Washington, D.C. — Today, President Donald Trump signed executive orders to revive the Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipelines. Experts from the Center for American Progress issued the following statements:
“Today’s actions signal the beginning of President Trump’s allegiance to oil corporations and his deaf ear to community concerns. After months of protests from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe over the risks of the Dakota Access pipeline to its water supply and disregard for treaty rights, and government calls for broader analysis of alternatives and more stakeholder input regarding the Keystone pipeline, Trump chose to benefit Big Oil over public health concerns. If he is truly an environmentalist interested in job creation, his actions are sorely misguided. The Keystone Pipeline would result in 35 permanent jobs while bringing the world’s most polluting energy source through our country for export,” said Danielle Baussan, Managing Director of Energy Policy.
“Members of the Sioux tribe along with other defenders have literally put their bodies on the line and stood their ground for months, enduring water cannons and rubber bullets to bring national attention to the importance of sacred land, honoring government treaties, and the importance of water. It should go without saying that access to clean water is a fundamental right for all Americans,” said Danyelle Solomon, Director of Progress 2050.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Tanya Arditi at [email protected] or 202.741.6258.