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The Senate must allow an open amendment process
Washington, D.C.— In the continued rush to hold a vote during the outgoing session on the “bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026,” senators who drafted the bill released a manager amendment on Saturday. The Senate has scheduled a procedural vote to begin consideration of the bill tomorrow.
On Friday, the Sierra Club issued a statement saying it could not support the permit bill as currently written, which outlines fundamental changes that must be made. The administrator’s amendment partially addressed these concerns, but important substantive issues remain.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Loren Blackford issued the following statement:
“The Sierra Club appreciates the improvements made by the administrator’s amendment, but the bill remains seriously flawed. The Senate should allow an open amendment process for additional changes to be made.
“Updating and expediting clean energy and transmission permits is essential to lowering costs, reducing air, water and climate pollution, protecting communities and expanding the grid for the American people. But rushing legislation that erodes tribal sovereignty and the right of people to have a say in what is built in their communities, abandons safe drinking water safeguards and wildlife protections, while allowing a rogue president who is waging a war on clean energy and our public lands is not an acceptable result.
“Senate Democrats have been given a mandate to act decisively to provide relief on energy bills and level the playing field for clean energy. They can and should fight for a better deal. Unless there is additional dialogue and change, the Sierra Club cannot support this legislation.”
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