Sierra Club Statement on Omnibus

WASHINGTON D.C.-- Congressional leadership have introduced an omnibus spending bill for the remainder of FY2018.

In response, Sierra Club’s Legislative Director Melinda Pierce, released the following statement:

“Thanks to the Democratic Party’s leadership in Congress, Donald Trump’s outrageous efforts to dramatically slash funding for the government agencies that protect our environment, public health, and public lands will not happen under this legislation. Democrats also successfully fought off nearly one hundred toxic policy riders which congressional Republicans were attempting to force through with this bill, included attacks to undermine the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other bedrock environmental protections.

“Under this bill, Democrats secured funding increase victories for key agencies including EPA and the Department of Interior, and also secured a fix that ensures efforts to fight wildfires will be sufficiently funded.

“Unfortunately, congressional Republicans still pursued a practice of using must-pass funding bills to advance controversial anti-environmental riders instead of having an open and inclusive debate on these issues in regular order. Ultimately, Republicans forced in policy riders on biomass carbon neutrality, and that undermine clean air protections from agricultural sources and incinerators in Alaska.

“Republicans’ cynically seized this process to include nearly two billion dollars toward the construction of a dangerous and divisive border wall. This is a shameful addition that tears communities on the borderlands apart just to push a racist, hateful agenda that would never pass on its own.

“What is crystal clear is that the outrage from the public is breaking through to Congress. Countless Sierra Club members and supporters weighed in with their members of Congress to say that this bill should not cut investments in critical programs that protect our air, water, health and public lands, and that it should not contain poison pill riders. While the omnibus is far from perfect, it is unmistakable that the public’s clear message made all the difference.”

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