NRDC Responds to House Natural Resources Committee Letter to U.S. Department of Defense

WASHINGTON – Bob Deans, director of strategic engagement for the Natural Resources Defense Council, made the following statement in response to today’s letter from the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee to Secretary of Defense James Mattis:

“NRDC’s work, in the United States and elsewhere, serves the public interest. It is directed by our senior leadership and policy experts, accountable to our independent board of trustees and supported by millions of Americans. Any suggestion to the contrary is just false.”

“We can defend our country and protect our oceans at the same time - in fact, that’s what the law requires. The agreements we’ve reached with the U.S. Navy help to ensure the security and readiness of our naval forces in ways that protect marine mammals from needless harm.”

“This work, and all our work, is grounded in the sole objective of protecting our air, water, wildlife and lands, in order to leave our children a livable world.”

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 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.