Senate Vote: A Betrayal of American Workers and Energy Independence

Today, the U.S. Senate voted to kill American jobs in order to line the pockets of the megawealthy. This bill eradicates thousands of good-paying LIUNA jobs — jobs that were promised, planned, and already underway. By a vote of 51-50 this legislation upends energy projects that were cementing America’s energy dominance and global security.

At a time of unprecedented demand and rising prices, we should encourage an “all of the above” energy policy and not pick winners and losers. Unfortunately, the passage of this bill has done just that — making hardworking Americans dependent on energy from hostile nations like China and Russia.

Meanwhile, LIUNA members — more than half a million strong and proud — stand ready to build the clean, secure energy future our country desperately needs. These solar and wind projects weren’t abstract policy ideas — they were real job opportunities for real people across every part of our country for the next seven years. Now, all projects that have not started construction within one year — a year marked by economic fragility and supply chain insecurity - will never break ground and our members will never work on them.

After a campaign of promises to lower costs for hardworking Americans, Republican Senators have instead voted to raise energy prices by taking low cost clean energy off the table. America’s working families deserve better. They deserve a future built by skilled, union hands, not dismantled by political maneuvering and tax giveaways for elites. Our members will not forget this vote—or the leaders who turned their backs on the workers they claimed to represent. Today’s vote represents American politics at its absolute worst.

Let’s build opportunity — not destroy it.