news

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer expressing her concerns regarding any rollbacks to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework the Senate is currently negotiating.

NEPA, spearheaded 51 years ago by Congressman John D. Dingell and Senator Scoop Jackson, has proven to be one of the most effective laws to protect the environment as the federal government considers any new construction projects.

As Congress considers legislation to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure, including efforts to combat climate change, Dingell wrote that it’s “deeply disturbing to learn that this Congress is entertaining major rollbacks of NEPA as part of the bipartisan infrastructure package. Reports of what are being potentially included would appear to be limiting the public review process, the opportunity for real and needed input, and would undermine the original intent of the law. Furthermore, these rollbacks of NEPA are occurring at the same time Congress and the Administration are being asked to provide more attention and care to the concerns from the environmental justice community, who have historically been marginalized and often bear the brunt of the environmental and community harms by decisions of the past. And the reality is, by limiting valuable and critical input, these changes may contribute to increasing the factors contributing to global climate change rather than addressing the problems we are all trying to work together on in seeking very real solutions. We should be looking at ways to strengthen NEPA, not weaken it.”

Dingell continued, “The National Environmental Policy Act paved the way for our country’s existing environmental protections…I, for one, understand the need to move quickly and complete the permitting and federal decision-making process in an expeditious manner. As a strong supporter and leader on electric vehicles in this Congress, I know we must find the critical minerals in this country for the batteries they will use, as well as ensure their sustainable and efficient development. But we cannot do that without public input and full transparency.”

To view the full letter, please click here.

Dingell has repeatedly fought for strengthening NEPA, introducing legislation opposing rollbacks in 2020 and speaking out against the Trump Administration’s threats to environmental protections.