Oppose Permitting Reform: Protect Rural Communities from Big Ag
November 10, 2026
WASHINGTON — Dozens of environmental, farmer and community groups today sent a letter urging Congressional leaders to oppose anti-environmental permitting legislation. The Senate will vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) this afternoon.
The groups’ letter opposes this dangerous legislation which would exacerbate water pollution from industrial agriculture, eviscerate effective oversight of industrial agriculture polluters, and fast-track industry expansion. Agriculture is the nation’s leading polluter of rivers and lakes; groups warn that the legislation would worsen already lenient pollution controls by eliminating core Clean Water Act safeguards, narrowing environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, and tying regulators’ hands.
The letter is led by Food & Water Watch, Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment, Center for Food Safety, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, National Family Farm Coalition, and Waterkeeper Alliance Inc.