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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) released the following statement after the Trump Administration waived bedrock environmental laws including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act.

“At a time when our country is calling for an end to practices of systemic injustice, this move by the Administration will only further hurt communities of color and exacerbate existing disparities in environmental protection. For fifty years, the National Environmental Policy Act has been the bedrock of conservation law and preserved the environment, human health, and the people’s voice in policy decisions. NEPA’s directive is clear: the government must consider how a project will affect the environment, and communities and people affected by the projects must have a fair chance to weigh in on its merits,” said Dingell.

Dingell continued, “A strong focus on environmental justice that recognizes the needs of historically marginalized communities disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental degradation is needed. This move by the Administration will hurt communities of color, make it harder for people to make their voices heard, and undermine years of efforts by both Democrats and Republicans to hold polluters accountable and protect the environment. Every community has the right to say no to environmental projects that will hurt the health of their children, their loves ones, and their neighbors.” 

Dingell has been a vocal critic of the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle NEPA and the Endangered Species Act. Dingell led the introduction of a House resolution opposing changes proposed by the Trump Administration to make significant rollbacks to NEPA.

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