Issue Position: Environment
Issue Position
As the Ranking Democratic Member of the powerful Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Congressman Moran oversees funding for vitally important agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, our nation's National Parks, and more.
In just the past few years alone, he led the subcommittee to:
Beat back efforts to prevent the EPA from regulating harmful greenhouse gases.
Blocked risky oil drilling off Virginia's coast and included a moratorium in the Interior bill which prevents new drilling leases from being issued on the East Coast, West Coast and Alaska's environmentally sensitive Bristol Bay.
Increased funding for cleanup and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
Invested over $450 million in climate change scientific research and adaptation efforts.
Provided new funding to explore the troubling phenomenon of intersex fish in the Potomac River and their implications for human health.
Increased funding for restoration and care of our nation's treasured national parks by $30 million.
Congressman Moran believes that we all have a shared responsibility to protect our environment. He is committed to supporting programs and legislation that promote environmental stewardship and develop sustainable and renewable energy sources. Jim understands that in order to preserve our natural resources for our children and grandchildren we must act now to make sure that we do not leave our environment irrevocably damaged for the next generation.
Jim believes that truly effective environmental policies have the ability to not only protect our environment but also to strengthen our economy and increase our national security. Our nation has an unhealthy addiction to fossil fuels. This addiction has made our economy dangerously vulnerable to instability in oil prices and to the whims of other oil producing nations. The answer to this problem is not to drill more but to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. As we work to rebuild after the worst recession since the Great Depression, this nation has an important opportunity to stimulate the economy by investing in clean, green energy development to create the jobs of the 21st century. Congressman Moran understands that refusing to invest in renewable energy today means that our children and grandchildren will inherit an America less able to compete in the world.
Jim has consistently voted for legislation to end public subsidies for fossil fuels while at the same time encouraging the greater efficiencies and greater use cleaner, renewable sources. He supports the creation of tax incentives to encourage the use of solar energy, wind, biodiesel and other alternative fuels.
He also strongly opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Jim supports a moratorium on opening new areas to offshore drilling and has led the fight to prevent offshore drilling in the Commonwealth. He supported the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act and the Omnibus Public Land Management Act and introduced legislation to strengthen the monitoring and regulation of toxins in drinking water.
Congressman Moran believes that responsible environmental policy requires a commitment to improving our public transportation. He has been instrumental in the effort to bring Metro Rail to the Dulles Corridor and led efforts to pass legislation providing over $130 per month subsidy to federal employees who choose commute to work using public transportation.
Jim recently received the Official Climate Action Leadership Award from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, has received the 2012 endorsement by the Sierra Club, and has received a 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters.
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