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| 9 Dec 2025 | |
| Written by J.B. Wogan | |
| United States of America | |
| Press Releases and Statements |
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 9, 2025 – On November 20, 2025, the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved H.R. 4503, the ePermit Act, introduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA). The legislation modernizes federal environmental review and permitting processes by establishing common data standards and digital systems across agencies. On behalf of the Data Foundation, President and CEO Nick Hart issued the following statement:
"The Data Foundation and our Data Coalition initiative support the ePermit Act, which builds on proven data modernization principles to address major infrastructure development challenges. Just as the Financial Data Transparency Act is transforming financial regulatory reporting through common data standards and interoperability requirements, the ePermit Act applies these same principles to environmental permitting processes.
This bipartisan legislation demonstrates that better data infrastructure serves everyone—reducing compliance burdens on project sponsors, improving coordination across agencies, and enhancing public transparency and engagement. By requiring machine-readable formats, common identifiers, and unified digital portals, the bill addresses systemic inefficiencies without compromising environmental protections. We commend Representatives Johnson and Peters for their leadership and urge the full House to advance this important modernization effort."
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About the Data Foundation
The Data Foundation is a Washington, DC-based, non-profit, non-partisan organization. It is a trusted authority on the use of open, accessible data to fuel a more efficient, effective, and accountable government; spark innovation; and provide insights to the country's most pressing challenges. It conducts research, facilitates collaborative thought leadership, and promotes advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data and evidence. The Data Foundation is recognized by Candid Guidestar with the Platinum Seal of Transparency and by Charity Navigator as a 4-Star non-profit. To learn more, visit www.datafoundation.org. (LEI: 254900I43CTC59RFW495)
