President Biden and House Democrats have unveiled the framework for the Build Back Better Act, including the biggest investments in climate initiatives in American history. The package includes $27 billion to restore forests, fight wildfires, and sequester carbon through nationwide tree-planting and critical Old-Growth protection programs, among other major green space investments.
President Biden’s Build Back Better Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in the effort to tackle the climate crisis. One of the important but lesser known aspects of the package put together by House Democrats is the nearly $3.5 billion in funding to support urban and community forestry and green space development across the country, which are essential efforts for protecting our most vulnerable communities from the worst consequences of the climate crisis.
Today, the Biden administration announced that it will rescind a Trump-era attack on the Tongass National Forest that would have put Alaska’s last vestiges of old-growth forest at risk of destructive logging and road-building.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Trump administration today published a final rule containing rollbacks undercutting the role of science, transparency, and broad public input for decisions involving projects proposed on national forest land. The new rule will pave the way to increased logging, road, and pipeline construction.
OAKLAND-- Two new major fires in California have led to additional deaths, property loss and evacuation orders. The fast growing fires are the latest in what was already a record fire season for the state.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite the ongoing and overwhelming COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. Forest Service has not slowed its push to allow a new wave of logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Today the agency announced a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) advancing its proposal to eliminate the Roadless Rule in the Tongass, opening vast swaths of irreplaceable old-growth temperate rainforest to clearcut logging.
OAKLAND -- Donald Trump today visited California for a briefing on wildfires burning across the Pacific Northwest. During his remarks, Trump once again promoted his denial of climate science.
WASHINGTON― Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced legislation yesterday that would fast-track unsustainable logging, increase wildfire risk and jeopardize community safety. The measure stands in stark contrast to sensible, science-based legislation sponsored by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), which would help communities in fire-prone areas without backcountry logging.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act. The historic bill permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, guaranteeing $900 million annually for the improvement of our parks. It also provides $9.5 billion over five years to address the nearly $12 billion backlog of maintenance projects across national parks and public lands.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Westerman today introduced the Trillion Trees Act. The bill is one of three components of Republicans’ legislative attempts to address climate change. Trump has endorsed tree planting to fight climate change, despite repeatedly denying the current climate crisis.