1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am your constituent, and I am concerned about the anti-environment provisions in the Senate permitting bill. I strongly oppose how the bill would give the Trump administration more power to approve harmful fossil fuel projects it favors. The American public spoke loudly on Election Day: Congress needs to check President Trump’s power, not increase it and make it harder for future presidents to undo the harms caused by this administration. The bill would weaken environmental protections for our clean water, public health, public lands, and most vulnerable wildlife. Moreover, it would give the Trump administration power to expedite permits for data centers on public lands and approve gas infrastructure to power them. I urge you to reject this bill and pass permitting reform next Congress that fixes our clean energy bottlenecks and lowers energy prices. Specifically, I am concerned about how the bill would gut the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. On top of all that, it would effectively prevent states, Tribes, and other affected communities from holding polluters accountable in court and stopping projects that harm their lands, waters, and health. I appreciate the bill’s transmission provisions and its potential to modernize our electric grid and build the clean energy future we need. However, this bill asks too high a price and puts too much at risk for progress that is in no way guaranteed. I ask that you support permitting reform legislation that allows us to build out the clean energy economy of the future while protecting our environment, communities, and public health. The Senate permitting bill does not do that, which is why I encourage you to reject this bill.