July, 09 2019, 12:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Monica Mohapatra, U.S. Communications Specialist, monica.mohaptra@350.org
350.org Responds to President's "America's Environment Leadership" Speech
On the day "historic" rainfall flooded the White House basement, Donald Trump claimed "tremendous success"on environmental policy, despite all known facts, in a flurry of statements recasting total opposition and continued rollbacks as national excellence in combating pollution. Flanked by his two senior environmental officials -- former fossil fuel lobbyists, Trump appeared unphased by the reality of his administration's actions targeted to undermine the future, and ignored no less than 80 rollbacks to decades of hard won environmental protections.
WASHINGTON
On the day "historic" rainfall flooded the White House basement, Donald Trump claimed "tremendous success"on environmental policy, despite all known facts, in a flurry of statements recasting total opposition and continued rollbacks as national excellence in combating pollution. Flanked by his two senior environmental officials -- former fossil fuel lobbyists, Trump appeared unphased by the reality of his administration's actions targeted to undermine the future, and ignored no less than 80 rollbacks to decades of hard won environmental protections. A combination of convenient omissions and misleading statements marked the President's speech, which included incorrect estimates on what the Green New Deal would cost and no recognition of the United States' current status as the second largest carbon emitter in the world.
The following is a statement from 350.org's North America Director Tamara Toles O'Laughlin:
"The irony of Donald Trump giving a speech on his "environmental record" would be laughable accept that it provides cover for his campaign of misinformation and environmental devastation. Adding to the absurdity of today's speech is the notable silence on climate change, while the District of Columbia floods in yet another day of extreme weather. Beyond the spectacle he continues to prop up the fossil fuel industry and the executives making their fortunes by cashing out on the future. This administration is singly focused on reviving the dying business of massive crude oil production and no amount of propaganda changes that. The only thing that fossil fuel production has delivered on is severe and certain climate disaster. While claiming to 'love solar' in his remarks, the Trump administration's tariffs on solar panel imports have led to massive job losses in the renewable energy sector. The speech was brimming with untruths and inconsistencies, demonstrating no awareness of the moral and existential imperative to protect the nation from the climate crisis.
"Any contender looking to unseat this administration in the next election must reject this toxic rhetoric and demonstrate a commitment to ending fossil fuels and the handouts that support them. It's time for a Green New Deal for people and planet that creates millions of well paying jobs in a livable, 100% renewable economy.
"The Trump administration has demonstrated no interest in being an 'environmental leader.' It's time to meet the threat of revisionist history, predatory policy making and outright lies. We are committed to standing up to the racist dog whistle, the pomp and circumstance, and the waste of precious time to fight the climate crisis.
"Yesterday's show of rhetoric provides another reason why we support the global mobilization for real climate action on September 20, 2019, because every one of us is under threat by climate devastation and lack of meaningful engagement. In the face of an Administration that manipulates the truth, we must raise our voices and take back the future. We'll do so by walking out on business as usual this Fall and demanding real leadership on climate that uplifts genuine solutions from local statehouse to Capitol Hill."
350 is building a future that's just, prosperous, equitable and safe from the effects of the climate crisis. We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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Despite the Pentagon's repeated failures to pass audits and various alarming policies, 81 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives voted with 200 Republicans on Wednesday to advance a $883.7 billion annual defense package.
The Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, unveiled by congressional negotiators this past Saturday, still needs approval from the Senate, which is expected to vote next week. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Wednesday that he plans to vote no and spoke out against the military-industrial complex.
The push to pass the NDAA comes as this congressional session winds down and after the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced last month that it had failed yet another audit—which several lawmakers highlighted after the Wednesday vote.
Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), co-chairs and co-founders of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, said in a joint statement, "Time and time again, Congress seems to be able to find the funds necessary to line the pockets of defense contractors while neglecting the problems everyday Americans face here at home."
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Several of the 124 House Democrats who voted against the NDAA cited those "culture war" policies, in addition to concerns about how the Pentagon spends massive amounts of money that could go toward improving lives across the country.
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