Ahead of Congress’ vote on the bipartisan deal to avert a default, Evergreen Action Executive Director Lena Moffitt released the following statement:
“We should never have been in this mess in the first place. The Republicans’ willingness to hold the global economy hostage to benefit their fossil fuel patrons is a sign of a broken system and not something a healthy democracy would reward.
“It is heartening that the attempts by the House GOP to gut the IRA’s clean energy investments have been unsuccessful. These investments are crucial to meeting our climate and environmental justice commitments, and are already delivering huge economic benefits across the country—particularly in the very districts of the Republicans now trying to repeal them. Americans will not forget that House Republicans started this debt ceiling debate by voting to kill thousands of clean energy jobs across the country. Americans of all political backgrounds will benefit from these programs and we are glad to see those cuts to the IRA’s climate and environmental justice provisions excluded from the deal.
“However, the inclusion of the approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is an egregious giveaway to the fossil fuel industry that has no place in this bill. This project would be devastating to impacted Appalachian communities and would perpetuate dependence on increasingly costly fossil fuels. That its backers must force approval through legislation shows just how desperate the fossil fuel industry has become. We strongly support Senator Kaine’s amendment to remove this damaging amendment that has nothing to do with America’s debt ceiling or budget. Furthermore, the concerning changes made to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) would limit the input of the Black, Brown, and indigenous leaders that rely on its protections for the safety and health of their communities.
“It is now more important than ever that we ensure the equitable and rapid implementation of the IRA clean energy investments. President Biden and Leader Schumer must continue to stand up to Republican attacks on our clean energy future.”
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