Senate Democrats Advance BAAJA, Join Mike Lee and Trump’s Push for “Pipelines, Mines, Power Plants, and Data Centers” on Public Lands
An Our Public Lands and Waters article reports that on November 9, 2026 the Senate voted 73-25, with 21 Democrats joining Republicans, to advance BAAJA, a bipartisan permitting bill co-sponsored by Martin Heinrich, Sheldon Whitehouse, Shelley Moore Capito, and Mike Lee that would rewrite the Clean Water Act, NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act to speed permitting. Author Bram calls the bill a Trojan horse that would open public lands to pipelines, mines, power plants, and data centers while sidestepping Tribal consultation, citing opposition from Al Gore, Bill McKibben, and 48 organizations, and urges readers to call the Capitol Switchboard to vote it down.
