Schakowsky Applauds Biden Executive Orders To Protect Our Public Lands

Statement

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, issued the following statement regarding the Biden Administration's Executive Orders issuing a moratorium on oil and gas exploration on federal land and water areas:

"One of the most damaging policies of the Trump Administration was to open up federally-protected wilderness and ocean areas for oil and gas exploration, giving sweetheart leases of our public lands to the politically connected polluters, with little regard for the harm caused by these projects. It was just another example of the former president putting the profits of a billion-dollar industry ahead of caring for public health and the environment.

"I have long championed measures to safeguard our majestic public lands from development and have authored legislation intended to accomplish that goal. In 2014, I introduced the Protecting Our Public Lands Act with my friend and colleague Mark Pocan, which would ban fracking on all federal lands. Last Congress, I introduced the Future Generations Protection Act, which would have halted all future fossil fuels projects authorized by FERC, ban fracking, and reimpose the crude oil export ban.

"What an inspiration it is to see President Biden issue executive orders this week that initiate a moratorium for any new oil and gas exploration on federal land and water areas. Though this is an important first step, we still need action by Congress to permanently preserve one of our nation's greatest resources for nature and recreation all the while continuing to achieve our goals to combat climate change and move towards a carbon-free energy future."

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