Executive Summary
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the Let America Build Act of 2026 on June 11, targeting the National Environmental Policy Act review process, litigation timelines, and state authority for federal drilling permits. The bill is specifically scoped to coal, oil, gas, and mining projects. Its most significant provision is a 60-day deadline for filing legal challenges, paired with strict judicial decision timelines. It is currently a partisan bill with one Republican cosponsor, referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Whether it advances depends heavily on how broader Senate permitting negotiations develop.
What Happened
On June 11, 2026, Barrasso, along with cosponsor Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), introduced the Let America Build Act of 2026, designated S. 4765. The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which Barrasso previously chaired. Barrasso is currently Senate Majority Whip, giving the bill more procedural standing than a typical member introduction.
The bill is based on Barrasso’s 2023 SPUR Act and builds on the bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 that he negotiated with then-Senator Joe Manchin, which passed the Energy and Natural Resources Committee 15 to 4 before stalling in the full Senate.
The core provisions of the Let America Build Act are as…
