Disclaimer: This article may contain the personal views and opinions of the author.
GOP Governor Mike Dunleavy of Alaska took a stand against President Joe Biden and his administration for their various failures.
“They only pay lip service when it suits their political aims, but when it comes down to helping these folks, they have a terrible record at best and dismal at worst,” he said announcing he is suing the Biden administration for refusing to clean up contaminated Native American lands.
This isn’t the first time Dunleavy has taken issue with the Biden Administration – he’s also criticized them for their handling of the pandemic and lack of support for Alaska’s oil and gas industry. But this lawsuit may be his most high-profile move yet, and it could have major implications for the Biden Administration going forward.
The lawsuit centers around the contamination of Native American lands in Alaska by the U.S. military. The military has been using these lands for training exercises for decades, and as a result, they’ve become contaminated with hazardous materials like lead and arsenic. Despite repeated requests from the state of Alaska, the military has refused to clean up the contamination.
This isn’t just a problem for Alaska – it’s a national issue. An estimated 500,000 Native Americans are living on contaminated lands across the United States. And the problem is only getting worse – a recent report found that the military is contaminating Native American lands at an alarming rate, with no end in sight.
The Biden Administration has so far refused to address this issue, despite promising to be a champion for Native Americans during his campaign. This lawsuit could force the administration to finally take action on this issue, and it could set a precedent for other states to follow suit.
This is an important issue that deserves attention. Governor Dunleavy is right to hold the Biden Administration accountable for their failures, and this lawsuit could be a major step forward in getting justice for Native Americans across the country.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy: “To this day, the federal government does not appear to want to take responsibility. If they don’t allow development on (Alaskan) lands because of contamination, it will have an economic impact and more people will end up leaving the state.
“It’s certainly not helping the state of Alaska or the people of Alaska realize the promise of statehood, and that is to be able to take care of ourselves and create opportunity for our people.”
The White House released a statement on the matter in May: “Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released a report submitted to Congress, outlining the historic steps the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to implement recommendations from the first-ever White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC).
“The report is a formal response to recommendations the WHEJAC provided on the Justice40 Initiative, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), and revisions on Executive Order 12898 on Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations. The report fulfills a statutory obligation under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide a report to Congress within one year of receiving recommendations from a federal advisory committee.”
Despite this, it does not appear that the Biden administration is enthused to address this issue.
Bidet Ist Ein ASEL !