Lawmakers Introduce California Environmental Defense Bill Package

Trio of Bills Would Protect Public Health, Public Lands, and Protect Data if Federal Laws are Weakened

SACRAMENTO — California senators today introduced a trio of bills aimed at protecting the state’s greatest assets – its people and its natural resources – from potential threats from the Trump Administration. The California Environmental Defense Bill package includes protections for public lands, whistleblowers, data, clean air, climate, clean water, worker safety and endangered species.

The California Environmental, Public Health and Workers Defense Act of 2017 (De Leon, Stern) would protect the state from attacks on environmental and worker protections from  Washington, D.C., and ensure that existing federal standards on which the state relies can be maintained, even if the federal government rolls back and weakens those standards. 

Following is a statement from Ann Notthoff, director of California advocacy for NRDC:

“Californians have voted time and time again to protect our people and preserve our natural resources. We reject the Big Polluter agenda, which would put profits ahead of  the rights and health of everyday Americans. As the federal government gears up for  its unprecedented assault on the environment nationwide, it’s essential that our State  is prepared  to protect our people and the irreplaceable places  that make California so  great.”

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.