WASHINGTON, DC (October 9, 2015) – After the U.S. House of Representatives today voted to lift the long-standing ban on exporting crude oil, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director Kim Glas:

“Congress’ unrelenting attacks on workers and our environment continued with their vote today to lift the crude oil export ban.

“Refinery and related industry jobs strengthen our communities by providing good wages and benefits for workers. Lifting the crude oil export ban will provide an incentive for companies to offshore those jobs, hurting the men and women employed at refineries, and the economy of the communities they live in. This vote will also undermine our progress on environmental standards, such as the EPA’s Tier 3 sulfur standard rule, which will reduce asthma attacks and other health impacts by eliminating millions of tons of harmful emissions from our atmosphere.

“Instead of exporting pollution and quality jobs offshore, Congress should focus on improving health and safety standards for workers in the U.S. oil industry and supporting efforts to address climate change.”