Press Releases
Congressman Nadler and House Judiciary Democrats Condemn Supreme Court Decision Eroding Climate Protections and the Rulemaking System
Washington,
June 30, 2022
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law (ACAL) Subcommittee Chair David N. Cicilline, and Antitrust, Commercial, and ACAL Subcommittee Vice Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision today in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency:
“The Supreme Court’s reckless decision in West Virginia v. EPA is contrary to congressional intent and severely limits the federal government’s ability to protect the environment and address climate change. Additionally, it invites spurious and politically motivated legal challenges to well established statutes and regulatory standards, and will have ripple effects far beyond this case. Strong regulations are key to protecting public health and safety, promoting a stronger economy, and safeguarding the environment, especially for the predominantly Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities that are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and are already disproportionately affected by a warming planet. There can be no doubt that our nation’s food supply, financial markets, and healthcare systems will all become less safe because of this holding. “The Court’s decision undermines nearly 40 years of precedent and could erode the federal government’s ability to enforce longstanding, landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act. This is nothing short of a power grab by the conservative wing of the Supreme Court, and a blatant attempt to impose a deregulatory agenda via judicial fiat—one that voters have rejected time and again at the ballot box. In sum, the Court has created significant uncertainty and weakened the stability of the rule of law. “Today’s decision underscores the need to pass the Stop Corporate Capture Act to ensure the federal government can enforce the laws to protect our communities, workplaces, and families.” |