Charleston Leader

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss oversight findings related to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding groups through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). They expressed concerns over funds being allocated to what they described as "radical, extremist groups."

Senator Capito highlighted a new group receiving funds and discussed Vice President Kamala Harris's role in funding multiple organizations with extreme positions. She stated, "We’ve really been digging into who is getting these massive amounts of grants through the EPA. There's $3 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRA, that will go for different climate buckets." She added that much of this money is going to groups engaged in activities she characterized as anti-American, anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, anti-police, and anti-border security.

Capito also mentioned Vice President Harris's involvement: "Vice President Harris…is quoted here, ‘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.’" She noted that some green groups have formed a coalition endorsing Harris for president.

Capito emphasized accountability issues within the EPA: "This uncovers quite a bit of the $3 billion. We’re up to $200 million...and this is just a lack of accountability." She urged more oversight and suggested defunding certain initiatives if Republicans gain control of Congress after January.

Senator Ricketts echoed these concerns: "When you're giving money to organizations like the Climate Justice Alliance...we're paying them to lobby our government." He criticized funding for groups advocating for abolishing military and police forces. "Everyday Americans think those organizations are important...this is really radical stuff that they're promoting," he said.

The senators listed several groups benefiting from IRA funds:

- The Climate Justice Alliance, set to receive $50 million.

- The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice and New York Immigration Coalition, set to help administer $50 million.

- The NDN Collective, set to administer $100 million.

- The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, set to receive between $1-3 million.

The full press conference can be viewed [here](#).