Riverkeeper stands up against new federal legislation that would gut clean water protections
October 23, 2026
Riverkeeper Team
Riverkeeper strongly opposes newly introduced federal legislation that would severely weaken foundational environmental and clean water protections across the country.
The legislation, known as the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA), would allow the data centers as well as the coal, oil, and gas industry to run roughshod over the rights of states and the public to review and avoid the impacts projects such as pipelines and power plants have on drinking water sources and waterways.
The bill would also limit the public’s ability to push back against projects that could potentially harm the environment, and allow big businesses to use outdated pollution control technology. If BAAJA passes the U.S Senate and House of Representatives and is signed into law, it would undercut the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Review Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, and keystone protections for threatened species like the Hudson River’s iconic Atlantic sturgeon.
The 400 pages of legislation backed by the oil and gas industry sacrifices too many of our core environmental protections, while cutting out public input at a time when the current administration is already rolling back guardrails for clean water, wildlife, and human health. And while some of the bill’s provisions would speed up needed renewable energy transmission projects, it would also lock in and accelerate fossil fuel projects.
“Riverkeeper urges Senators Schumer and Gillibrand as well as our U.S. House delegation to oppose BAAJA in its current form and work to reach clean energy goals without sacrificing the bedrock of our environmental protections,” says Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown. “This bill gives away too much for too little and we urge members of the public to let their representatives know that gutting the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act is a bridge too far. When oil and gas industry representatives, as well as data center proponents, are staunch supporters of the bill, it’s clear that it is not in the public’s best interest.”
Riverkeeper has long defended the laws that keep the Hudson and New York’s waterways clean, and we will continue to press our congressional delegation, scrutinize every provision of BAAJA, and oppose any effort to trade away core environmental safeguards.
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