Rudhdi Karnik, rudhdi.karnik@sierraclub.org, 202-495-3055
Washington D.C.-- Yesterday, the U.S. Congress reached an agreement on an omnibus deal to fund the government through the end of September. Among the many ways it puts American families and their well-being at risk, the deal slashes funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, prioritizes the breaking up of communities by pouring more funding into the militarization of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, invests in risky, polluting biomass fuels while ignoring scientific mandates, and makes it easier to funnel funds into the border wall in 2018 while also setting up a major fight over divisive anti-immigration policies.
In response, Sierra Club’s Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“The worst parts of Trump’s proposals have been fended off thanks to massive public pressure on Congress that culminated in hundreds of thousands marching in DC and across the country on Saturday. However, there are still many troubling provisions in this deal that prioritize corporate polluters and their profits over clean air, clean water, public lands, and the health and safety of communities across the nation. Everyone should be disappointed that Congressional Republicans have again failed to serve the people they were elected to represent. This deal pumps money into efforts to deport and divide families and communities while cutting Environmental Protection Agency funding that helps keep people healthy.
“However, we know what is coming. Republicans are gearing up for FY2018 to make deep cuts to critical programs and to advance anti-environmental riders. We intend to continue fighting to ensure every community across the country benefits, not just corporate polluters.”