A resolution encouraging the Trump Administration to maintain protections under the National Environmental Policy Act and reverse ongoing administrative actions to weaken this landmark law and its protections for American communities.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 537 Encouraging the Trump Administration to maintain protections under the National Environmental Policy Act and reverse ongoing administrative actions to weaken this landmark law and its protections for American communities. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 10, 2020 Mr. CARPER (for himself, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. BOOKER, and Mrs. GILLIBRAND) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works RESOLUTION Encouraging the Trump Administration to maintain protec- tions under the National Environmental Policy Act and reverse ongoing administrative actions to weaken this landmark law and its protections for American commu- nities. Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act is one of the Nation’s bedrock environmental laws that has helped pro- tect the Nation’s environment and public health for half a century; Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress and has long enjoyed widespread public support; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Mar 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR537.IS SR537 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 537 IS Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act has a basic but critical purpose of directing Federal agencies to iden- tify and disclose the significant environmental and public health impacts of major Federal actions before such ac- tions are taken, encouraging a ‘‘look before you leap’’ ap- proach in Federal decision making; Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act appro- priately gives the public a chance to review and give input on major projects before building and development starts, resulting in improved, more democratic govern- ment decision making on everything from fossil fuel, transportation, and water infrastructure decisions to habitat and ecosystem conservation; Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act is one of the most important tools available in the fight against the cli- mate crisis; Whereas efforts to block the enforcement of the National En- vironmental Policy Act will make it easier for corporate polluters to hide the air, water, and climate impacts of major projects; Whereas efforts to block the enforcement of the National En- vironmental Policy Act will undermine critical building requirements that make our roads, bridges, and other in- frastructure safer and better prepared to withstand nat- ural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and storms, which are getting more destructive and severe as a result of cli- mate change; Whereas efforts to block the enforcement of the National En- vironmental Policy Act will require the United States to spend billions more taxpayer dollars on infrastructure projects that won’t survive the effects of climate change; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Mar 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR537.IS SR537 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 537 IS Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act is a critical civil rights tool that gives all Americans a voice in Fed- eral decision making by allowing communities to be in- formed and weigh in on major proposed projects affecting their communities; Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act requires Federal agencies to evaluate the degree to which pro- posed projects affect air quality, water quality, public health, and public safety in nearby communities and con- sider alternative approaches that would be better for nearby communities and the environment; Whereas before the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act there was often no way for people living in dis- advantaged communities to become aware of, much less have their voices heard on, major projects that would re- sult in disproportionate health and environmental im- pacts in their neighborhoods; Whereas that when the National Environmental Policy Act’s public input process is cut short or weakened, ill-con- ceived projects advance that can have devastating public health and environmental consequences for American communities; and Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act’s charge to ‘‘foster and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony’’ is timeless and its insistence on meaningful local involvement, sustain- able development, and deliberate Federal decision making was, and remains, visionary: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) reaffirms the value of the National Environ- 2 mental Policy Act; 3 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Mar 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR537.IS SR537 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 537 IS (2) supports the continued enforcement of long- 1 standing legal requirements of the National Environ- 2 mental Policy Act, including the required consider- 3 ation of climate change when developing and plan- 4 ning Federal infrastructure projects; and 5 (3) opposes the Trump administration’s ongo- 6 ing efforts to undermine the National Environmental 7 Policy Act through the regulatory process. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 Mar 10, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR537.IS SR537 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS