Fiscal Responsibility Act Unconscionably Forces Completion of MVP
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russell Chisholm, (540) 404-2727, russell@powhr.org
Washington, DC — Bipartisan negotiations between President Biden and Speaker McCarthy have resulted in a debt ceiling bill called the “Fiscal Responsibility Act” that forces completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The act requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue permits for the Mountain Valley Pipeline within 21 days, prohibits judicial review of permits and drastically guts core environmental protections like the National Environmental Policy Act.
Russell Chisholm, Managing Director of the Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights Coalition (POWHR) responded: “The President has caved in to Mountain Valley Pipeline’s political allies and betrayed his own climate and environmental justice promises. Instead of a clean debt ceiling bill we are sacrificed alongside other working class people in another attempted bailout for the failing MVP. His cowardice and capitulation will be his legacy. Congress must pass a clean debt ceiling.”
Donna Pitt, Preserve Giles County Coordinator responded: “As one of the communities deeply and dangerously impacted by the Dirty Deal pipeline, we hold our Representatives and our President accountable for betraying us if this gift to the fossil fuel industry is allowed to go forward. MVP is NOT going to be “built anyway” – it is only 55.8% complete! How dare the President take away our right to challenge this pipeline in court! This is how authoritarian governments act, not democratic ones.”
Jason Crazy Bear Keck, 7 Directions of Service Co-Founder responded: “Once again, on a weekend to honor our lost and fallen soldiers, those with the authority to send them to war are fast-tracking irresponsible projects like the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and MVP Southgate Extension. This is a direct attack on “We the People” from our supposed leadership, and it is a direct attack on our children and their children’s futures. The architects of this deal have abused their elected status to sabotage laws like the National Environmental Policy Act and to rig the game for fossil fuel corporations in response to grassroots wins. Our freedoms are under direct attack, and so-called leaders lining their pockets are all culpable in this travesty and abuse of public service.”
###
Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights (POWHR) is an interstate coalition leading the fight to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The coalition includes individuals and groups from counties in Virginia and West Virginia dedicated to protecting water, land, and communities from fossil fuel expansion and environmental injustice. For more information, visit our website: powhr.org.