72 House Democrats Tell Pelosi to Keep Manchin’s Dirty Deal Out of Must-Pass Legislation
More than 70 House Democrats told their party’s leadership on Friday that they oppose efforts to attach federal permitting reforms backed by Sen. Joe Manchin to must-pass government funding legislation, arguing the proposed changes would endanger the climate and frontline communities.
In a new letter that an ideologically diverse array of House Democrats signed—including members of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and the New Democrat Coalition—lawmakers warn that the “destructive provisions” Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer negotiated behind closed doors (D-N.Y.) “will allow the rushing of polluting manufacturing and energy development projects before the families who have to live near them are even aware of the plans.”
“The proposed legislation would restrict public access to the courts to seek remedies against illegal project development; place arbitrary limits on the amount of time the public has to comment on polluting projects; and curtail public input, environmental review, and government accountability,” the letter notes, emphasizing that a recently circulated legislative draft appears to bear the watermark of the American Petroleum Institute (API)—an indication of the fossil fuel industry’s influence over the permitting plan.
“The API plan would require the designation of a certain number of harmful fossil fuel projects as ‘projects of strategic national importance’ to receive priority federal support, assistance, and expedited environmental review,” warns the letter, which Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), chair emeritus of the CPC, led. “These permitting ‘reforms’ would weaken other important public health protections, including the Clean Water Act and more.”
The letter’s 72 signatories urge the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) to keep out these provisions from a continuing resolution or any other must-pass legislation this year.”
“We remain deeply concerned that these serious and detrimental permitting provisions will significantly and disproportionately impact low-income communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color,” the lawmakers wrote. “The inclusion of these provisions in a continuing resolution, or any other must-pass legislation, would silence the voices of frontline and environmental justice communities by insulating them from scrutiny.”
“Permitting reform is part of the IRA,” Schumer told reporters Wednesday.
Democratic leaders are expected to try to attach the permitting reforms to government funding legislation that must pass before the end of the month to avert a partial shutdown. The bill needs a majority vote in the House and at least 60 votes in the Senate.
But the growing revolt from progressive members of the Democratic caucus and other rank-and-file lawmakers could throw a wrench in the leadership’s—and Manchin’s—plans to ram the permitting reforms through as part of a broader package.
Originally published at Commondreams.org.
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