On April 23rd, the White House issued a series of executive orders. The last order – Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy – removed specific language in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act on discrimination in programs or activities receiving federal funding. Title VI is a foundational component of environmental justice because the prohibition on discrimination in federally funded programs extends to environmental regulations and projects.
On April 8th, President Trump issued an unprecedented executive order declaring “all State [sic] and local laws” dealing with “‘climate change’ or involving ‘environmental, social, and governance’ initiatives, ‘environmental justice,’ carbon or ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions, and funds to collect carbon penalties or carbon taxes.” It instructs the US Attorney General to report back to the President within 60 days detailing actions taken under the EO and any additional Presidential or legislative action necessary to halt enforcement of any offending laws.
On March 25th, President Trump issued an unprecedented executive order on election processes that could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters if enacted. The order would amend the federal voter registration form to require documentary proof of citizenship in order to be eligible to vote in federal elections. It would allow federal agencies to cut funding to states deemed non-compliant and instructs the Department of Justice to prosecute what are characterized as “election crimes.”
On March 25th, President Trump issued an unprecedented executive order on election processes that could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters if enacted. The order would amend the federal voter registration form to require documentary proof of citizenship in order to be eligible to vote in federal elections. It would allow federal agencies to cut funding to states deemed non-compliant and instructs the Department of Justice to prosecute what are characterized as “election crimes.”
On March 12, Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced he was gutting 31 EPA rules. In doing so, he reframed the purpose of the EPA saying the agency’s mission is to “lower the cost of buying a car, heating a home and running a business.” There was no mention of environmental protection in the Environmental Protection Agency’s new mission.
On March 1, President Trump issued an executive order, the latest in an unprecedented stream of such orders, directing the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to expedite timber sales on federal public lands. The order claims a national and economic emergency…
Clear Horizons New Mexico, a statewide coalition of environmental, social justice, and conservation advocates from 33 organizations and businesses across New Mexico, applauds the Senate Finance Committee for passing the Community Benefit Fund, made up of Senate Bills 48 and 49. Senate Bill 48 passed the Senate Finance Committee on 7-4 do-pass vote,
Today (Feb. 13, 2025), the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-3 to pass SB 21, a substitute bill combining SB 21 and SB22. The bill will provide critical protections for New Mexico waters. The bills earlier passed the Senate Conservation Committee on two 6-3 votes. The bill will next go to the Senate Finance Committee, which if passed, will proceed to the full Senate for approval and, if passed, move over to the House for committee hearings and a floor vote.
BOULDER, Colo. (Feb. 12, 2025) – A diverse set of more than 100 environmental, health, and public interest groups today sent an open letter calling on governors across the U.S. to maintain support for clean trucks policies, amidst backlash from some corners of the trucking industry. The Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) standards are poised to create billions of dollars in economic, environmental, and public health benefits in the 11 states that have adopted the program.
It was a busy media month in January. We started off the New Year on January 1st, quoted in the Santa Fe New Mexican on the inappropriate appointment by Governor Lujan Grisham of former Legislator Greg Nibert to the Public Regulatory Commission (PRC). One of the main tasks of the PRC is to make sure
