House Energy and Commerce advances package of energy bills, including new FERC authorities and LNG export changes — roll-call results

The House Energy and Commerce Committee on June 18, 2025 advanced a package of bills intended to speed permitting and alter federal authorities over energy infrastructure, reliability and exports. Major measures approved by the committee included the Reliable Power Act, reforms to interconnection and pipeline permitting, a power-plant extension mechanism, and a repeal of the Department of Energy's public-interest review for some LNG exports. Lawmakers were sharply divided over whether the bills would protect grid reliability or weaken environmental and state oversight.

The package matters because it would change which federal agency has the leading role on generation, pipeline and export decisions, narrow or preserve state and agency review in different ways, and affect the pace and location of new energy projects that will be needed as electricity demand grows. Commitments to raise domestic energy supply and speed interconnection and cross-border projects collided with Democratic warnings that the bills would undermine environmental safeguards, cede power to industry, or lack necessary workforce and safety safeguards.

What the committee voted on and why it matters

- Reliable Power Act (committee print, H.R. 3616): The bill would require the Electric Reliability Organization (NERC) to perform annual long-term reliability assessments and, if it finds a generation inadequacy, require federal agencies to share draft rules with FERC so FERC can review potential reliability impacts. Supporters said the measure creates federal accountability for grid reliability; opponents warned it could be used to block or delay environmental regulations. Committee vote: adopted, 28 ayes, 23 noes.

- Grid Power Act (H.R. 1047): Proposes a process to allow grid operators to identify and fast-track projects they deem essential to reliability and to give FERC rules and oversight over that fast-track tool. Supporters said it's intended to reduce yearslong interconnection backlogs; critics said it could "pick winners and losers" and favored some projects over others. Committee vote: adopted, 28 ayes, 23 noes.

- Power Plant Reliability Act (H.R. 3632): Would amend the Federal Power Act (FPA —207) to allow FERC to issue…