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 orders extending operation of generation facilities for up to five years in limited circumstances and to allocate costs for transmission projects needed when plants retire. Sponsors said the tool is meant to address premature retirements and preserve reliability while long-term solutions are built; opponents said it risks forcing consumers to pay to keep uneconomical plants online. Committee vote: adopted, 25 ayes, 21 noes.

- State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act (H.R. 3628) and State Energy Accountability Act (H.R. 3157): Two separate measures that would affect state planning and transparency. Sponsors said they increase state-level consideration of long-term resource adequacy and rate impacts; opponents argued the bills could lock in fossil-based definitions of reliability. Committee votes: H.R. 3628 adopted, 28 ayes, 23 noes; H.R. 3157 adopted, 27 ayes, 20 noes.

- Electric Supply Chain Act (H.R. 3638): Directs the Department of Energy to conduct ongoing assessments of supply-chain risks for grid components. Supporters pointed to transformer and turbine bottlenecks; some members raised concerns about DOE staffing to carry new responsibilities. Committee vote: adopted, 33 ayes, 16 noes.

- Hydropower licensing transparency (amended substitute for H.R. 3657): A bipartisan amendment and substitute were adopted to require annual reporting from FERC on hydropower licensing status; the substitute passed by voice and final committee vote was unanimous. Committee vote (final): adopted, 47 ayes, 0 noes.

- Refiner Act (H.R. 3109): Calls for review and recommendations to expand U.S. refining capacity. Sponsors said it would identify barriers and opportunities to increase domestic refining; opponents questioned whether the bill was necessary. Committee vote: adopted, 28 ayes, 20 noes.

- Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act (committee print of H.R. 3062): Creates a certificate process for cross-border pipelines and transmission and requires congressional approval to reverse a cross-border project. Sponsors said it provides permitting certainty for projects with Canada and Mexico; critics warned it could become a "pay-to-play" vehicle. Committee vote: adopted, 28 ayes, 23 noes.

- Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act (H.R. 1949): Would remove DOE's public-interest review for exports to non-FTA countries (i.e., change DOE's approval role for some LNG exports). Sponsors argued it prevents politicization of export approvals; opponents said it would eliminate a public-interest safeguard and risk sending U.S. LNG to adversaries. Committee vote: adopted, 26 ayes, 23 noes.

- Improving interagency coordination for pipeline reviews (H.R. 3668): Streamlines federal review for interstate gas pipelines, clarifies FERC as the lead NEPA authority for pipeline projects, and alters use of Section 401 water-quality reviews. Sponsors said it ends single-state vetoes that can block multistate projects; critics warned it diminishes states' Clean Water Act authority. Committee vote: adopted, 27 ayes, 23 noes.

Debate highlights and recurring themes

- Reliability and demand growth: Several members cited NERC and grid operators warning of large retirements of dispatchable generation and fast-growing demand, including new data-center and AI-related load. Supporters framed bills as tools to preserve reliability while long-term solutions (transmission, new generation, storage) come online.

- Role of FERC and interagency coordination: Many provisions increase FERC's ability to coordinate reviews or to be the lead federal agency for NEPA reviews of linear infrastructure. Democrats repeatedly urged preservation of independent agency authority and objected to any steps that could subject FERC-like decisions to White House political review.

- State versus federal authority and Clean Water Act Section 401: Multiple measures would change how state water-quality reviews are used in multistate pipeline permitting. Opponents said the bills could allow states to be circumvented; sponsors said the change prevents a single state from vetoing projects that serve regional or national needs.

- Exports and the public interest: The LNG export repeal measure drew sustained Democratic opposition on grounds it removes DOE's statutory public-interest review and could allow exports to destinations of concern without adequate safeguards. Supporters argued the prior DOE pause had politicized exports and that market stability requires clearer export policy.

- Workforce and implementation capacity: Members from both parties asked whether agencies (notably FERC and DOE) have the staff and systems to implement new oversight or reporting duties; at least one amendment sought to delay implementation until the secretary certified sufficient DOE staffing.

Votes at a glance (selected roll-call results)

- Reliable Power Act (H.R. 3616): adopted, 28 ayes — 23 noes (clerk report: "Mister Latta, on that vote, there were 28 ayes and 23 nos.") - Grid Power Act (H.R. 1047): adopted, 28 ayes — 23 noes - Power Plant Reliability Act (H.R. 3632): adopted, 25 ayes — 21 noes - State Energy Accountability Act (H.R. 3157): adopted, 27 ayes — 20 noes - State Planning for Reliability & Affordability (H.R. 3628): adopted, 28 ayes — 23 noes - Electric Supply Chain Act (H.R. 3638): adopted, 33 ayes — 16 noes - Hydropower licensing transparency (H.R. 3657, amended substitute): adopted, 47 ayes — 0 noes - Refiner Act (H.R. 3109): adopted, 28 ayes — 20 noes - Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure (H.R. 3062, committee print): adopted, 28 ayes — 23 noes - Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act (H.R. 1949): adopted, 26 ayes — 23 noes - Improving interagency coordination for pipeline reviews (H.R. 3668): adopted, 27 ayes — 23 noes

What's next

Bills reported out of committee will go to the House floor only if the House leadership schedules them. Several GOP members said the measures are necessary to meet projected electricity demand and to speed construction of energy infrastructure; Democrats said they will press the Senate and the public for changes to protect water quality, agency independence and the public-interest review for exports. Committee debate also signaled likely continued fights over energy tax credit rollbacks, agency staffing, and the balance between speed and environmental review.

Ending note

Committee Republicans described the package as a set of tools to preserve reliability and accelerate new power online; Democrats called for more bipartisan fixes on transmission and sought safeguards for consumers, public health and agency independence. The votes were largely party-line, with a few cross-party votes on specific measures.