Make Polluters Pay: Support S.25/H.R. 1135 for Fossil Fuel Cleanup

Today I take pen in hand to urge your to push the bills in House and Senate entitled Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act of 2025: S.25/H.R. 1135. The oil and gas industry has profited immensely from drilling operations in Louisiana and many other locations, but a significant portion of the environmental damage has been left unaddressed. It’s not only abandoned wells, but also decaying infrastructure and cleanup of beaches, swamps and other kinds of coastal areas, as well as the communities that live nearby. States are facing billions of dollars in costs to restore coastal areas degraded by decaying infrastructure abandoned by these companies. It is only fair that the polluters be held accountable for cleaning up the mess they created over decades of exploiting natural resources. The recent $744 million verdict against Chevron in a lawsuit brought by Plaquemines Parish demonstrates that the courts recognize the industry's responsibility. This litigation provides a viable path for funding essential coastal restoration efforts outlined in that state's $50 billion master plan. But Louisiana, like other southern states will not be able to tackle these problems by itself. While oil and gas development was once economically vital, corporations cannot be allowed to walk away from repairing the environmental devastation their practices caused over many decades. Even some Republican leaders in the most polluted areas, have rightly aligned with the communities pursuing this course of action to make polluters pay their fair share. Forcing the oil majors to fund remediation efforts is a reasonable solution to address environmental devastation. without unfairly burdening taxpayers or other industries. The lawsuits are a justified means of holding these companies accountable, but more must be done to obtain the resources critically needed to protect our deteriorating coastline. Legislation is the key: I urge you to support S.25 /H.R. 1135. Thank you for your service.