Rep. Bass Condemns Trump’s Executive Actions that Roll Back Environmental Protections, Advance the Dakota and XL Pipelines

WASHINGTON – (RealEstateRama) — Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to sign an executive order to advance the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines, while freezing grants and contracts at the Environmental Protection Agency.

“President Trump’s two executive actions today to advance construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines clearly show his lack of commitment to ensuring clean air and water for Americans and his complete disrespect for sacred native sites.

“This move not only affects the current pipelines, it also sets a dangerous precedent in which this new administration puts the expansion of energy infrastructure over the beneficial environmental policies set by the Obama administration.

“But this is about more than negative environmental impacts. It’s about indigenous sovereignty. Today’s actions are an affront to Native American tribes and the Standing Rock Sioux Nation’s water resources and sacred sites, and appears to be merely a collateral tool for this administration to effectuate its newfound power.

“I am inspired by the activists at Standing Rock who have, for more than seven years, vowed to remain steadfast in securing their only source of clean water, and sacred burial grounds through all legal means – enduring attacks by heavily militarized police and private security. Trump’s actions are yet another example of his blatant disregard for environmental protections and the sovereignty of Native American Tribes, who have every right to protect the lands in which they live on.”

Source: Rep. Karen Bass