Lawler’s Record on Protection of Clean Water is Inconsistent
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
Don’t listen to what Rep. Mike Lawler says about clean water. (“Lawler Brings Back Nearly $36M in Federal Funds for Infrastructure Needs,” Mar. 28) Instead, watch how Lawler votes in Congress against our clean water.
Lawler voted for the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act (H.R. 7023), an obfuscation of what this legislation does. It circumvents permitting powers of the historic Clean Water Act and federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, allowing industry to discharge more pollutants into drinking water sources.
Hydrocarbon fracking, toxic contaminants that poison the water supply? Lawler voted yes, stripping the federal executive decision-making power to call for a moratorium on fracking. Lawler’s throughline is oil and gas interests because he was formerly a lobbyist for those industries.
Last session, he also voted against the carbon emissions tax that would make the fossil fuel industry pay their share in the rising costs of climate change, for extreme flooding and fire.
The funding Lawler brought in to local infrastructure water projects is critical, no question. But we need to start with critical forward-thinking federal legislation that protects clean water to begin with. Often state environmental laws can be influenced by gas and oil lobbyists.
Now that’s something to watch for, too.
Tina Volz-Bongar
Peekskill
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
