Schakowsky, Barragán Reintroduce Legislation to End Fossil Fuel Expansion and Combat Climate Change
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Nanette Barragán (CA-44) reintroduced the Future Generations Protection Act of 2023. This bill would help ensure a rapid shift away from fossil fuel to clean renewable energy.
“The 21st century demands drastic actions to mitigate climate change and pollution. I am proud to introduce the Future Generations Protection Act with Rep. Barragán. Not only will this legislation ban greenhouse gas emissions from all new power plants, end hydraulic fracking, and ban crude oil and natural gas exports, but, most importantly, it will make our planet more habitable for future generations,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “The science is clear: we are rapidly running out of time to prevent the worst effects of climate change. The summer of 2023 was the hottest ever on record. Our children should not be forced to suffer the consequences of our lack of action. The time to act is now and with the passage of this bill, we can make a lasting impact.”
"I'm proud to join Rep. Schakowsky in reintroducing the Future Generations Protection Act, which recognizes that increasing our dependence on fossil fuels is incompatible with a habitable planet, now and for the future," said Congresswoman Nanette Barragán. "Communities of color are hit first and worst by the climate crisis. This year we have experienced record wildfires, extreme drought, heat waves, and stronger storms. As Democrats in Congress and President Biden work to make record investments in clean energy to reduce pollution and create millions of green jobs, we need to reduce fossil fuel infrastructure - not expand it and work against the progress we're poised to make."
The Future Generations Protection Act is supported by leading environmental organizations.
“After a summer of intense storms, heat waves and climate disasters, we must move with urgency to cut off the supply of fossil fuels as quickly as possible. Building new clean energy sources will get us nowhere if we continue to drill and frack for oil and gas,” said Jim Walsh, Policy Director at Food & Water Watch. “This bill is the most comprehensive approach to achieving the necessary goal of curbing climate pollution by stopping fracking, putting a halt to new fossil fuel power plants, and ending the oil and gas exports that deepen global dependence on dirty energy.”
“Continued fossil fuels expansion is incompatible with the safe, healthy, and equitable futures our frontline communities are demanding,” said Aaditi Lele, Policy Director for Zero Hour. “With climate disasters constantly raging across the world, young people deserve bold, comprehensive climate action like the Future Generations Protection Act that phases out fossil fuels and puts people above profit.”
“As world leaders head into the Climate Ambition Summit, Reps. Schakowsky and Barragán stand out by showing real climate leadership and calling for an end to fossil fuel infrastructure expansion,” said Gladys Delgadillo, climate organizer with the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s clear from Sunday’s March to End Fossil Fuels that they have overwhelming public support on their side.”
"We applaud the leadership of Reps Schakowsky and Barragan in reintroducing the Future Generations Protection Act and sending a strong message that we need to make a u-turn on fossil fuel expansion before it is too late," said Talia Calnek-Sugin, Associate Director of Legislative and Administrative Advocacy at the Sierra Club. "The continued expansion of the oil and gas industry -- and particularly the exponential growth of LNG exports -- threatens US and global climate goals, and this legislation is an essential step in the right direction."
The Future Generations Protection Act would:
- Ban greenhouse gas emissions from all new power plants.
- Stop hydraulic fracking.
- Ban crude oil and natural gas exports.
- Prohibit the Federal Energy Resources Commission from approving new liquified natural gas terminal siting or construction, unless doing so would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Additional cosponsors of the Future Generations Protection Act include U.S. Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Elanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), and Nydia Velazquez (D-NY).
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