MATSUI, SEEC COLLEAGUES SLAM ILLEGAL PARTISAN ATTACKS ON AMERICAN ECONOMY DURING REPUBLICANS’ GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Co-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), as well as fellow Co-Chairs Reps. Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s announcement that — in the midst of Republicans’ Government Shutdown — the Department of Energy is illegally cancelling $7.5 billion in critical projects dedicated to strengthening our energy independence and building a clean, homegrown American manufacturing economy.

“Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans are using the cover of their self-inflicted Republican Government Shutdown to weaponize our federal agencies against political enemies, at the expense of the American people. A Republican Shutdown does not give Donald Trump a blank check to take a political hatchet to lawfully awarded funds.

“On day one of Republicans’ Government Shutdown, Trump’s Department of Energy announced that it would illegally terminate $7.5 billion dollars in federal funding for projects that would lower energy prices for all American families. The specific projects targeted are no accident. The Trump Administration is deliberately and illegally cancelling projects in states they believe would hurt Democrats. These projects are not political, though. They are set to employ thousands of Americans, and would lower all Americans’ electricity bills, regardless of political affiliation.

“We can hardly believe that we have to say this, but the federal government must work for all Americans. Trump’s continued attacks will increase energy costs not only for Democrats, but for the entire country.”

# # #