Press Releases

SEEC Co-Chairs Connolly, Tonko, and Matsui Statement on the Nomination of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency

SEEC Co-Chair Tonko Statement on Trump Nomination of Rick Perry to Head Department He Vowed to Abolish

Today, President-Elect Trump nominated Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. SEEC Co-Chairs Gerry Connolly (VA), Doris Matsui (CA), and Paul Tonko (NY) released the following joint statement:

For too long the families of Flint have been forced to rely on a lead-tainted water supply that has disproportionately harmed Flint’s children. Clean water is a right of all Americans, and the Republican refusal to include long sought after and much needed assistance for Flint families in the must pass Continuing Resolution (CR) is unconscionable.

Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard arguments from polluters and their special interest allies aimed at derailing the Clean Power Plan, one of our strongest weapons against the urgent threat of climate change. We believe that the Clean Power Plan is rooted in a solid legal foundation consistent with Congress’ intent under the Clean Air Act. We are confident the plan will be upheld and will ultimately save lives by reducing pollution from power plants.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced final rules to regulate methane–the principle component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas–from new, reconstructed and modified sources in the oil and gas industry. SEEC Members released the following statement:

SEEC Members work year round to support clean air, clean water, a healthy environment, and climate action. On Earth Day 2016 SEEC Members celebrated the U.S. leading more than 170 other countries in signing the Paris Climate Agreement and took many other opportunities to celebrate Earth Day and the environmental progress made in the last year. April 16-24, 2016 is also National Park Week and many SEEC Members took actions to highlight National Parks and Public Lands in or around their districts.

Washington D.C. – On March 15^th 2016, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper announced a proposal for the nation's Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022.

Washington D.C. – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to the United States begins a new era of cooperation between the United States and Canada on climate issues. SEEC Members released the following statement on the U.S.-Canadian joint climate, energy, and Arctic leadership announcement: