Pam Mackey-Taylor, pamela.mackey.taylor@sierraclub.org
DES MOINES, IA – Early this morning, Representatives Randy Feenstra, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, and Zachary Nunn cast votes to advance Donald Trump’s massive budget reconciliation package that would endanger Iowa residents’ clean air and water, fast-track reckless oil and gas leasing and development, and raise costs on Iowa’s working families—all to give more tax cuts and handouts to billionaires and corporate polluters. With their votes, the bill passed 215-214 and now heads to the United States Senate.
As currently written, the bill would repeal most Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) clean energy tax credits and investments, expand and expedite approvals for on- and off-shore oil and gas drilling, kneecap important environmental protections and public health safeguards by killing pollution standards for cars and trucks and methane pollution. Final House language also includes “pay to pollute” provisions that would allow corporate polluters to pay a fee to skirt long-standing environmental laws and review processes, and have those permits automatically approved.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released an analysis just this week confirming that the bill would also end lifesaving health care coverage for more than 13 million Americans on Medicaid, raise the deficit by $2.3 trillion over a decade, and automatically trigger more than $500 billion in cuts to the Medicare program that senior citizens rely on.
Since its passage in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits have bolstered projects that reduce pollution, lower costs, and improve public health. In Iowa, IRA clean energy credits have already created 1,000 jobs, and have the potential to increase Iowa’s GDP by $2.5 billion and create 15,000 new jobs by 2030.
The budget reconciliation package would be particularly devastating for Iowa, where Iowans across that state have been able to take advantage of the programs that were slashed by the budget bill. In the 2023 tax year, Iowans received $58 million in IRA residential tax credits.
The tax credits from the IRA would extend into 2031. From now through 2031, Iowa businesses stand to lose access to tax credits and grants estimated at $8 billion in transportation sector projects, $614 million in industry sector projects, $14 billion in electricity sector projects, and $1 billion to support building sector projects. These tax credits would help expand the state’s economy and provide good-paying jobs.
In response, Sierra Club Iowa Chapter Director Pam Mackey-Taylor released the following statement:
“This bill is a disaster for working families here in Iowa. It endangers our clean air and water, will devastate our growing economy and the jobs that are powering it, and open up our nation’s precious lands and waters to even more reckless oil and gas drilling—all to reward Trump and his billionaire buddies and corporate polluter pals. Iowa’s representatives should be ashamed of voting to subject their constituents to the dangers of this misguided bill. The people of Iowa have a right to clean air, clean water, and a safe and healthy future for their children and grandchildren, and will remember this careless and cruel decision to hurt our communities and the families that call Iowa home.”
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.