House Advances SPEED Act to Fast-Track AI Infrastructure Permits Despite Republican Divisions

House advances SPEED Act in narrow 215-209 vote to fast-track AI infrastructure permits for tech giants like OpenAI and Meta, while facing Republican infighting over presidential powers and environmental review reforms that slash lawsuit challenge periods from six years to just 150 days.

• The House advances the SPEED Act with a 215-209 procedural vote, aimed at streamlining federal permits for AI infrastructure and semiconductor projects backed by OpenAI, Meta, and Microsoft
• The bill reforms the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act by tightening review timelines and reducing the lawsuit challenge period from six years to 150 days to prevent project delays
• Internal Republican divisions emerge as the Freedom Caucus threatens to block the bill over an amendment limiting presidential power to revoke energy project permits, while Democrats seek additional clean energy protections