Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – House Republicans are reportedly planning to force through their dangerous attacks on environmental protections by attaching them to future must-pass legislation, following the passage of the debt ceiling bill that included provisions weakening the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
An energy policy adviser to Speaker Kevin McCarthy described the House GOP’s plan to continue chipping away at the bedrock environmental law at a Federalist Society webinar, detailing proposals including expediting approval of oil and gas pipelines, limiting the public’s ability to challenge fossil fuel project approvals in court, and requiring more drilling on public lands, as well as exempting projects from NEPA altogether.
In response, Sierra Club Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy Director Mahyar Sorour released the following statement:
“Once again, Republicans are planning to try to hold our government and economy hostage in order to grease the wheels for their fossil fuel industry allies. Bedrock environmental protections like NEPA are critical to ensuring that the public has a voice in the approval process for new infrastructure projects, and that these projects don’t harm our communities, especially those that are most vulnerable. Plans to attach these provisions to must-pass legislation are as dangerous as they are shameless.”
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.