Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) has announced her support for the Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement (FREE) Act, aimed at modernizing the federal permitting process to benefit industries and communities in Minnesota’s 7th District.
“The FREE Act will help the many industries across Minnesota’s 7th District that have been weighed down by burdensome and time-consuming federal permits,” said Rep. Fischbach. “One of the largest barriers and expenses to expanding businesses, growing our supply of market-rate housing, and improving our rural infrastructure has been a lengthy and uncertain federal permitting process. This legislation will help spur investment in responsible rural projects.”
Streamlined Permitting with ‘Permit by Rule’
The FREE Act mandates all federal agencies to adopt a ‘permit by rule’ system. This system allows applicants to certify their compliance with pre-established criteria to obtain a permit, shifting the responsibility of proving compliance from the applicant to the government. Permits are automatically approved unless the agency identifies non-compliance within a specified period. This approach aims to reduce bureaucratic delays, minimize costs, and enhance predictability in the permitting process.
