who gets to object, at what point, with what evidence, and how long they get.
THIS MOMENT: The Senate Permitting Bill
The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA, S. 5653) was introduced on September 30, 2026, by a bipartisan group of Senate committee leaders. It is a 400+ page permitting package meant to speed approvals for energy, transmission, mining, manufacturing, and other large infrastructure projects, and it also reaches historic preservation, hydropower licensing, and offshore energy.
At its core, BAAJA rewrites process, which means it rewrites how people are heard. It amends five core laws: the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the Federal Power Act (FPA). It also changes the Natural Gas Act and federal mining law. Rewriting those rules at once changes who gets to object, at what point, with what evidence, and how long they get.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
TAKE ACTION NOW.
The Senate is scheduled to take its first procedural vote on November 9, 2026, in a compressed lame duck session. Join us in making sure the senators deciding this bill hear from all our communities.
Join us on November 5, 2026. Our coalition action and briefing session, What the Senate Permitting Bill Means for Our Land, Water, Wildlife, and Communities, runs 4:00 to 5:30 PM ET. Register today
Contact your senators: Meet with, call, or write to them. This bill needs 60 votes in the Senate during a short lame duck session, which means a small number of offices will decide whether it moves. Tell them what losing review time and consultation would mean in the place where you live. Your voice strongly matters.
Organizations: add your statement or resource. If your organization has published a statement or resource on the permitting bill, send it to us (backbone@atb4a.org) and we will add it to the resources below.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
TAKE ACTION NOW.
The Senate is scheduled to take its first procedural vote on November 9, 2026, in a compressed lame duck session. Join us in making sure the senators deciding this bill hear from all our communities.
Join us on November 5, 2026. Our coalition action and briefing session, What the Senate Permitting Bill Means for Our Land, Water, Wildlife, and Communities, runs 4:00 to 5:30 PM ET. Register today
Contact your senators: Meet with, call, or write to them. This bill needs 60 votes in the Senate during a short lame duck session, which means a small number of offices will decide whether it moves. Tell them what losing review time and consultation would mean in the place where you live. Your voice strongly matters.
Organizations: add your statement or resource. If your organization has published a statement or resource on the permitting bill, send it to us (backbone@atb4a.org) and we will add it to the resources below.
WHAT THE SENATE PERMITTING BILL MEANS FOR OUR LAND, WATER, WILDLIFE, AND COMMUNITIES
Experts from Ocean Defense Initiative, the National Congress of American Indians, the Native American Rights Fund, Endangered Species Coalition, Clean Water for All, The Wilderness Society and Earthjustice walk through what the bill changes for each of the laws our communities rely on, and how our coalition can respond in the weeks ahead.
WHAT THE SENATE PERMITTING BILL MEANS FOR OUR LAND, WATER, WILDLIFE, AND COMMUNITIES
Experts from Ocean Defense Initiative, the National Congress of American Indians, the Native American Rights Fund, Endangered Species Coalition, Clean Water for All, The Wilderness Society and Earthjustice walk through what the bill changes for each of the laws our communities rely on, and how our coalition can respond in the weeks ahead.
RESOURCES FROM OUR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS
Fact sheets
BAAJA’S Empty Promises To Tribal Nations: CLAIM vs. FACT
Earthjustice: Guide to the Impacts of BAAJA
Center for Western Priorities MAP: How the Senate Bill could lock in permitting on public lands
Clean Water for All: Cheat sheet on water provisions of the bill
Native American Rights Fund (NARF): BAAJA analysis and Tribal impact resources
National Congress of American Indians: Section 106 Resource Page
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Assessment of BAAJA, the 2026 Permitting and Transmission Bill
Tribal Public Lands Alliance: Overview of the Legislative Attack on NHPA
PFAS + BAAJA fact sheet: How Sections 1201 and 1203 could delay science-based limits and permit updates
Tribal Action Hub: Protect 106 Resources
The Wilderness Society: Permitting Bill Puts Iconic Landscapes on One Way Path to Development
Thought Leadership
Abigail Dillen, President, Earthjustice: What Will BAAJA Do? Whatever the Trump Administration Wants
Addie Haughey, Legislative Director, Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans, Earthjustice: How the Senate’s Permitting Bill Could Lock in Deep-Sea Mining for Years to Come
Daniel Hart, Director of Clean Energy and Climate Policy, National Parks Conservation Association: Sweeping Permitting Bill Risks Irreversible Damage to National Parks
Leda Huta, Vice President, Government Relations, American Rivers: No False Choices: We Can Improve Infrastructure Permitting and Protect Rivers
Joint Tribal Organizations Letter Opposing BAAJA’s NHPA Title (Oct 9, 2026)
Sambhav Sankar, Senior Vice President of Programs, Earthjustice: Yes, the Permitting Bill Really Could Lock in Illegal Permits
Government documents
Bill text: S. 5653 - Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026
RESOURCES FROM OUR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS
Fact sheets
BAAJA’S Empty Promises To Tribal Nations: CLAIM vs. FACT
Earthjustice: Guide to the Impacts of BAAJA
Center for Western Priorities MAP: How the Senate Bill could lock in permitting on public lands
Clean Water for All: Cheat sheet on water provisions of the bill
Native American Rights Fund (NARF): BAAJA analysis and Tribal impact resources
National Congress of American Indians: Section 106 Resource Page
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Assessment of BAAJA, the 2026 Permitting and Transmission Bill
Tribal Public Lands Alliance: Overview of the Legislative Attack on NHPA
PFAS + BAAJA fact sheet: How Sections 1201 and 1203 could delay science-based limits and permit updates
Tribal Action Hub: Protect 106 Resources
The Wilderness Society: Permitting Bill Puts Iconic Landscapes on One Way Path to Development
Thought Leadership
Abigail Dillen, President, Earthjustice: What Will BAAJA Do? Whatever the Trump Administration Wants
Addie Haughey, Legislative Director, Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans, Earthjustice: How the Senate’s Permitting Bill Could Lock in Deep-Sea Mining for Years to Come
Daniel Hart, Director of Clean Energy and Climate Policy, National Parks Conservation Association: Sweeping Permitting Bill Risks Irreversible Damage to National Parks
Leda Huta, Vice President, Government Relations, American Rivers: No False Choices: We Can Improve Infrastructure Permitting and Protect Rivers
Joint Tribal Organizations Letter Opposing BAAJA’s NHPA Title (Oct 9, 2026)
Sambhav Sankar, Senior Vice President of Programs, Earthjustice: Yes, the Permitting Bill Really Could Lock in Illegal Permits
Government documents
Bill text: S. 5653 - Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026
A Better 250 Years to Come for Justice-Centered Conservation
The places that make America beautiful for all are still here because someone spoke up for them. Through our America 250 campaign, we are gathering those stories.
Tell us what a permit decision did where you live. The pipeline, the port expansion, the transmission line, the mine.
Tell us what a cultural site means to you. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is how historic and sacred places get protected during permitting. BAAJA weakens it, and with it, the heritage protections at the heart of our America 250 campaign.
A Better 250 Years to Come for Justice-Centered Conservation
The places that make America beautiful for all are still here because someone spoke up for them. Through our America 250 campaign, we are gathering those stories.
Tell us what a permit decision did where you live. The pipeline, the port expansion, the transmission line, the mine.
Tell us what a cultural site means to you. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is how historic and sacred places get protected during permitting. BAAJA weakens it, and with it, the heritage protections at the heart of our America 250 campaign.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Stay up to date on events and opportunities to advocate for and celebrate progress on closing the nature gap for communities and wildlife.
Join the Coalition
We welcome nonprofits, collaboratives, and conservation-minded businesses across a range of missions working toward a common vision where all communities equitably benefit from healthy waters, accessible and vibrant landscapes, and thriving wildlife populations.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Stay up to date on events and opportunities to advocate for and celebrate progress on closing the nature gap for communities and wildlife.
Join the Coalition
We welcome nonprofits, collaboratives, and conservation-minded businesses across a range of missions working toward a common vision where all communities equitably benefit from healthy waters, accessible and vibrant landscapes, and thriving wildlife populations.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Stay up to date on events and opportunities to advocate for and celebrate progress on closing the nature gap for communities and wildlife.
Join the Coalition
We welcome nonprofits, collaboratives, and conservation-minded businesses across a range of missions working toward a common vision where all communities equitably benefit from healthy waters, accessible and vibrant landscapes, and thriving wildlife populations.
Questions?
Questions?