This is a guest opinion column

Investments in building out and modernizing our infrastructure in Mobile, the entire Gulf Coast Region and nationwide along with developing our domestic energy capabilities are critical, to our economic future and the daily lives of all Alabamians. However, unless Congress works to reform the dysfunctional permitting process, many of these efforts could be stalled indefinitely.

As a member of the Mobile City Council, I have seen firsthand how onerous bureaucracy and government red tape in the permitting process can be. It creates lengthy, unnecessary delays in moving critical energy and infrastructure projects forward. For Mobile and the region, that means the new I-10 bridge, upgrades at the Port of Mobile, and road and tunnel improvements, could continue to suffer from a regulatory quagmire unless our elected officials in Washington step up to address this issue.

Just as Congress came together to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law, so too should lawmakers work to simplify and streamline the cumbersome, permitting process that prevents critical energy and infrastructure projects from moving forward in a timely manner.

With comprehensive permitting process reform, we can cut through the red tape and help bring infrastructure and energy projects to life sooner, creating new jobs, building stronger economies for cities like Mobile, and improving quality of life for all Alabamians. I encourage Alabama’s entire congressional delegation to work to make federal permitting reform the priority it should be in Washington.

Gina Gregory represents District 7 on the Mobile City Council. She was first elected to the council in 2005.