SEEC Blasts House Republicans' Attack on Cheap Energy and Clean Water

The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, released the following statement in response to the House passage of the Improving Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act (H.R. 3668), State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act (H.R. 3628), and Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act (H.R. 3898).

"The promise of permitting reform has always been that, if done properly, it could unlock cheaper, cleaner energy to the benefit of all Americans. Unfortunately, House Republicans have chosen to use the guise of 'permitting reform' as an excuse to pursue their pro-polluter agenda. The bills they brought to the floor this month do nothing to actually address the primary challenges holding back cheap and reliable energy here in America. The biggest threat to affordable energy in America is Donald Trump's all-out assault on solar and wind, but House Republicans have proven too scared to push back against him.

"Electricity prices have now increased by 13% since Trump took office, yet he continues to lie and dismiss the cost-of-living crisis as a 'scam'. Trump can try to ignore the very real concerns of the American people, but we all know that life is more expensive thanks to Donald Trump, his billionaire polluter donors, and his army of Congressional yes-men.

"We remain willing to engage in good-faith bipartisan negotiations on true 'permitting reform'. Hopefully, Congressional Republicans will heed the wake-up call of the ever-worsening energy affordability crisis and join us in that effort."