This week, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) announced the reintroduction of the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act (AWRRDA) to identify and plug orphaned gas and oil wells, which can leak harmful pollution, contaminate groundwater, and threaten public health and safety. Representative Summer Lee (D-PA-12) leads companion legislation in the House of Representatives. In response to the reintroduced legislation, EEN President & CEO Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman released the following statement.

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to rescind a market-based methane pollution fee designed to incentivize large oil and gas operations to install readily-available and cost-effective innovations to plug natural gas leaks and end unnecessary practices that waste our natural resources and emit health-harming pollution. In response, EEN President & CEO Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman issued the following statement.

Yesterday, Governor Shapiro announced that his administration will file a lawsuit to unlock $1.2 billion in suspended federal funding owed to Pennsylvania agencies, arguing the Trump Administration has failed to comply with multiple court orders. These frozen funds for Pennsylvania include critical environmental and health initiatives that are vital to restoring God’s creation and defending the life of all God’s children from harmful pollution.