From Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04)’s office:
McClellan Joins Democratic Leadership & Members to Oppose H.R. 1
McClellan, Aguilar, Lieu, Magaziner Speak Out Against ‘Polluters Over People Act’
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) joined Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Vice Chair Ted Lieu (CA-36), and Congressman Seth Magaziner (RI-02) for a press conference in opposition to Republicans’ H.R. 1, the Polluters Over People Act.
The Polluters Over People Act would:
- Increase the Deficit by $2.4 billion dollars over the next ten years through shameless concessions to Big Oil and Gas corporations while doing nothing to lower everyday costs for Americans.
- Undermine Environmental Protection Law by gutting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), curtailing public input periods for communities impacted by harmful energy development projects, and limiting the statute of limitations for unlawful permitting.
- Exacerbate the Climate Crisis by providing shameless handouts to the fossil fuel and mining industries, cutting regulatory red tape, and allowing these industries to lay claim to our public lands.
- Make American Families Pay More by repealing critical programs implemented through the Inflation Reduction Act, including a cost-saving home electrification rebate program, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, and the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
Read a full transcript of Congresswoman McClellan’s remarks below. Watch the full press conference here.
TRANSCRIPT OF McCLELLAN REMARKS
Rep. McClellan: Good morning. I am Jennifer McClellan, and I first want to send my condolences to the families of those killed in the shooting in Nashville yesterday.
I am really struck that as we have been debating parental rights here and across the country, the number one right parents should have is the ability to send their children to school and not worry about if they’ll come back.
If you look at, not only how many children have died because of school shootings, but those who have been traumatized as they’ve watched their friends die, or as they have had to endure drills that often traumatize them just as much as an active shooter incident, enough is enough.
Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Congress needs to take action.
And as a mother and the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress, I have deep concerns about Republicans’ H.R. 1 and its potential impacts on our national deficit, hardworking families’ pocketbooks, and the health and well-being of historically marginalized communities.
The “Polluters Over People Act” would be disastrous for our national deficit, ballooning it by $2.4 billion over the next ten years, to pad the pockets of corporate polluters, who are, as you have heard, already enjoying record-breaking profits.
H.R. 1 is Republicans’ flagship legislation, and it blatantly disregards the financial interests, health, and well-being of American families while rewarding polluters with shameless giveaways.
In fact, the “Polluters Over People Act” would repeal major cost-saving programs implemented through the Inflation Reduction Act, including a $4.5 billion dollar home electrification rebate program designed to lower energy bills for American families.
It would also repeal the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a $27 billion dollar program that would accelerate the deployment of clean-energy technologies and create thousands of good-paying jobs.
The repeal of these programs would raise costs for hardworking Americans, rob them of quality, family-sustaining jobs of the future, and jeopardize a healthier future for our children and grandchildren.
H.R. 1 doesn’t even reference “clean energy,” even though it is the cheapest form of energy.
Furthermore, the “Polluters Over People Act” would completely undermine bedrock environmental protections, curtail impacted communities’ ability to provide public feedback, and drastically reduce their options for legal avenues of recourse.
H.R. 1 removes agency from impacted communities and silences historically marginalized and underrepresented communities in favor of corporate interests.
My predecessor, the late Congressman Donald McEachin, fought to preserve environmental protections and review laws, because he believed every community deserves a seat at the table. I am proud to build on his legacy.
House Democrats stand opposed to the “Polluters Over People Act” and will continue fighting to preserve our environment while protecting the health and financial security of Americans.
With that, I turn it back over to Chair Aguilar for questions.
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