Democrats' Drilling Bill Insufficient to Meeting Climate Challenge

For Immediate Release

Today, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz) unveiled the American Public Lands and Waters Climate Solution Act, a bill that aims to reduce emissions from fossil fuel projects on public lands. 

In response, Food & Water Action Climate & Energy Program Director Mitch Jones released the following statement:

"While we applaud Chairman Grijalva's focus on environmental justice communities and working for a fair and just transition for fossil fuel workers, this legislation unfortunately does not go far enough. We know that in order to protect our public lands and to prevent even worse effects of our climate crisis, we must keep fossil fuels in the ground, period. This legislation does not do that. 

“Every leading presidential candidate is, at a minimum, calling to stop leases on federal lands. Why are members of Congress working to facilitate continued drilling and fracking on federal lands? Congress should permanently prohibit further fossil fuel extraction on our public lands, and phase out existing drilling and mining. Anything less will fail to meet the challenge of fighting climate change."

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