Episode 917: Chairman Bruce Westerman on the SPEED Act

Newt's World

Gingrich 360

News, Politics

4.7 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 4 December 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

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Summary

Newt talks with Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-4th), Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, about the importance of the bipartisan legislation known as the SPEED Act, “Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act.” The SPEED Act aims to reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to streamline permitting processes and expedite economic development. Westerman highlights the inefficiencies of the current NEPA process, which can delay projects for years, contributing to increased costs and hindering the U.S.'s ability to compete globally. Their discussion emphasizes the need for reform to facilitate infrastructure development, energy projects, and national security initiatives, while also addressing environmental concerns. The SPEED Act proposes a more streamlined permitting process, giving states a better role and reducing bureaucratic obstacles. Westerman has been working on this policy for eight years, aiming for bipartisan support to pass the legislation. Their conversation underscores the potential economic and environmental benefits of the proposed reforms, advocating for a balance between development and environmental protection.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
0:08.7	On this episode of New World, Congressman Bruce Westerman represents Arkansas's fourth congressional district in the U.S. House representatives,
0:18.1	where he serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and as chairman
0:22.0	of the Committee on Natural Resources. Prior to serving in Congress, Chairman Westerman worked
0:27.8	for 22 years at Mid-South Engineering in Hot Springs. He served as a board member for the
0:34.2	Fountain League School of the Street and was later elected to two terms in the Arkansas General Assembly, where he was the state's first Republican House Majority Leader since Reconstruction.
0:45.3	He's joining today to discuss bipartisan legislation, known as the Speed Act, which stands for standardizing permitting and expediting economic
0:56.2	development act.
1:08.9	Bruce, welcome, and thank you for joining me on Newt's World.
1:13.4	Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
1:14.9	It's great to be on Newt's World, and I'm a fan of your podcast, and I found out about it through
1:19.9	my quest to do permitting reform.
1:22.3	I had read a book by a guy named Philip Howard talking about how we've got to save America's can do. And I was
1:29.2	curious if he had done any podcast. And I found that you had him on a podcast. So appreciate what you
1:35.3	do and the way you highlight important issues and get the word out. And obviously all the service
1:40.5	that you've given to our country and there with your wife in Switzerland now.
1:45.8	You mentioned Howard. He's really a smart guy. I'm delighted that you've connected with him.
1:52.0	Well, I've not connected with him. I've just read his book, and I feel like I've connected with him
1:56.1	and listen to him on your podcast. I'm sure he'd be delighted to come and visit because he is a genuine passion
2:02.2	for trying to get us out of the bureaucracy and back to being effective. Now, you've intrigued me
2:08.5	because with all of the talking we have gone on right now about affordability, it really hit me
2:14.3	that a lot of the affordability problems come directly out of the way in which
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