From Interfaith Power and Light (http://interfaithpowerandlight.org):
The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, has been called to appear before the Environment and Public Works Committee in the Senate on January 31. This is the Senate committee that has the authority and responsibility to oversee the EPA’s actions and hold it accountable to its mission.
In less than one year as administrator, Pruitt has already undermined, delayed, weakened, and limited enforcement of dozens of environmental protections that safeguard the health of our families and our communities, create jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions that are fueling climate change.
Please sign our petition from people of faith at http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50836/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=24037 that will be delivered to members of the EPW committee in advance of the hearing.
Pruitt talks about his Christian faith and says that he believes humans should be stewards of the earth, but he has abandoned the EPA’s urgent mission to protect the environment and human health. That’s why it’s especially important for people of faith to speak out on behalf of Creation.
Here are just a few examples of Pruitt’s actions in the past 10 months:
- Proposed a repeal of the Clean Power Plan which would clean up old polluting (largely coal) power plants and incentivize renewable energy
- Delayed methane standards to monitor and reduce leaks from oil and gas wells
- Proposed weakening the Clean Car Standards that would improve fuel efficiency of automobiles and reduce oil consumption
- Supported an irresponsible budget proposal that would cut the agency’s budget by 31% and hamper its ability to protect our air and water, endangering Americans’ lives
- Said he disagrees with accepted science that carbon dioxide is a major contributor to global warming, and purged the words “climate change” from the EPA website
These and other EPA safeguards would protect the most vulnerable among us from the impacts of pollution. We are called to speak out for environmental justice for communities on the front lines of these impacts. Many of you have made your voices heard at EPA hearings and in public comments, and we thank you. Now we need the Senate to put Pruitt on notice and safeguard the health of Americans and of our environment.
Add your name to the petition today.
After you sign, please forward this email to others in your faith community. We hope to have 3,000 signatures from diverse clergy and laypeople by January 31.
We are called to care for the Earth and all of its inhabitants, and together, we are a powerful force for change. Thank you for taking action.
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