09/09/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2021 19:14
Washington, D.C. - The House Natural Resources Committee, led by Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), today approved its piece of the 10-year budget reconciliation package now before the House of Representatives. The markup, which began on Sept. 2, saw a second full day of debate and concluded in a 24-13 vote to approve the measure. All relevant documents are publicly available online through the Committee Repository.
Among other measures, the Committee approved historic investments in protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Outer Continental Shelf from future fossil fuel drilling, paving the way for more sustainable economic development in both areas.
The markup process saw Democrats unite behind a wide array of other popular measures, including investing billions of dollars in climate mitigation; raising billions of dollars through new fossil fuel fees and royalties on the extraction of public resources; and investing in health infrastructure for Indian Country and the U.S. Territories. After two days of votes and debate, the majority voted as a bloc to approve the final measure.
Formally, the Committee voted to adopt Grijalva's amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS), a common legislative vehicle that made various technical corrections to the originally introduced version of the bill. The ANS that Grijalva introduced at today's markup session included nine Republican amendments, most of which were approved at the Sept. 2 portion of the markup.
The Committee earlier this month published a pair of explainers on how the measure raises new public money and how it directs investments in job creation, environmental protection and other public benefits. With minor changes, the ANS maintained the funding and revenue levels presented in those explainers.
Among other pieces of the measure, the Committee voted to invest:
The Committee voted to raise public money through:
The measures combined are expected to raise billions of dollars in new revenue over the next decade. A formal estimate is forthcoming from the Congressional Budget Office.
Chair Grijalva and Committee Democrats have worked tirelessly to elevate and respond to the environmental justice needs of communities that have been historically overlooked or ignored. The Committee worked to address these needs throughout the reconciliation language approved today.
'We're facing serious economic and environmental challenges, and today this Committee addressed them with major investments across the board that will build a more sustainable economy,' Grijalva said today. 'We understand that business as usual isn't solving our problems, and this measure responds to real public needs in a way that meets the moment. The health of our economy, our environment and our way of life depend on the budget decisions Congress makes over the next few weeks. The Democratic Party is united behind investing in millions of American jobs and putting us on a more stable long-term economic and environmental path. This Committee is proud to have done its part today to build a more livable future for all of us.'
Republicans claimed throughout the process that investing in a more sustainable economy is dangerous, unpopular and inappropriate - claims that public polling, economic projections and reams of climate data have exhaustively refuted.
Media Contact: Adam Sarvana
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