Contact: Courtney Bourgoin, courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org
Albuquerque, NM -- Today, New Mexico Senators Heinrich and Udall introduced a three-bill package addressing environmental and community concerns related to the border wall. Included in the legislation aimed to protect wildlife, Native American sites and people, one bill would amend the Real ID Act to prohibit the federal government’s ability to waive environmental, health and safety laws to build more border wall.
In response, Camilla Feibelman, Director of Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter, released the following statement:
“Border communities deserve equal protection under the law, but for over a decade the federal government has taken advantage of an unchecked and outdated ability to waive bedrock environmental, health and safety laws to build a destructive and cruel border wall.
“The consequence of neglecting these protections has been tragic. The waivers have caused irreversible damage at Native American burial sites, deadly floods in Nogales, and studies show that walls have a negative impact on many wildlife species and fragment precious habitat. The Sierra Club applauds Senators Heinrich and Udall in this move to improve accountability, transparency and start restoring long-ignored justice for border communities.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.