According to Fox News, Vice President Kamala Harris has come under fire for her support of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its resultant allocation of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants to several organizations.
The controversy arose from allegations that some of these organizations engage in activities perceived to be anti-American and anti-Israel.
Harris championed the IRA's goal of enhancing equity through EPA grants to various left-leaning groups. However, a Senate investigation led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, revealed concerns about the nature of these organizations.
Sen. Capito highlighted groups such as the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), the NDN Collective, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice as recipients of these grants. Capito says these groups have taken stands that are arguably against American principles.
The CJA is set to receive a $50 million grant amidst allegations that it supports Hamas and holds anti-Israel views. Similarly, the Ella Baker Center advocates for defunding the police, while the NDN Collective calls for defunding both the police and the U.S. military, controversially labeling the United States as "so-called."
Sen. Capito claimed that these funds are supporting groups described as anti-American, antisemitic, anti-Israel, and critical of police and border security. She emphasized that a significant portion of this money funds activities unrelated to environmental goals.
In December 2023, Harris stressed that the grants aim to promote environmental justice and ensure that resources reach community organizations familiar with local needs. Nonetheless, skepticism persists over the affiliations and actions of grant recipients.
Adding to the controversy, Sen. Capito suggested that the EPA is accelerating its grant distributions in anticipation of potential political changes. "There's been a recent rush to get this money out. And that's because they know that there's a likelihood, we like to think a high likelihood, that the administration will change come November," she remarked.
The EPA responded to the scrutiny by asserting that it independently administers funding programs following rigorous grant competition policies. An EPA spokesperson confirmed: "EPA strongly condemns violence, hate, or discrimination in any form, and any such comments are abhorrent and unacceptable."
Furthermore, the EPA maintains confidence in its oversight measures, ensuring that grant management complies with legal and federal requirements. These assurances, however, have not entirely quelled the growing concerns about grant allocation under the IRA.
Vice President Harris has made clear her condemnation of any association with Hamas, a terrorist organization committed to harming Israel. "I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews," she stated.
Moreover, the Vice President continues to defend the goal of these funds in fostering environmental justice. Despite this, Capito's findings and the organizations involved pose a significant challenge to Harris' initiative's perception.
Vice President Kamala Harris faces significant backlash due to her support of the IRA amid allegations concerning the nature of grant recipients. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito's investigation highlights the contentious involvement of left-leaning groups accused of anti-American activities. Amidst these allegations, both Harris and the EPA defend the goal of promoting environmental justice, although the controversy remains unresolved.
