A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The North American Energy Act aims to create a more uniform and modern process for authorizing energy infrastructure at international borders. It focuses on the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of facilities for oil, natural gas, and electricity. Under this bill, specific agencies must issue certificates of crossing unless the project is found to not be in the public interest. The legislation also amends existing laws regarding natural gas and electric energy transmission to Canada and Mexico. Additionally, it eliminates the requirement for certain Presidential permits for these facilities.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Significantly reduces regulatory hurdles and timelines for energy infrastructure businesses.
- Scored +4
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
Streamlines the movement of energy products across international borders.
- Scored +3
Is this likely to grow the economy?
Streamlining energy imports and exports can facilitate cross-border economic activity.
The opposite· 3 of 6
- Scored -3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The expedited timelines and mandatory certificate issuance may reduce the depth of environmental reviews.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?
The bill facilitates the movement of oil and natural gas rather than reducing production.
- Scored -2
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
Fast-tracked energy infrastructure can negatively impact indigenous lands and environmental justice.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Streamlined Natural Gas Approvals: The bill amends the Natural Gas Act to require the Commission to grant applications for natural gas importation or exportation to Canada or Mexico within 30 days of receiving a complete application (Section 2(c)).
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Efficient Electric Energy Transmission: The legislation repeals the requirement to secure certain orders under the Federal Power Act to facilitate electric energy transmission to Canada and Mexico (Section 2(d)(1)).
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Simplified Permitting for Existing Infrastructure: No new certificate of crossing or permit will be required for the modification or maintenance of facilities that are already operating or have already been permitted (Section 2(f)).
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Elimination of Certain Permit Requirements: The bill specifies that no Presidential permit or similar permit will be required for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of oil, natural gas, or electric transmission facilities at the border (Section 2(e)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential for Unwanted Infrastructure: The relevant official or agency is required to issue a certificate of crossing unless they find the project is not in the public interest of the United States (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Strict Timelines for Review: The bill mandates specific, short deadlines for agency actions, such as the 30-day window for natural gas applications (Section 2(c)), which may impact the depth of the review process.
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Legal Constraints on Review: Any entity aggrieved by a final agency action must file a petition for review within 60 days of the action being taken (Section 2(h)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Streamlining energy imports and exports can facilitate cross-border economic activity. Is this likely to create jobs? — Streamlining energy infrastructure projects may facilitate job creation in the energy sector. Is this likely to slow the rise in prices? — Efficient energy transmission may contribute to long-term price stability by securing supply.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Streamlines the movement of energy products across international borders. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — Facilitates energy trade and cooperation with Canada and Mexico.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Is this likely to lower the price at the pump? — Improving the efficiency of natural gas import/export processes could help stabilize prices. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The expedited timelines and mandatory certificate issuance may reduce the depth of environmental reviews. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — The bill facilitates the movement of oil and natural gas rather than reducing production. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — By streamlining fossil fuel infrastructure, the bill may hinder the transition to lower-carbon energy sources.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Significantly reduces regulatory hurdles and timelines for energy infrastructure businesses. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Fast-tracked energy infrastructure can negatively impact indigenous lands and environmental justice.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — Streamlining border crossings facilitates easier interstate and international commerce. Does this give the federal government more power? — Centralizes authorization processes within specific federal agencies. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Mandatory timelines and strict judicial review windows may limit procedural due process for aggrieved parties. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill focuses on federalized certification processes for border facilities.
- 4/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Introduced in Senate
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania