Groups Oppose GOP's Reheat & Repeat Energy Package
As Republicans hope to scurry out of Washington, today they bring to the floor several dead-end message bills they have passed again and again and again. The so-called "energy package" is virtually all message bills to nowhere and giveaways to Big Oil, the mining industry, and other special interests. A number of these special-interest bills promote unsafe and irresponsible energy policies based on the ludicrous claim that President Obama has hampered oil and gas production, raising gas prices when, in fact, oil and gas production are near historic highs. Others are special-interest bills that severely undermine public health and the environment with such steps as halting U.S. progress in cutting dangerous carbon pollution and weakening the EPA's powers to protect clean water and clean air. Furthermore, these bills have all already passed the House, some several times over. As the New Republic summarized the GOP push:
Republicans would like to remind voters that they really, truly don't care about the environment.
…it's also a reminder that the GOP has no plans to adjust policies anytime soon to reflect the reality of what's changed over the last six years. [9/17]
GROUPS OPPOSE GOP'S REHEAT & REPEAT ENERGY PACKAGE
| Alaska Wilderness League | Center For Biological Diversity | Clean Water Action | Defenders Of Wildlife |
| Environment America | Environmental Defense Fund | Friends Of The Earth US | League Of Conservation Voters |
| Natural Resources Defense Council | Ocean Conservancy | Physicians For Social Responsibility | Sierra Club |
| Southern Environmental Law Center | Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance | The Wilderness Society |
On behalf of our organizations millions of members, supporters, and activists, we urge you to oppose the repackaged series of 13 bills assaulting the environment and public health that the House will be voting on this week. Instead of dedicating the limited legislative time available this month to address any number of critical issues facing the nation, House Republican Leadership has decided to hold repeat votes. This empty gesture will accomplish nothing other than crystalize the Republican Leadership's fossil fueled vision for America: dirty water, dirty air, devastated landscapes, threatened wildlife, unfettered climate disruption, and disregard for public input. (Letter to Congress, 9/17)
American Lung Association
This package of bills contains several serious threats to clean air and our nation's efforts to limit pollution from power plants to protect public health…
The Clean Air Act is one of the most important public health laws on the books. In fact, since the Clean Air Act was first implemented, the benefits of reduced pollution have far outweighed the costs – and tens of thousands of premature deaths have been avoided. The Clean Air Act has worked successfully to reduce asthma attacks, heart attacks, and numerous other adverse health impacts. We have previously opposed these legislative efforts to undermine the Clean Air Act, and urge you to vote NO on HR 2. (Letter to Congress, 9/18)
National Wildlife Federation
On behalf of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), and our over four million members and supporters nationwide, we urge you to oppose H.R. 2, the repackaged series of 13 bills that directly undermine longstanding protections for wildlife and natural resources, threaten the interests of hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts and prevent efforts to ensure cleaner water and a healthier environment for our children and families.(Letter to Congress, 9/16)
America's Energy Advantage
| Members include: | Nucor | Dow |
| Eastman | Alcoa | Huntsman |
| Westlake | American Public Gas Association |
The Majority Leader has announced that the House of Representatives will vote on an omnibus package of energy bills this week, which includes H.R. 6. You will recall that America's Energy Advantage opposed H.R. 6 when it was first considered in June. AEA remains opposed to the legislation because it makes unnecessary and harmful changes to the Natural Gas Act. The legislation would undermine the Department of Energy's (DOE) ability to protect American consumers, manufactures and the economy from price spikes and supply disruptions in the natural gas marketplace and will harm the public interest generally. (Letter to Congressional leaders, 9/15)
Sierra Club
This week the House Republican Leadership will resuscitate and once again vote on a package of energy-related bills that have previously passed the US House of Representatives. Under the banner of ‘energy innovation' and ‘consumer protection,' this bill, in varying ways, would gut commonsense environmental and public health protections. (Letter to Congress, 9/16)