Pallone Condemns Trump EPA for Secretive Move to Strip Health and Environmental Protections from Americans

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today lambasting the Trump Administration for reported recommendations to reverse the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) longstanding “endangerment finding,” the scientific finding that climate pollution harms human health and the environment under the Clean Air Act:

“This is a despicable betrayal of the American people. President Trump and his EPA Administrator are now pretending that climate pollution does not endanger human health or the environment – not because there is any scientific justification, but because it helps line the pockets of their billionaire corporate polluter friends. Meanwhile, while Trump continues to help the rich get richer, every day more and more Americans lose their jobs, homes, and sometimes their lives to worsening climate disasters. Today Trump and Administrator Zeldin are making a mockery of those peoples’ pain and proving themselves to be dishonest grifters.

“Reversing the Endangerment Finding will have swift and catastrophic ramifications for the environment and health of all Americans – Democrats, Independents, and Republicans alike. That’s why I will fight this unlawful and unjustified action tooth and nail.”

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to set protections for pollution that “endanger public health or welfare,” and in 2009 EPA determined that climate pollution is a threat to public health and welfare and therefore must be limited. This finding is based on science and has been affirmed by the courts.

This is the first time that the EPA has sought to reverse the endangerment finding. If successful, this move would strip away public health and environmental protections, and give polluters a free pass.