In addition to raising the debt ceiling and committing to a reduction in spending, the agreement between Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy covered a wide range of issues, from the size of the IRS workforce, to unspent Covid-19 money, to the president's student loan cancellation. While it is common knowledge that both sides of the aisle disapproved in part of the outcome of the negotiations, progressives were recently enraged to discover another point of the agreement.
As it turns out, West Virginia's Congressional delegation, led by Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), succeeded in including the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which will transport natural gas between Virginia and West Virginia.
While the $1 billion construction is 94% complete, it has been mired in an extensive permitting process for years. The project is expected to create 2,500 construction jobs while bringing in $40 million in new tax revenue for West Virginia and $10 million for Virginia.
Once completed, the pipeline is expected to transport 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
"After working with Chairman McCarthy and reiterating what completing the Mountain Valley Pipeline would mean for American jobs and domestic energy production, I am thrilled it is included in the debt ceiling package that avoids default." Moore Capito said in a press release.
"Despite delay after delay, we continued to fight to get this critical natural gas pipeline up and running, and its inclusion in this deal is a significant victory for the future of West Virginia," she added.
The bill also establishes a time limit of two years for the most rigorous type of environmental review, when the average time for this type of check is four and a half years. In addition, it would limit less strict inspections to one year and with page limits on reports.
Despite delay after delay, we continued to fight for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and its inclusion in this deal is a significant victory for the future of West Virginia. pic.twitter.com/ycrVaIybfh
— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) May 31, 2023
"Last summer I introduced a bill to complete the Mountain Valley pipeline... I am pleased that Chairman McCarthy and his leadership team see the enormous value of completing the MVP to increase domestic energy production and reduce costs throughout the United States and especially in West Virginia," Joe Manchin said.
"I am proud to have fought for this critical project and to have garnered the bipartisan support necessary to get it across the finish line," he added.
Democrats' anger over the gas pipeline
Following complaints from progressive Democrats, they are expected to attempt to remove this item as they deal with the legislation. One of the most bewildered was Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), who has already introduced an amendment to "remove the pipeline" from the agreement.
"It's extremely frustrating because there could have been other vehicles to do it. I mean, it doesn't have to go into the debt ceiling bill. ... [The White House doesn't] even bother to pick up the phone and call me. Have I made you mad? No, I am the one they call to try to get cabinet secretaries confirmed. 'Go talk to your colleagues. They're not yet going to vote for Julie Su'. ... They call me and ask to help out. So like, what did I do wrong?" he confessed to POLITICO.
Congressmen Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, Abigail Spanberger, Bobby Scott and Jennifer Wexton announced they will join Kaine's request in the Lower House.
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), one of the leading progressive voices in Congress, specifically criticized the short time allowed for environmental reviews. "The reforms we really need are fully staffed permitting offices, transmission project reforms, and a strong early commitment that avoids conflicts in the future; this bill that chunks NEPA will do none of that," he commented.
