Jonathon Berman, jonathan.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Tonight, the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act - a $3 trillion package which provides critical funding for, among others, state, local and Tribal governments, first responders, hospitals, and others affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the package fails to include any funding for the clean energy industry, which has lost nearly 600,000 jobs since the pandemic began, nor does it include critical guardrails that would prioritize assistance to workers and prevent the Trump Administration from directing additional funds into corporate polluters’ pockets.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“This bill includes critical relief for state, local and Tribal governments, hospitals, and first responders, and Mitch McConnell must end the political games and let the Senate pass it immediately. Now, House Leadership needs to get to work on a stimulus package that boosts what had been a booming clean energy industry while ensuring all federal aid goes to small businesses and those in need, not the long-troubled fossil fuel industry. We cannot afford to let the clean energy industry backslide as the Trump Administration covertly bails out corporate polluters.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.