Statement on Anti-Environment Executive Order

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement:

"Addressing climate change is one of the most important long-term challenges for our future, and represents a pressing national security threat. The executive order from President Trump undercutting the Clean Power Plan, weakening restrictions on emissions, and expanding federal coal mining leases reverses recent progress and will worsen this crisis.

"This decision undermines the success of the Paris Agreement and damages our relations with its signatories, including China and India. At the same time, the order makes it harder for our government and military to plan for the already occurring consequences of climate change – including its impact on national security policy.

"Irrespective of this announcement, the fact is the international community is moving toward a renewable energy future. The Administration's change in policy only threatens to weaken the United States' global leadership role and ensure the green energy jobs of tomorrow will be created elsewhere."