Trump on the Environment
A brief survey of recent congressional actions
By Pat Elder
January 27, 2025
Muhammad Ali knocks out Sonny Liston, 1965.
Muhammad Ali’s boxing style embodied his mantra, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.”
President Trump and his congressional supporters have shown similar agility and crippling strikes. We’re stunned by every glove that cuts us until we cry out in anger.
If our nation survives President Trump it will be sick. Following is a brief blow by blow account of the environmental catastrophe being unleashed by President Trump and Congress.
Trichloroethylene, (TCE)
Last month, the EPA banned Trichloroethylene (TCE), a human carcinogen that is responsible for a human holocaust on military bases and in communities surrounding industrial sites. It is used as an engine cleaner by the military and industry. It is also used in paints and other products. It gets into drinking water and food. TCE vapors enter people’s homes from contaminated soil and groundwater. It causes kidney cancer and a host of other diseases.
The late action by the Biden Administration was intended to make it tougher for President Trump to undo the rules, although that process is already in motion.
On January 22, 2025, Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) introduced H.J. Res. 27, a resolution expressing congressional disapproval of the EPA’s rule on TCE, a substance largely banned almost everywhere on earth. This joint resolution is the first step in overturning the EPA’s TCE rule. The resolution will be referred to committee to be approved. It then moves to both houses of Congress where it is expected to pass before President Trump signs it into law.
The extraordinarily generous American Chemistry Council says the ban on TCE is “inconsistent with the underlying science.” They say the EPA’s studies “were not realistic.” The chemical lobby spent $31 million in lobbying during the last election cycle, and they sprinkled $1.3 million to prominent members of Congress, including hefty donations to Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Bill Cassidy both who represent Louisiana, the home of PPG Industries in Lake Charles, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of Trichloroethylene.
The American Chemistry Council represents the interests of PPG Industries in Congress. PPG Industries was honored with the American Chemistry Council’s Sustainability Leadership Award last year. The award praises companies for environmental protection and other achievements.
PPG has poisoned people and the environment throughout much of the United States through the manufacture and use of highly toxic chemicals, like Trichloroethylene. Chemscore tracks PPG’s environmental crimes.
The PPG Political Action Committee contributed $29,000 to Democrats and 18,300 to Republicans during the 2023-2024 election cycle while members of Congress regularly buy and sell PPG stocks.
New York Cancer & Blood Specialists
New York Cancer & Blood Specialists provides cancer care throughout much of New York. The company envisions a world free of cancer and blood disorders by contributing to the search for cures by offering cutting-edge clinical trials and personalized, state-of-the-art treatments that save and prolong lives.
During the 2023-2024 election cycle, the cancer care provider contributed $50,000 to Rep. Miller-Meeks, and $19,000 to co-sponsor Rep. Diana Harshbarger who filed the resolution expressing congressional disapproval of the EPA’s rule on TCE. For both women, New York Cancer and Blood Specialists was the top contributor during the last election cycle.
Trichloroethylene causes cancer.
During the last election cycle, the cancer firm also gave $145,500 to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the former Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee. James Comer received $106,150. Speaker Mike Johnson received $31,996, and John Barrasso received $25,705. These folks look out for the interests of the chemical industry in Congress. They don’t want to hear about people suffering from diseases caused by the chemicals they promote. See Open Secrets.
Is their money that good? Will it buy forgiveness?
Mercy, mercy, me.
PFAS in Wastewater
President Trump withdrew the Biden administration’s plan to set limits on toxic PFAS chemicals in industrial wastewater. Many industrial processes result in PFAS being released into the environment. Microchip manufacturing produces PFAS-contaminated wastewater that flows to wastewater treatment plants. They are integral to President Trump’s plans for an Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. The PFAS poisons the entire food chain.
AI Centers
President Trump said he will use his energy emergency declaration to approve power stations for artificial intelligence (AI) centers. “We’re going to build electric generating facilities. I’m going to get them the approval,” he said. “Under emergency declaration, I can get the approvals done myself without having to go through years of waiting.”
Gone with the wind
Wind power is a threat to the fossil fuel industry, so President Trump has halted approvals for new wind energy projects in federal lands and waters. The order may also threaten existing wind projects.
President Trump exited the Paris Climate Agreement
The President ordered the U.S. to exit the World Health Organization and Paris Climate Agreement. President Trump argues that the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change undermines the U.S. economy, and puts the U.S. at a permanent disadvantage. Fossil fuel champions don’t believe in tracking greenhouse emissions.
Environmental Justice for All
President Trump rescinded Executive Order 14096 of April 21, 2023 - Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. This order called on the federal government to identify, analyze, and address disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards of federal activities, including those related to climate change and cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens on communities with environmental justice concerns.
Cancer Alley is the name given to the industrial zone that covers an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, Louisiana. The region has a population of 45,000 mostly Black and poor people who are further marginalized and forgotten by this ruthless executive order.
H. J. RES. 26 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 22, 2025
That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Phase 3 89 Fed. Reg. 29440 (April 22, 2024) such rule shall have no force or effect.
The rule established strict emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles like tractor trailer trucks, pickup trucks, and school buses. Full implementation was slated by model year 2032.
S. J. RES. 4 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, January 23, 2025
That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters (89 Fed. Reg. 105188 (December 26, 2024)), and such rule shall have no force or effect.
This program mandates minimum energy efficiency levels for gas-powered tankless water heaters sold in the United States, aiming to reduce energy consumption and promote more efficient models in the market.
H. J. RES. 18 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 13, 2025
That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: 89 Fed. Reg. 86418 (October 30, 2024)), and such rule shall have no force or effect.
The EPA required drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The rule also required more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure to water. Commercially available water filters can remove 99% of the lead from drinking water. People must take care of themselves.
H.R. 676:
To exempt federal actions related to energy and mineral activities on certain federal lands from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Drill, baby drill. Frack, baby frack.
S. 254:
A bill to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to protect the cultural practices and livelihoods of producers of Alaska Native handicrafts and marine mammal ivory products, and for other purposes.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) protects all marine mammals in U.S. waters. It prohibits the "take" of marine mammals, which includes hunting, capturing, collecting, or killing. Walrus ivory is highly valued, although some states prohibit it from being sold.
H. J. RES. 30 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 24, 2025
That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the Management of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons and Substitutes Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (89 Fed. Reg. 82682 (October 11, 2024), and such rule shall have no force or effect.
The EPA proposed to establish a program for the management of hydrofluorocarbons that includes requirements for leak repair and use of automatic leak detection systems for certain equipment using refrigerants containing hydrofluorocarbons. It’s a technical rule but it has a lot to do with our health.
H.R. 731: To exempt hazardous fuel reduction activities from certain environmental requirements for a 10-year period. No text available.
Hazardous fuel reduction activities refer to practices aimed at decreasing the amount of flammable vegetation in an area, thereby lowering the risk of a wildfire spreading rapidly and causing significant damage.
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I am determined to perform environmental testing in people’s homes and public places at Fort Ord, California and Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii. The mission of this testing regime is to raise awareness among regular folks that they’ll need to take care of themselves. I’ll focus more on state, rather than federal mechanisms for redress.
I appreciate the support from the Downs Law Group.