Today, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works released draft legislative text for its portion of the Republicans’ tax megabill, a plan that would funnel trillions in giveaways to billionaires and big corporations. The Senate draft largely mirrors the deep cuts in the House version passed last month, including eliminating the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP), gutting fuel-economy standards, and repealing the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund as well as rescinding remaining funding. In response, Evergreen Action Executive Director Lena Moffitt released the following statement:

“Senate Republicans are following the House’s lead with yet another gift to corporate polluters and a gut punch to their constituents. Their proposals would slash critical investments that are lowering household costs, cleaning up toxic air pollution, and saving lives. And once again, it’s frontline communities—those hit hardest by decades of fossil fuel development and some of the nation’s highest energy burdens—that will pay the steepest price.

“The American people want clean air, lower bills, and healthier communities. This bill would eliminate one of our most effective tools for curbing harmful methane pollution, letting corporate polluters off the hook for worsening climate-fueled disasters and increasing health risks. The attack on Clean Air Act pollution standards would both increase smog on our streets and increase costs by $600 over the lifetime of new vehicles. And repealing and cutting remaining green bank funds threatens to pull the plug on clean energy projects where they’re needed most, raising costs for families. Republicans claim they’re being ‘thoughtful, not reactive’ with their version of the bill, but when the choice is between protecting their constituents or appeasing their fossil fuel donors, their actions speak louder than words."

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