Shannon Van Hoesen, shannon.vanhoesen@sierraclub.org
Lesley Paredes Hernandez, lesley.paredes-hernandez@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC - House Republicans are threatening to withhold funding for the collapsed Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore unless President Biden reverses the pause on approvals for new methane gas exports, or LNG. In a visit to Maryland on Friday, the President reiterated his commitment to reopen the Baltimore port and provide federal funding. The funding would be allocated to the reconstruction of the bridge, which could take from 18 months to several years.
In January, the Department of Energy announced a pause on review of new gas exports while it updates the criteria used to determine whether LNG export applications are in the public interest, a function of the agency that is mandated under the National Gas Act.
In reaction, representatives from Sierra Club released the following statements:
Josh Tulkin, Director of the Maryland Sierra Club, said: “While the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge is hardest felt by those of us in Baltimore and the surrounding areas, the impacts of this tragedy on shipping and transportation up and down the east coast and across the country make the aftermath a national priority. We know legislators can come together in the wake of this national tragedy and support federal funding for building back the bridge, reviving a necessary transportation link as well as helping restore the livelihoods of the thousands affected by the bridge collapse. This tragedy should not be used as a bargaining chip to create more environmental damage."
Mahyar Sorour, Sierra Club Director of Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy, said: “This is just the latest threat made by the far right wing of the Republican party to extort political demands through unrelated, urgent funding bills. The LNG pause simply gives the government time to evaluate whether new gas exports will raise the energy prices of Americans or put undue harm on communities on the frontlines of dirty gas export infrastructure. Any demand to end the pause in exchange for funding is wholly inappropriate and Congress must not cave to these cynical political stunts.”
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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.