Riverkeeper strongly opposes newly released federal legislation that would severely weaken core environmental and clean water protections across the country.
The legislation, known as the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA), would allow the oil and gas industry to run roughshod over the rights of states to review the impacts projects such as pipelines and power plants have on drinking water sources and waterways.
The bill would also limit the public’s ability to push back against projects that could potentially harm the environment, and allow big businesses to use outdated pollution control technology. If BAAJA passes the U.S Senate and House of Representatives and is signed into law, it would undercut the Endangered Species Act and keystone protections for threatened species like the Hudson River’s iconic Atlantic sturgeon.
While the goal of the bill is worthy, the legislation sacrifices too many of our core environmental protections at a time when the current administration is already rolling back guardrails for clean water, wildlife, and human health.
“Riverkeeper urges Senators Schumer and Gillibrand as well as our U.S. House delegation to oppose BAAJA in its current form and work to reach clean energy goals without sacrificing the bedrock of our environmental protections,” says Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown. “This bill gives away too much for too little and we urge members of the public to let their representatives know that weakening the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act is a bridge too far. When oil and gas industry representatives, as well as data center proponents, are staunch supporters of the bill, it’s clear that it is not in the public’s best interest.”