WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 11, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, named the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act as an NFIB Key Vote for the 119^th Congress. NFIB sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives in support of the legislation which, if enacted, will realign the Clean Water Act (CWA) to its original intent and give small business owners the certainty they need to develop, operate, and grow their businesses.

“In a recent NFIB member ballot, 84% of NFIB members believe that the EPA should not have the authority to regulate creeks, ponds, streams, ditches, and temporary or local bodies of water,” said Adam Temple, NFIB Senior Vice President for Advocacy. “Over the last several decades small business owners have dealt with constant changes to the CWA which has prevented them from being able to plan for the future. The PERMIT Act realigns the CWA to its original intent, which is to preserve water quality while setting clear rules for businesses so that they can plan appropriately.

“This bill codifies the longstanding Waters of the United States (WOTUS) exclusions from federal jurisdiction, such as water treatment systems, ephemeral streams, and prior converted cropland. By clarifying what falls outside of the scope of the CWA, this bill removes the ambiguity that has wreaked havoc on permitting decisions for decades.”

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“NFIB urges Congress to move swiftly to enact H.R. 3898, the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act. This bill will restore certainty to the permitting process and allow small businesses to grow without being held back by unclear or excessive government regulation. A vote in favor of H.R. 3898 will be considered an NFIB Key Vote for the 119th Congress.”

Read the full letter to the U.S. House of Representatives here.

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For over 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.