For immediate release: september 28, 2022
Rapid City, SD — In response to recent news that Senator Joe Manchin will pull his permitting side deal language from the Inflation Reduction Act, NDN Collective released the following statement:
“Make no mistake – the decoupling of Manchin’s dirty side deal from the Inflation Reduction Act is a result of tireless advocacy by frontline, climate justice, and Indigenous communities,” said Jade Begay, NDN Collective Director of Climate Justice Campaign. “This is a victory, but it’s a frustrating one. Climate and environmental organizers do not have time to be battling bogus legislation – especially from Democrats, who are supposed to be our allies.
“There are currently multiple climate disasters happening across the U.S., COP27 is around the corner, and midterm elections are quickly approaching. We need elected officials to immediately block legislation that would undoubtedly worsen the climate crisis – the fact that Manchin’s side deal got as far as it did is completely unacceptable.
“We applaud Rep. Raul Grijalva for championing the fight to stop the backroom deal, and our allies and coalition partners who organized to ensure this deal was halted – even while supporting frontline communities through disaster.
“We need Democratic leaders to put forth bold proposals that will strengthen environmental and climate justice. We’re looking to the people we helped put in office to advance Free, Prior, and Informed consent and increase accountability around Tribal consultation. We need them to deeply understand that the climate crisis will not be solved without meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, and to put that understanding into action.”
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NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building, and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.