Charleston Leader

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss oversight findings regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) funding allocations through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The senators raised concerns about funds being directed to groups they described as radical and extremist.

Senator Capito highlighted that Vice President Kamala Harris has played a significant role in funding multiple groups with positions such as defunding the U.S. military and police, and engaging in activities characterized as anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic. She stated, “We’ve really been digging into who is getting these massive amounts of grants through the EPA... we found that a lot of this money that’s going out really has little to do with the environment.”

Capito also mentioned Vice President Harris's emphasis on equity in climate investments: "I put equity at the center of our nation's largest investment in climate in history, to reach the organizations that know their community best."

The senators noted that $3 billion from the IRA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant program is under scrutiny. Capito expressed concern over accountability, stating, “This uncovers quite a bit of the $3 billion... And this is just the lack of accountability.”

Senator Ricketts echoed these sentiments by criticizing funds allocated to groups like Climate Justice Alliance: “Everyday Nebraskans don't think that's a good idea that our tax dollars should go to radical organizations to lobby our own government.” He further criticized organizations advocating for abolishing military and police forces.

The list of groups benefiting from IRA funds includes:

- Climate Justice Alliance ($50 million)

- New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice

- New York Immigration Coalition ($50 million collectively)

- NDN Collective ($100 million)

- Ella Baker Center for Human Rights ($1-3 million)

The press conference underscored calls for increased oversight and potential defunding efforts if control shifts in Congress after January.