For Immediate Release:
August 3, 2010
Contact: Maggie Kao, 202-675-2384
Senate Fails to Pass BP Disaster Response in the Wake of the Worst Oil Spill in History
Washington, DC – In response to an announcement by Majority Leader Harry Reid that the Senate will not vote on the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act until they return from recess in September, the Sierra Club issues the following statement.
Statement of Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director
“It should be unthinkable that in the wake of the
worst oil disaster in history, the Senate has not yet passed a bill that would
hold BP accountable for the damage they have wreaked on Gulf communities and
businesses. And yet, here we are.
Today, corporate polluters once again relied on a minority of Senators to block
action on the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act to create
badly needed jobs, hold polluters fully responsible for their disasters, and
reduce our nation's reliance on oil.
The House has acted to respond to the BP disaster and the Senate should do the
same.
The
Sierra Club will do everything in its power in the next two months to ensure
that our environmental champions will pass legislation to create more jobs,
less pollution, and greater security.
And we will hold accountable those who have blocked efforts to reduce
pollution and create clean energy jobs.
We remain deeply concerned about efforts by polluters to weaken the Clean Air
Act or the EPA's ability to reduce air pollution and protect public health, and
we will continue to defend the Clean Air Act to ensure the health and
well-being of America’s families and communities.”
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