Shannon Van Hoesen, shannon.vanhoesen@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – The House of Representatives voted to advance the debt limit deal that will allow that nation to pay its bill in exchange for fossil fuel industry handouts and other harmful provisions that will hurt people and the environment. Despite long precedent for raising the debt ceiling with a clean bill, the deal was struck after weeks of Republicans threatening to default on America’s debts unless extreme provisions were included, like massive cuts in spending, gutting bedrock environmental laws, overturning popular provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, and more.
The debt ceiling deal that emerged will expedite the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline by authorizing every permit, certificate, and analysis required by federal environmental laws, mandating that the Army Corps issue a permit within 21 days of enactment, and attempting to preclude judicial review. The agreement needlessly undermines parts of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a bedrock environmental law. The deal also caps funding for agencies that protect our air, water, and the climate and will make it harder for those in need to get food assistance by expanding work requirements.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“Allowing this deal to advance sets a dangerous precedent. We stand by our call for Congress to pass a clean debt ceiling bill. That means no fossil fuel bailouts and no poison pill provisions that make life harder for those already struggling. We can pay America’s bills without undermining bedrock environmental protections or fast tracking the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline.
“The Senate can and must intervene immediately to both protect the environment and prevent default.”
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.