McClellan Votes Against Republicans’ H.R. 1

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) voted against H.R. 1, the Polluters Over People Act, to protect the financial interests of hardworking American families, stand up against corporate polluters, and fight for the preservation of the environment and public lands.

“H.R. 1 is Republicans’ flagship legislation, and it is striking to see where their priorities lie,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “The Polluters Over People Act does nothing to lower costs for everyday American families; instead, the legislation gives shameless handouts to the oil and gas industry and undermines bedrock environmental protection laws and processes.

The Polluters Over People Act would:

• Increase the Deficit by $2.4 billion dollars over the next ten years through shameless concessions to Big Oil and Gas corporations while doing nothing to lower everyday costs for Americans.
• Undermine Environmental Protection Law by gutting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), curtailing public input periods for communities impacted by harmful energy development projects, and limiting the statute of limitations for unlawful permitting.
• Exacerbate the Climate Crisis by providing shameless handouts to the fossil fuel and mining industries, cutting regulatory red tape, and allowing these industries to lay claim to our public lands.
• Make American Families Pay More by repealing critical programs implemented through the Inflation Reduction Act, including a cost-saving home electrification rebate program, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, and the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.

“While the fossil fuel industry enjoys record-breaking profits, we are nearing a catastrophic, irreversible point in our fight against the climate crisis,” continued Congresswoman McClellan. “Republicans want to further exacerbate the problem by dismantling environmental protections and silencing impacted communities to pad the pockets of corporate polluters. That is why I voted no on H.R. 1, and I urge my Senate colleagues to oppose this detrimental, short-sighted legislation.”

Earlier this week, Congresswoman McClellan joined Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Vice Chair Ted Lieu, and Congressman Seth Magaziner in a press conference to speak out against H.R. 1.

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