GAIN Opposes Budget Amendment to Block Pipelines

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) yesterday proposed an amendment to the federal budget bill that would bar the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the nation’s main infrastructure-regulating and building agency, from issuing permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for “the discharge of dredged or fill material resulting from an activity to construct a pipeline for the transportation of oil or gas” – effectively blocking the construction of new energy infrastructure. If passed, the amendment would prevent the Corps from constructing, repairing, or working on roughly 8,000 projects per year. The House Committee on Rules will consider the proposal in a hearing this morning.

Below is a statement that can be attributed to me, Craig Stevens, spokesman for the GAIN Coalition:

“Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’ proposal to block the construction of critical energy infrastructure is deeply troubling. This short-sighted political move jeopardizes both our nation’s energy and national security, and would carry significant economic ramifications that will negatively impact Americans across the country if passed. Traditional energy sources like natural gas and oil continue to play a vital role in fueling the American economy, and modern pipelines like Dakota Access and Keystone XL are key to ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable transport of energy to American consumers across the nation.”

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