The CERTAIN Act would streamline the federal permitting process from when an application is submitted to when agencies reach a final decision. It would provide enforceable accountability measures, stronger coordination between agencies, and ensure agencies are fully staffed. Critically, the bill would protect lawfully issued permits from arbitrary revocation or political interference.
Streamline the federal permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects by setting firm timelines, stronger interagency coordination, enforceable accountability measures, and protections against arbitrary permit revocation.
Occurrences
Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Gray, Mr. Ciscomani, Ms. Houlahan, and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
Today, Reps. Scott Peters ... formally introduced the Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act, a bipartisan bill to fix our federal permitting system and ensure all energy projects are built efficiently, fairly, and on-time. The CERTAIN Act would streamline the federal permitting process from when an application is submitted to when agencies reach a final decision. It would provide enforceable accountability measures, stronger coordination between agencies, and ensure agencies are fully staffed. Critically, the bill would protect lawfully issued permits from arbitrary revocation or political interference.
We formally introduced the Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act, a bipartisan bill to fix our federal permitting system and ensure all energy projects are built efficiently, fairly, and on time.
Representative Scott Peters introduced the Building Integrated Grids With Inter-Regional Energy Supply (BIG WIRES) Act, legislation to update and streamline the country’s patchwork energy transmission system.
"Californians pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country, and part of the reason is that we can't get transmission projects through the litigation process and built on time," said Rep. Peters. "Our grid is too old and too slow to meet our skyrocketing energy demand. We can't wait years for badly needed infrastructure to be built. The CLEAR Act would accelerate the review process for large energy infrastructure projects and establish clear rules for stalled transmission projects, giving developers and local stakeholders the certainty to plan along with relief for ratepayers from rising costs."
Action Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Evans of Colorado) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce Bill Number H.R. 10302 Bill Version Introduced in House (IH) Short Title Certainty in Litigation for Electric Asset Reliability (CLEAR) Act of 2026 Full Title To amend the Federal Power Act with respect to the coordination of Federal authorizations for transmission facilities, and for other purposes.
Action Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Evans of Colorado) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce Bill Number H.R. 10302 Bill Version Introduced in House (IH) Short Title Certainty in Litigation for Electric Asset Reliability (CLEAR) Act of 2026 Full Title To amend the Federal Power Act with respect to the coordination of Federal authorizations for transmission facilities, and for other purposes.
“The bipartisan Senate package released today is a great step toward fixing our broken permitting system. We can't meet our surging energy demand, lower greenhouse gas emissions, or outcompete countries like China if it takes decades to build what we need. A permitting reform agreement with this much support from Republicans and Democrats should pass this Congress.
Evidence
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Last Action Date Listed: April 15, 2026. Action: Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Gray, Mr. Ciscomani, Ms. Houlahan, and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker.
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Congressional Record Index (2026) entry for CREATE EXPEDITED REVIEWS TO TRANSFORM AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE NOW (CERTAIN) ACT; Congressional Bills: H.R. 8308.
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Congressional Record Index entry for the CREATE EXPEDITED REVIEWS TO TRANSFORM AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE NOW (CERTAIN) ACT, congressional bill H.R. 8308.
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Mr. Peters introduced H.R. 8308 and it was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce, for consideration of provisions within committee jurisdiction.
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Mr. Peters introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker.
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Congressional Record Index entry for CREATE EXPEDITED REVIEWS TO TRANSFORM AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE NOW (CERTAIN) ACT; Congressional Bills: H.R. 8308.
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Congressional Bills: H.R. 8308.
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GovInfo’s bills collection states that it is updated daily and contains published versions of bills from the 103rd Congress forward.
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Current archive page shows the latest listed 2026 press releases are March 6 and March 5, and the only CERTAIN Act item on page 1 is dated February 2, 2026; no late-May or June permitting update appears in the archive snapshot reviewed.
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Peters said that on December 19, 2025, he and bipartisan House members released a discussion draft for the Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act to transform the federal permitting process; the post says the bill would add clear timelines, notice requirements, accountability, interagency coordination, and protections against arbitrary permit revocation.
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The official bill record says Mr. Peters introduced H.R. 8308 and the measure was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and additionally to Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce.
Assessments
Peters materially advanced the promise by releasing a bipartisan discussion draft and then introducing H.R. 8308, the CERTAIN Act, with provisions closely matching the claimed reforms: firm permitting timelines, interagency coordination, accountability mechanisms, and protections against arbitrary permit revocation. But the official record provided shows only introduction and committee referral in April 2026, with no committee approval, passage, enactment, or implemented federal permitting changes yet. Because he is still in office and the available evidence shows a serious ongoing legislative effort rather than a completed or definitively failed outcome, the promise is best scored as unresolved rather than delivered, partial, or never.
Scott Peters materially advanced a bill that matches the promise closely: H.R. 8308, the CERTAIN Act, which seeks faster permitting, stronger interagency coordination, accountability, and limits on arbitrary revocation. But the evidence shows only introduction and committee referral, with no passage, enactment, or implemented federal permitting reform. That is a serious attempt, not delivery.
The available official evidence shows Peters took concrete action on this promise by introducing H.R. 8308, the CERTAIN Act, whose subject matter matches the pledge to streamline federal permitting through timelines, interagency coordination, accountability measures, and protections against arbitrary permit revocation. However, the record provided shows only introduction and referral to committee, with no committee approval, floor passage, enactment, or implemented policy outcome during the reviewed period. Because the promise is still pending rather than clearly failed or fulfilled, the best classification is unresolved. Effort badge is warranted because he made a serious legislative attempt within his federal office role.
Peters introduced H.R. 8308, the CERTAIN Act, in the 119th Congress, and its stated permitting reforms closely match the promise: firm review timelines, interagency coordination, accountability mechanisms, and limits on arbitrary permit revocation. However, the available official record shows only introduction and committee referral, with no committee passage, floor passage, enactment, or implemented federal permitting reform. Because Peters remains in federal office and the bill is pending rather than finally defeated, the promise is not delivered but remains unresolved; the introduction qualifies as a serious legislative effort.