WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, September 23, the House of Representatives passed the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment (COMPACT) Act (H.R.8247). The package’s nine provisions aim to reduce veteran suicide and improve overall mental health and wellbeing for veterans. Included is the Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors (AVRO) Act, which would begin the process of removing barriers that prevent veterans from accessing public lands to heal from service-related trauma. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
OLYMPIA - With thousands of low-income families at risk of having their electricity shut off and being driven into debt by utility bills, a coalition of consumer, environmental and social justice advocates is pushing for systemic reform of utility bill collection practices statewide.
Little Rock, AR -- Last week, the Sierra Club filed a request to vacate the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) wastewater discharge permit for the Flint Creek coal-burning plant, owned and operated by Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). The filing alleges that the state failed to consider relevant factors meant to protect people and the environment from toxic water pollution as required by the Clean Water Act.
Portsmouth, VA - Last night, the Portsmouth City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution that strongly supports offshore wind development off Virginia’s coast. The city now joins Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News and Hampton, all expressing support for establishing Hampton Roads as a hub for the frontier clean energy industry.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Sierra Club announced the launch of its Victory Corps program for the 2020 election. The Sierra Club’s Victory Corps program is a nationwide coordinated electoral effort that embeds staff on congressional and senatorial campaigns around the country.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the United States surpassed 200,000 known deaths from COVID-19, with thousands more Americans contracting the deadly virus each day. Yet, as millions struggle to protect their health, find work, and pay their bills, Senate Republicans have continued to reject passing a coronavirus relief bill for more than four months. At the same time, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has continued to hold confirmation votes for dozens of Donald Trump’s judicial nominees and is now promising a floor vote for Trump’s yet-to-be-named nominee for the Supreme Court before the end of the year.
MDE removed a hurdle for the fracked gas Del-Mar pipeline by recommending that the Maryland Board of Public Works approve Eastern Shore Natural Gas’ wetlands construction plans
Austin, TX - Yesterday, the Sierra Club filed a new report with legal comments advocating that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognize that Southwestern Electric Power Company’s (SWEPCO) Pirkey Coal Plant near Longview is worsening the region’s existing Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and should expand the current Martin Lake SO2 nonattainment area to include Pirkey, a significant contributor of pollution to the Longview area.
Nationwide — The tenth annual National Drive Electric Week, a coast-to-coast celebration of electric vehicles (EVs), will be held September 26–October 4 and include more than 100 online events for the first time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign highlights the environmental, health, and consumer benefits of clean plug-in vehicles and is hosted each year by Plug In America, Sierra Club and Electric Auto Association.
Today, Morgan Stanley announced a new commitment to reach net-zero financed emissions by 2050. Morgan Stanley is the first major American bank to set such a target, though the announcement did not include details on the bank’s plan to get there.