Senator Tester stood up to protect your health and tax dollars

Yesterday, Senator Tester voted against a dangerous bill that would have given the oil and gas industry an unlimited pass to waste taxpayer-owned resources and expose our kids and communities to toxic pollution released along with methane. By standing up to the oil and gas industry, Senator Tester sent a strong message: our health is not for sale.    

Skye Borden

EMT - BLM CRA win

Yesterday, Senator Tester voted against a dangerous bill that would have given the oil and gas industry an unlimited pass to waste taxpayer-owned resources and expose our kids and communities to toxic pollution released along with methane. By standing up to the oil and gas industry, Senator Tester sent a strong message: our health is not for sale.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently finalized health protections aimed at putting an end to wasteful leaks, venting and flaring of natural gas and dangerous pollutants like methane and toxins that enter the air we breathe as a result. When companies extract oil and natural gas from public lands, the BLM collects revenue on our behalf. Inefficient practices that allow leaking of natural gas cost taxpayers revenue the BLM could be collecting. That’s why these protections are a win-win-win: they are cost-effective, common sense standards that save us money, keep our communities healthier and reduce America’s energy dependency.

Yesterday, the Senate considered a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would have permanently restricted our ability to hold the oil and gas industry accountable for methane leaks and flaring on public lands. Thankfully, Senator Tester voted against considering this dangerous CRA resolution – keeping our health and security as the highest Senate priority.

When the CRA is used this way, it’s nothing short of reckless. Strong protections against methane and toxic pollution from oil and gas production keep us safe. Rolling back the progress we’ve made in the last eight years is not an option. Any attempt to eliminate these standards to rig the system for polluters is a shameful abuse of power and an affront to all Americans.

Thank you, Senator Tester, for holding the oil and gas industry accountable and keeping our best health at heart.

Authors

Skye Borden