E&C Democratic Leaders Blast the EPA for Reversing Endangerment Finding and Jeopardizing the U.S. Economy & Environment

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Kathy Castor (D-FL) sent a letter this week to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin blasting the agency for reconsidering the 2009 Endangerment Finding and rejecting the existence of climate change—and its widespread economic and environmental impacts to the nation.

EPA’s decision to reject long-established science relies on questionable findings published in the Department of Energy’s “Climate Working Group” draft report, which the Democratic Committee leaders sounded the alarm on three weeks ago. While the Climate Working Group has now been disbanded, its report has not been withdrawn. EPA’s proposal also makes false claims about its congressionally authorized obligation to address climate pollution through both the Clean Air Act and Inflation Reduction Act.

"By using false arguments to obscure statute, court decisions, prior EPA interpretations, and Congressional intent, EPA’s misguided proposal seeks to remove the basis for protecting the health and welfare of Americans from climate change, replacing it with nothing," Pallone, Tonko, and Castor wrote in their letter to Zeldin. "The proposed repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding is nothing but a political effort to undo decades of protection against climate pollution, abdicating EPA’s authorities and responsibilities in favor of fulfilling the whims of polluters. For the sake of the health and welfare of all Americans, this dangerous proposal must be withdrawn."

In addition to the environmental risks backing the 2009 Endangerment Finding, the Democratic Committee leaders highlighted the worsening economic impacts of climate change.

"The economic impacts of climate change on the United States are already enormous, and they will only continue to worsen if it is left unchecked. Just in 2024 alone, the United States experienced 27 confirmed weather or climate disaster events that exceeded $1 billion in damages," the three Democratic Committee leaders wrote. "Unfortunately, EPA’s proposal downplays or completely ignores the serious economic risks associated with a rapidly changing climate. EPA makes claims about the costs of meaningful climate actions but fails to account for the costs of inaction."

The Democratic Committee leaders also bashed EPA for overlooking the long-standing scientific evidence supporting the Endangerment Finding’s conclusions. They also wrote that unlike the DOE Draft Report, the 2009 Endangerment Finding was the product of an extensive and thorough process, resting on a vast body of scientific evidence and extensive public input.

"This proposal and the broader effort to advance Trump’s irresponsible agenda will only benefit corporate polluters who stand to profit off the serious harm unchecked climate change will inflict on people’s health, pocketbooks, jobs, homes, and lives," the Committee leaders continued in their letter to Zeldin. 

Full text of the letter is available HERE.

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