Van Hollen, Markey, Whitehouse Welcome Court Ruling Against EPA’s Illegal Attempts to Eliminate the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) released the following statement regarding the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruling temporarily blocking the Trump Administration Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) attempt to claw back legally obligated funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF):

“The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund was created to spur private investment in order to create jobs, lower Americans’ energy costs, strengthen our energy independence, and combat the climate crisis. The Trump administration’s assault on this congressionally appropriated and contractually obligated program to reward its fossil fuel megadonors is both unfounded and illegal. A federal court has temporarily blocked the Administration from clawing back these important investments. We will continue pressing for the release of these critical investments, which were awarded through a rigorous and transparent process and will benefit communities across the country.”

Senators Van Hollen and Markey were the authors of the National Climate Bank Act, legislation that served as the framework for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund provision that became law through the Inflation Reduction Act.