Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday, Congressional Republicans announced the establishment of the bicameral Roosevelt Conservation Caucus. Senators Lindsey Graham (lifetime LCV score of 12%) and Cory Gardner (10%) will lead the caucus in the Senate, with Representatives Elise Stefanik (33%) and Brian Mast (26%) leading in the House. According to its founders, the caucus will not focus on climate change, instead looking at public lands, wildlife, and the expansion and promotion of fossil fuels.
The Trump Administration -- whose political appointees were supported by Gardner and Graham -- is responsible for the largest rollback of protected lands in American history, has repeatedly rushed fossil fuel development permits on public lands, and is proposing the largest increase in offshore drilling ever while simultaneously seeking to undermine and threaten the Endangered Species Act.
In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:
“The American people won’t be fooled by yet another caucus that offers nothing but a thin green line on the resume for Washington Republicans who have attacked public lands, clean air, and clean water over and over again. Time will tell what this caucus will actually do, but the voting records of these members coupled with their announcement gives us little confidence that they will do anything other than push the fossil fuel industry’s dangerous agenda. Rather than pontificate and continue to prop up fossil fuels, Congressional Republicans should listen to their constituents and work to create and enact climate and conservation solutions that will protect our communities and our public lands.”
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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.