Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Rescind Trump’s Day-One Executive Orders on Energy

~ Legislation would protect American jobs, keep energy security competitive against China, and support record investments in rural communities ~
WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), both members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Paul Tonko (D-NY), led their colleagues in introducing legislation to nullify President Trump’s day-one executive orders on energy. TheDefending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Actwould reassert America’s clean energy leadership, keep energy costs for families as low as possible, and unfreeze critical Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to protect jobs and support rural economies.
“President Trump’s day-one executive orders were only meant to fuel his fossil-centric energy agenda, prioritizing Big Oil and forcing the American people to pay the price,”said Senator Hirono.“Clean energy initiatives and investments are important to keeping energy costs low, protecting our economy and environment, and combatting the climate crisis. It is clear that President Trump will always prioritize lining the pockets of corporations over lowering costs for American families. By repealing his executive orders, this bill will help to continue our progress toward a clean energy future and protect the jobs and investments spurred by previous legislation.”
The Defending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Act would nullify the “Unleashing American Energy” executive order, the executive order declaring aNational Energy Emergency, the executive order behind the U.S.departure from the Paris Climate Agreement, and the executive order thatpauses offshore wind leasesin the Outer Continental Shelf.
The full text of the legislation is availablehere.
As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, Senator Hirono has championed legislation to protect Hawaii’s environment, fish, wildlife, and plants, while also working to support local farmers and agriculture, and speed the transition to clean, renewable energy in Hawaii and across the country. Last month, Senator Hironourgedthe Secretary of Interior, Douglas Burgum, to reinstate the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) probationary employees in Hawaii who were hastily fired by the Trump Administration. In February, Senator Hirono alsourgednewly confirmed U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to immediately take action to resolve looming staffing shortages at the National Park Service. The letter follows President Trump’s hiring freeze, his cancellation of thousands of job offers for seasonal National Park Service employees, and his buyout offers made without clear legal authority. These actions pave the way for a damaging loss of staff at national parks across the nation in the coming summer months and beyond. In February, Senator Hironosenta letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright urging him to stand by his sworn testimony, follow the law, and protect the Office of Energy Justice and Equity within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
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