House Interior approps riders include attacks on Arctic, Boundary Waters, other public lands
US Capitol
Mason Cummings, TWS
Funding bill would reverse recent environmental progress, handcuff agencies
Tomorrow, the House is marking up its version of the Interior and Environment appropriations bill. Among other attacks on public lands, the bill would re-open lands next to the Boundary Waters for mining; leave the Arctic Refuge vulnerable to oil and gas leasing; and cut funding needed to implement the BLM public lands rule and other recent conservation breakthroughs.
To add salt to the wound, the bill includes numerous harmful, anti-climate policy riders that among others, would defund equity initiatives to provide better access to the outdoors and prohibit funding for the American Climate Corps.
In response, Justin Meuse, Government Relations Director at The Wilderness Society, said:
“At a time when communities are dealing with extreme heat, wildfire, and drought brought on by climate change, the House majority is spending its time conspiring to break down recent environmental progress and gut bedrock laws that are often the last form of protections for our nation’s public lands and natural resources,” said Justin Meuse, Government Relations Director at The Wilderness Society. “The Senate must reject this deeply flawed bill on sight and restart its efforts on passing legislation that builds resilience in areas and communities hit first and worst by climate disaster and enables the federal government to meet the moment.”
For more information contact Emily Denny, Communications Manager, at edenny@tws.org
