Shannon Van Hoesen, shannon.vanhoesen@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC - In a victory for frontline communities, Senator Joe Manchin’s permitting bill was blocked from being added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This is the third time Congress has failed to attach the proposal to must-pass legislation.
The permitting legislation would have rubber stamped the dangerous, fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline, and rolled back federal permitting requirements under bedrock environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), forcing dirty infrastructure projects on vulnerable, environmental justice communities and jeopardizing the clean air and water of many across the country.
Sen. Manchin’s legislation was also defeated in September when it was removed from a government funding bill. Hundreds of frontline activists from Appalachia and across the country have come together in Washington, DC to call on Congress to reject any attempts to weaken critical environmental safeguards. In early December, environmental justice leaders and their allies came back to the Capitol, including environmental activist Jane Fonda, to garner congressional support on stopping this legislation.
In response, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Mahyar Sorour released the following statement:
“Senator Manchin and the fossil fuel industry are learning that no matter how persistent they may be, advocates will not back down from this critically important fight against any proposed legislation that would rubber-stamp the disastrous Mountain Valley Pipeline and other fossil fuel proposals. We must ensure we protect the public health of our communities and ensure access to clean water and air for all. Communities must have a say in the dirty infrastructure projects proposed on their doorsteps and we will continue to fight back against any attempts to weaken our bedrock environmental laws.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.