III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 537 

Encouraging the Trump Administration to maintain protections under the 

National Environmental Policy Act and reverse ongoing administrative 

actions to weaken this landmark law and its protections for American 

communities. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 10, 2020 

Mr. CARPER (for himself, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MARKEY, 

Mr. CARDIN, Mr. BOOKER, and Mrs. GILLIBRAND) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment 

and Public Works 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the Trump Administration to maintain protections under the National Environmental Policy Act and 

reverse ongoing administrative actions to weaken this 

landmark law and its protections for American communities. 

Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act is one of the 

Nation’s bedrock environmental laws that has helped protect the Nation’s environment and public health for half 

a century; 

Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act was passed 

by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress and 

has long enjoyed widespread public support; 


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•SRES 537 IS 

Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act has a basic 

but critical purpose of directing Federal agencies to identify and disclose the significant environmental and public 

health impacts of major Federal actions before such actions are taken, encouraging a ‘‘look before you leap’’ approach in Federal decision making; 

Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act appropriately gives the public a chance to review and give 

input on major projects before building and development 

starts, resulting in improved, more democratic government decision making on everything from fossil fuel, 

transportation, and water infrastructure decisions to 

habitat and ecosystem conservation; 

Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act is one of the 

most important tools available in the fight against the climate crisis; 

Whereas efforts to block the enforcement of the National Environmental Policy Act will make it easier for corporate 

polluters to hide the air, water, and climate impacts of 

major projects; 

Whereas efforts to block the enforcement of the National Environmental Policy Act will undermine critical building 

requirements that make our roads, bridges, and other infrastructure safer and better prepared to withstand natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and storms, which 

are getting more destructive and severe as a result of climate change; 

Whereas efforts to block the enforcement of the National Environmental Policy Act will require the United States to 

spend billions more taxpayer dollars on infrastructure 

projects that won’t survive the effects of climate change; 


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•SRES 537 IS 

Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act is a critical 

civil rights tool that gives all Americans a voice in Federal decision making by allowing communities to be informed and weigh in on major proposed projects affecting 

their communities; 

Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act requires 

Federal agencies to evaluate the degree to which proposed projects affect air quality, water quality, public 

health, and public safety in nearby communities and consider alternative approaches that would be better for 

nearby communities and the environment; 

Whereas before the enactment of the National Environmental 

Policy Act there was often no way for people living in disadvantaged communities to become aware of, much less 

have their voices heard on, major projects that would result in disproportionate health and environmental impacts in their neighborhoods; 

Whereas that when the National Environmental Policy Act’s 

public input process is cut short or weakened, ill-conceived projects advance that can have devastating public 

health and environmental consequences for American 

communities; and 

Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act’s charge to 

‘‘foster and maintain conditions under which man and 

nature can exist in productive harmony’’ is timeless and 

its insistence on meaningful local involvement, sustainable development, and deliberate Federal decision making 

was, and remains, visionary: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms the value of the National Environ3 mental Policy Act; 


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•SRES 537 IS 

1 (2) supports the continued enforcement of long2 standing legal requirements of the National Environ3 mental Policy Act, including the required consider4 ation of climate change when developing and plan5 ning Federal infrastructure projects; and 

6 (3) opposes the Trump administration’s ongo7 ing efforts to undermine the National Environmental 

8 Policy Act through the regulatory process. 

Æ 


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