Earthjustice Action Statement on House Natural Resources Committee Reconciliation Bill

MEDIA CONTACT:

Geoffrey Nolan, gnolan@earthjustice.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a markup of its budget reconciliation bill. The bill includes numerous provisions to expand oil, gas, coal, hardrock mining, and timber production on public lands, expedite permitting timelines, and shield many actions from judicial review. In anticipation of the mark-up, Earthjustice Action Vice President of Policy and Legislation Raúl García issued the following statement: 

“Republicans are trying to write blank checks to wealthy polluters at the taxpayer’s expense. This bill contains handout after handout to industries that profit from the harm they cause to our health, public lands and pocketbooks. To pay for it, Republicans are playing Monopoly with our public land and waters and selling off our resources to the lowest bidder.”  

“This bill clearly articulates the Republican agenda: if you have enough money, the law shouldn’t apply to you. The bill’s judicial review provisions are an assault not just on our natural resources, but on the rule of law itself. Their plan will increase pollution and planet-warming emissions and raise costs and health burdens for families already struggling to make ends meet. All of us will pay the price for the greed of the few.” 

Additional Information on the Bill’s Key Provisions: 

Proposals to Mandate Offshore Oil-and-Gas Drilling: More than 70 groups sent a sign-on letter to Members of Congress expressing concerns about proposals to mandate oil-and-gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, and other alarming provisions that would jeopardize the health of coastal communities and marine life. Here is the letter. 

Proposals To Open More Public Lands to Oil Drilling: The House Natural Resources Committee bill proposes massive changes to federal management and conservation of U.S. public lands and waters. One particularly egregious proposal would let corporations buy their way out of environmental review and oversight. Here are reaction statements from six public interest organizations. Here is a letter sent by groups opposing the provisions. 

Proposals Ramping Up Fossil Fuel Extraction in Alaska’s Arctic: A number of organizations voiced serious concerns about the bill’s threats to public lands in Alaska’s Arctic, which support traditional ways of life and offer critical wildlife habitat. Earthjustice’s statement is here. 

Proposals to Increase Coal Leasing: Numerous organizations sent a letter opposing the coal leasing provisions in the bill. Here is the quote sheet.  

Proposals to Increase Logging: Multiple organizations sent a letter to lawmakers opposing the bill’s forestry provisions.  Here is the quote sheet. 

Proposals to Weaken Protections for the Boundary Waters: Groups sent a letter opposing efforts in the bill to possibly open up the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area and its watershed to mining.     

Proposals to Weaken NEPA: Groups sent a letter opposing the changes to NEPA that would make it easier for polluting projects to avoid thorough environmental reviews.  

Proposals to Cut NOAA IRA Funds: Groups sent a letter opposing the rescission of critically needed funds for coastal resilience at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).