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Polis Joins Grijalva, Questions GOP Commitment to Tribal Consultation as Majority Prevents Vote on Dakota Pipeline Amendment

Statement

Date: Sept. 28, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Oil and Gas Indigenous Peoples Environment Legislative Branch

Republicans late yesterday blocked a vote in the House of Representatives on an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) that would have made completion of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline dependent on the Army Corps of Engineers publishing a full environmental impact statement for the project. The amendment, originally offered on Monday, was technically "ruled out of order" by the majority of the House Rules Committee even though it complied fully with House rules.

"We must respect tribal sovereignty -- period, end of story," Polis said. "The Dakota Access Pipeline needs to be stopped before it destroys the environment and tribal cultural heritage. It's past time we to start move beyond crude oil and invest in renewables. Our planet depends on it."

Had it passed, the amendment would have clarified the process for approving or rejecting the pipeline, which is in limbo amidst federal court proceedings and an ongoing executive branch review of tribal consultation procedures.


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