federal-policy

Billionaire Scott Bessent Faces Scrutiny at Treasury Confirmation Hearing

Bessent’s Agenda Becomes Clear: Wall Street, Crypto Profits Over Working Americans

Sierra Club Statement on Lee Zeldin’s Confirmation Hearing To Be EPA Administrator

Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is holding a hearing to consider the nomination of Lee Zeldin to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin is a former congressman and failed gubernatorial candidate from the state of New York, and has no apparent qualifications for the role.

Sierra Club Celebrates Securement of $4.4 Billion in New ERA Funding for Clean Energy, Rural Development

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the finalization of $4.37 billion in clean energy investments stemming from Empowering Rural America (New ERA) grants and loans at 10 large rural electric cooperatives. The New ERA program funds investments in renewable energy, storage, transmission, and large-scale emissions reductions.

Sierra Club Statement on Updated Biden Climate Commitment

Washington, DC – Today, the Biden Administration announced a new target for the United States to achieve a 61-66 percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution in 2035. The emissions target – known as the “nationally determined contribution” or “NDC,” is a formal submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In response to today’s announcement, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement: 

Sierra Club Statement on the Nomination of Doug Burgum as Interior Secretary

Yesterday, Donald Trump announced the nomination of Doug Burgum to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Burgum is the current governor of North Dakota.

Sierra Club Statement on the Nomination of Matt Gaetz as Attorney General

Washington, DC – This week, Donald Trump announced the nomination of Matt Gaetz to serve as United States Attorney General.

In response to the nomination, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement: 

Study Shows Project 2025’s Weakening of Clean Air Act, EPA Enforcement Would Cost Thousands of Lives and Billions of Dollars

Sierra Club co-authored research reveals the substantial health benefits at stake if a future administration weakens the Clean Air Act and limits regulatory authority of the EPA

Senate Introduces Legislation to Protect Family Outdoor Access Program

Senators Martin Heinrich and John Boozman today introduced the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act. The Every Kid Outdoors program, which began in 2015, grants all fourth graders free access to federal public lands, waters, and shores.

Sierra Club Celebrates Announcement of $7.3 Billion in New ERA Funding for Clean Energy, Rural Development

Washington, DC – Today, the White House and U.S.

Sierra Club Statement on Second Anniversary of the Landmark Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act Climate Law

Washington, DC – Two years ago today, the Inflation Reduction Act—the Biden-Harris administration’s historic investment in climate action, environmental justice, and clean energy—was signed into law.

In recognition of the anniversary, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement: 

New Study Shows Disastrous Effects Project 2025 Would Have on Climate and Public Health

Washington, DC – A new study released today by Energy Innovation, a non-partisan energy and climate policy organization, details the devastating effects the policies found within the 900-page conservative playbook would have on our environment

Sierra Club Celebrates Four-Year Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act

The bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act passed in 2020 to great effect over the four years since, supporting thousands of jobs, contributing an average of $1.9 billion to the economy, and funding 326 infrastructure projects across the U.S. and its territories.