The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Kim Huynh, khuynh@foe.org, 202-222-0723
Nick Berning, nberning@foe.org, 202-222-0748

Senate's Rejection of Murkowski Attack on Clean Air Act Is a Major Victory for the Climate

Most senators vote to protect our economy from climate disruption, though a significant minority side with BP and corporate polluters

WASHINGTON

The Senate voted by a
margin of 47 to 53 today to reject a
resolution sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that sought to
roll back
the Clean Air Act's protections against pollution that destabilizes our
climate. Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica had the following
response:

"Today's vote is a blow to
corporate polluters,
one that will move our nation away from the fossil fuel dependence that
led to
the oil spill in the Gulf. The defeat of this resolution means the Obama
administration can implement a law that helps to protect our economy
from the impacts
that are likely to come if our atmosphere is overloaded with climate
pollution.

"There is one key reason
that most senators voted to
protect the Clean Air Act today. Citizens across the country-including
more
than 30,000 Friends of the Earth members and activists-mobilized when
they learned that this landmark legislation was under attack. This
victory is
an empowering one, and we should heed its lesson that active citizenship
can yield
important victories for the planet and the public interest.

"But we must not be
complacent. Corporate polluters
continue to wield incredible influence in Washington-just look at how
government
officials cozy with BP okayed the oil giant's dangerous drilling in the
Gulf. In addition, congressional attacks on the Clean Air Act are not
finished.
One prominent energy bill still being considered in the Senate would
roll back
important Clean Air Act protections.

"Our fights for a
Washington free of polluter influence and for
a healthy climate are far from over, but it nevertheless feels good to
relish
this victory. We thank all of the senators who stood up and opposed this
measure."

For more information on
the Clean Air Act and climate
change, visit https://www.foe.org/cleanairactresources.

Friends of the Earth fights for a more healthy and just world. Together we speak truth to power and expose those who endanger the health of people and the planet for corporate profit. We organize to build long-term political power and campaign to change the rules of our economic and political systems that create injustice and destroy nature.

(202) 783-7400