WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, House Democrats voted to reject an amendment from Congressman Lance Gooden (R-Texas) that would strip $301 million in funding for the administration’s environmental justice programs from the FY23 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. 

Rep. Lance Gooden said“Out-of-control federal spending has driven inflation through the roof and created significant hardships for millions of working-class families. It is insulting that House Democrats continue to pour fuel on the fire by spending hundreds of millions of dollars on environmental justice programs that will do nothing to help these Americans and instead make their problems worse.” 

The $301 million included in the FY 23 appropriations for environmental justice follows an initial $4.3 million in “American Rescue Plan” funds that went to a series of ill-advised climate justice organizations, including a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that uses storytelling to increase awareness of the benefits of trees. 

Congressman Gooden’s amendment was rejected by House Democrats by a vote of 197 to 230.