Press Releases

The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, released the following statement in response to the House passage of the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act (H.R. 4690), Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act (H.R. 5587), and Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act (H.R. 6387), along with the failed attempt to pass the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act (H.R. 1897).

“House Republicans chose to celebrate the week of Earth Day by continuing their crusade against the bedrock environmental and wildlife protection laws that have served and benefitted the American people for more than 50 years. We wish this was just a cruel joke, but unfortunately, the Republican assault on our fundamental right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment is deadly serious.

“The Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, and National Environmental Policy Act are our nation’s foundational environmental protection laws. These essential laws were passed by a bipartisan Congress and a Republican president more than half a century ago, but gone are the days when Republicans would stand up for democracy, fight corruption, and work across the aisle to secure a clean and healthy environment for our communities to live in. The Endangered Species Act – which has long been overwhelmingly popular with the American people – is a critically important tool to protect our nation’s imperiled wildlife and plants. It’s why our nation’s iconic bald eagle, American peregrine falcon, and Florida manatee are still with us today. Yet, Republican leadership decided this would be the week to try to gut critical protections for America’s most endangered wildlife.

“This Earth Day, the American people reiterated loud and clear that we will stand up for America’s iconic wildlife, leading to Republicans cancelling the vote on the ESA Amendments Act at the last moment. But even if there were enough Republicans who were willing to say no to gutting the ESA, they were still gleeful to pass other bills that would mask the true severity of air pollution and eliminate transparency for major projects. By providing exemption after exemption from our environmental protection laws, it will be Trump’s billionaire donors who benefit while the Trump Administration turns a blind eye as Americans get sicker and sicker.”