You may have heard that MEIC and 18 other environmental and public health organizations are being investigated by certain members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources for what they say is the “outsized influence” we “wield over the federal government, law, and natural resource policy.”
Congress calls MEIC a “radical environmental group” because of our successful track record protecting clean air, clean water, public lands, and our constitutional rights. This Congressional committee doesn’t believe it’s appropriate for organizations such as MEIC to use the Congressionally created fee recovery mechanisms when we have to hold the federal government accountable for breaking the law. While it is extremely rare for MEIC or any other organization to recover attorney fees when a court rules in our favor and finds that the federal government violated the law, it is an important provision that allows the public to protect public health and natural resources when government agencies fail to do so. Environmental organizations such as MEIC are being targeted even though Congress can’t do its most basic function of crafting a budget.
MEIC is more committed than ever to continue fighting for Montana’s air, water and land. We are proud to be part of this group of 19 public health and environmental groups because it means we are doing work that is making a difference, such as pushing back on the wave of data centers threatening our air, water, wildlife, and communities. We will not be intimidated. We will continue to show up for our members, for Montana communities, and for the environment. Together we’re stronger.
For Montana,
Anne Hedges
Executive Director
