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The views expressed here are entirely my own and do not represent any other group or organization.

Featured Post

BAAJA: An Open Letter to My Senators

Dear Senators Fetterman and McCormick,

I am writing you with regard to the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026.  With the perspective of 30 years of experience in historic preservation and NEPA through a state transportation agency, I believe this bill is deeply flawed. Not only does it remove many of the environmental and historical protections that have been in place for 6 decades, but fails to deliver on its main purpose, delivering faster energy projects. I am requesting that you do not support this legislation.

My particular expertise is in Section 106 and will focus my comments there. From the perspective of Section 106, this guts almost all of the protections that Section 106 offered to historic properties. This part of the bill (Title III) seems particularly gratuitous, insofar as Section 106 has not be an impediment to project delivery, although it is often blamed (incorrectly) for slowing them down. In my 30 years of experience, I have never seen a major transportation project delayed due to a Section 106 issue. Not once.

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