Washington, DC – On Earth Day, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s failure to act on the climate crisis and its continued assault on environmental protections and the future of our planet:
“The climate crisis is not a distant threat – it’s already here. In Ventura County and across the Conejo Valley, we are seeing firsthand the consequences of inaction: more destructive wildfires, extreme weather events, and risks to critical infrastructure, including Naval Base Ventura County and the Port of Hueneme, which are vital to our national security and local economy.
“At the very moment when bold action is needed, the Trump Administration is doing the opposite. They have laid off thousands of climate scientists at NOAA, proposed a 65% cut to the EPA’s workforce, and frozen billions in funding for electric vehicle infrastructure.
“This is not leadership – it is climate denialism weaponized into policy, and it is leaving Americans more vulnerable by the day.
“This is an all-out attack on the policies and people protecting our environment and public health. They’re slashing science funding, dismantling oversight, and threatening to eliminate vital agencies like the EPA, NOAA, and FEMA and crippling our country’s ability to prepare for disasters and recover after them. These are deliberate acts of sabotage against our nation, the environment, our economy, and our future.
“They are also targeting the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, putting treasured places like the Channel Islands National Park at risk. Over 4,000 park and forest workers have already been fired, including more than 10% of the Channel Islands National Park staff. These reckless cuts undermine wildfire prevention and threaten the long-term preservation of our public lands.
“Worse still, these policies are being driven not by science or the public interest, but by corporate polluters and fossil fuel lobbyists who have found willing allies in this administration. This administration is doling out giveaways to polluters and special interests at the expense of future generations.
“Not only are these policy mistakes, they are moral failures. The consequences of the Trump administration’s anti-climate actions will be felt for decades. They threaten our ecosystems, our local economy, and our ability to confront climate change before it is too late. And by walking away from climate leadership, this administration is weakening global efforts and ceding ground to other nations, risking not only our environment, but our standing in the world.
“As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, I am working with my Democratic colleagues in Congress to fight back. Together, we are fighting to advance legislation to protect our public lands and waters, strengthen wildfire resilience, defend environmental safeguards, and invest in a clean energy future. We are committed to responsible stewardship of our planet and to holding accountable those who seek to destroy what generations of Americans have worked to preserve.
“In California, we know what’s at stake. When lives are lost, when homes are destroyed, when wildfires rage, we are reminded that climate change is not abstract. It’s real. It’s personal. And it demands action.
“This administration has made clear it is willing to sacrifice our planet and our children’s futures for short-term political gain. We cannot and will not stand by. The American people expect their leaders to protect them and not endanger their health, their homes, and their future. We all share the responsibility to be good stewards of our environment and to fight for the future we hope to see for our children and grandchildren.
“Our children and grandchildren are watching, and history will judge whether we met this moment or let it pass us by.”
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Issues: 119th Congress, Climate Crisis, Environment