OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:

• “Modernizing NEPA for the 21st Century”

DEMOCRATIC TOPLINE MESSAGES:

• NEPA is a bedrock environmental law that simply requires federal agencies to take a “hard look” at the potential environmental impacts of projects they undertake or permit. The NEPA process is an important environmental justice tool that gives all Americans a voice in matters where the federal government could harm their communities. 

• 95 percent of NEPA reviews are completed in a matter of days using categorical exclusions that exist to streamline review of simple, environmentally benign projects. Only one percent of NEPA reviews require an EIS. These are the most complex projects with the greatest potential for environmental harm, and are rightly subject to careful review.

• The size of the American economy has more than tripled since NEPA was passed in 1970: from less than $5 trillion to nearly $17 trillion. Republican claims that NEPA kills jobs, slows disaster response, and causes drought, fire, and flooding have been debunked time and again. 

PRESS RELEASE:

• Trump, House Republicans Fail to Deliver Infrastructure Package, Scapegoat Environmental Review Instead (Nov. 29)