Climate Justice Alliance

Law Will Impose Undue Burdens on Voters and Disproportionately Suppress the Democratic Rights of Communities Already Facing Environmental Harms 

Contact: kayla@unbendablemedia.com

Washington, D.C. – In response to the passage of the Save America Act through the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, which imposes undue burdens on voters by requiring them to show citizenship papers (like passports and birth certificates) when registering to vote and restricts mail-in voter registration, Climate Justice Alliance’s Executive Director KD Chavez issued the following statement:

“Undermining our voting rights and reducing access to the polls by attempting to strongarm states is an attack on democracy. Whether the Senate ultimately approves this remains to be seen, but Congress focusing on undemocratic measures like this right now is unacceptable.

At a time when our constitutional rights are rapidly being eroded, environmental and public health regulations are being undone, and scientific certainties like greenhouse gases exacerbating climate change are being denied, voting is a crucial tool in so many communities’ ability to participate in our democracy and choose representation that will address their concerns and issues. 

Many communities–including those on the frontlines–who face environmental racism and climate change often don’t have the identification cards required by the SAVE America Act. Less than half of American citizens have passports and nearly 9% of eligible voters don’t or would not have access to the necessary identification the SAVE America Act would require to vote. And for rural communities that will have to travel farther, trans individuals who have changed their names, and working class communities, the SAVE America Act’s impact is clear: significant barriers to voter registration and participation in the voting process. 

Rather than focusing where the real needs are: protecting public health, ensuring environmental protection, or bringing down costs of living for every-day families, the Republican Majority is using budgetary processes to shove through hateful policies that align with hate-mongerers and big business while imposing undue burdens on the very families and communities whose ancestors built this country. 

Congress must protect, rather than erode, the integrity of the voting process and not create undue and additional burdens on those who exercise their democratic and constitutional rights to participate in it.”

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The post CJA Condemns Congress’ Latest Attack on Democracy with the passage of anti-voting rights legislation in the House appeared first on Climate Justice Alliance.

Groups argue meaningful public participation leads to better projects and stronger outcomes, while the current proposal shifts environmental and public health costs onto taxpayers

Contact: kayla@unbendablemedia.com

Washington, D.C. – Today, Climate Justice Alliance, Earthworks, Food and Water Watch, Ironbound Community Corporation, and We Act for Environmental Justice joined 75 grassroots organizations and allies that represent thousands of communities across the nation, to send a letter to Senate democratic leadership urging lawmakers to reject any bipartisan permitting reform package that further weakens environmental protections or public participation. The coalition highlighted the dangers of passing a permitting reform package under the Trump Administration, and instead urged Members of Congress to work with environmental justice communities on a durable permitting reform package under a future administration that puts communities, transparency, Tribal consultation, and public health first.

“Environmental justice and allied organizations call on you to hold the line against any permitting package that weakens community engagement, environmental and public health analysis, Tribal consultation, transparency, or judicial review. At the same time we urge you to advance a proactive, long-term vision for modernizing federal permitting that strengthens public participation, agency capacity, scientific integrity, and coordination across government.” 

The letter also argues that, given the Trump administration’s record on environmental protections, there is little reason to believe a permitting package negotiated now would be implemented consistent with congressional intent or used to advance responsible clean energy deployment. Instead, the coalition urges members of Congress to oppose any proposal that weakens public participation, environmental review, Tribal consultation, transparency, or judicial oversight, and to engage with environmental justice communities and legal and scientific experts when pursuing long-term permitting reforms that strengthen agency capacity and community accountability under future administrations.

The full letter is available here.

Below, please find quotes from grassroots and climate organization leaders:

Mar Zepeda Salazar, legislative director at Climate Justice Alliance: “We must call this permitting package what it is: not reform, but a backroom deal that shifts risk from corporations onto the communities forced to live with the consequences. At a time when families are struggling with rising utility bills, mounting medical costs, and children are missing school because of extreme heat, wildfires and other climate-related events, Congress should be listening to its constituents, not fast-tracking yet another industry wish list. 

Administrations come and go. Corporations move onto the next project. But communities live with the consequences for decades. Congress has a responsibility to deliver permitting policies that protect public health, respect communities’ right to participate in decisions that affect them, and earn the public’s trust—not sacrifice communities in the name of speed that will only accelerate corporate profits.”

Raquel Dominguez, Earthworks circular economy policy advocate:  “All people have a right to health, dignity, and a liveable environment. Congress should never put short-term profit for corporations ahead of the long-term well-being of communities. Right now, families in America are breathing air that makes them sick, depending on dwindling or polluted water supplies, and watching public lands turn into industrial sites. Oil, gas, and mining companies are causing permanent harm to communities from the Appalachians to the desert Southwest. We cannot allow this administration to continue to gut our bedrock environmental laws. Permits are a permission slip from the government on behalf of the people. They ensure that companies act in ways that ensure our children have a healthier, safer and more prosperous future.”

Alejandra Torres, assistant director of advocacy and organizing at the Ironbound Community Corporation: “Environmental justice communities like the one in Ironbound, Newark, refuse to be sacrificed. We call on democratic leadership to build a permitting agenda that centers communities while ensuring responsible infrastructure development,” stated.

Drew Guillory, Food and Water Watch policy advocate: “‘Permitting reform’ is a disingenuous term for harmful deregulation of a polluting industry that will severely impact those that are already most vulnerable. With an administration that sprints rabidly towards corporate profit and destruction at every turn, it’s imperative that Congress stand for the American people and guard against ‘permitting reform’ and its many threats to human health and wellbeing.”

Leslie Fields, Chief Federal Officer of WE ACT for Environmental Justice: “Communities must have a say in the decision-making processes that impact their neighborhoods. While we face skyrocketing energy costs, deadly climate-driven disasters, and  Trump administration-fueled health crises, we cannot stand for deregulation that will only reinforce injustices and put people in even more danger. It is a tired lie that NEPA is to blame for permitting issues in our country. Permitting reform efforts that promote deregulation create false policy choices that miss the mark, and only further the fossil fuel industry’s use of environmental justice communities as sacrifice zones.

When communities are centered, we can make sure to protect people’s health and that projects actually benefit those communities. Environmental justice communities and advocates have long offered real solutions that ensure community input, use the best available science, and result in beneficial projects. Instead of spending time developing permitting legislation and trusting it will be implemented in good faith by an administration that boasts about historic attacks to environmental laws and public health protections, our leaders need to rebuild safeguards and democratic processes. We need to create a sustainable future that will actually provide opportunity and protect the health of everyone, not just the wealthy few.”

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