Medhini Kumar, medhini.kumar@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (SENR) will consider several important bills that impact public lands and waters and conservation efforts.
*** Senior Sierra Club policy staff are available to speak about individual bills listed below ***
Among these bills, the Sierra Club strongly supports The Grand Canyon Protection Act, S. 387, and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act, S. 4080, both of which were passed in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 23’. Concurrently, we support the bills that would protect and conserve special places in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and more: Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act (S. 1769), Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act (S. 2693), Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Resolution Act (S. 2980), African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Act (S. 3667), Land Between the Lakes (LBL) Recreation and Heritage Act (S. 3997), River Democracy Act of 2021 (S.192), and Wildlife Emergency Act of 2021 (S. 2806).
We urge the committee to improve two bills and strengthen their language as they move through the legislative process: Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation (SNEDC) Act (S. 567) and Blackfoot Clear Water (S. 1493).
We remain actively neutral on the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act (S. 326). This represents a shift in stance, as we both acknowledge the profound injustices Alaska Native peoples have experienced, while also recognizing the value of the lands at issue in this legislation.
Lastly, the Sierra Club strongly opposes four bills that the committee will hear testimony on, and we ask SENR members to also oppose these anti-environmental provisions. These include: Cottonwood (S. 2561), Alaska Offshore Parity Act (S. 2996), RISEE Act of 2021 (S.2130), and a bill to streamline the oil and gas permitting (S. 4227).
In advance of the meeting, Athan Manuel, Sierra Club Lands Protection Program Director, released the following statement:
“Big, bold action is exactly what is needed to address the intersecting climate and biodiversity crises facing our planet and threatening our communities. Amidst unprecedented heatwaves and drought, rising prices, and energy insecurity, we must protect more of the lands and waters on which we depend. We urge Congress to invest in legislation that allows us to reach our climate and conservation goals and push back on those that would only pull us further away from a just, sustainable future.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.