Rep. Panetta Issues Statement on Trump’s Decision to Revoke Executive Order 13690

SALINAS, Calif., Aug. 16 -- Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's decision to revoke Executive Order 13690, signed by President Obama in January 2015. Executive Order 13690 required building standards for government-funded infrastructure projects to reduce exposure to flooding from sea level rise:

"The impacts of climate change, including the threat of sea level rise and flooding, are real and require prudent planning to protect our communities, especially here on the central coast of California.

"President Trump's decision to rollback requirements that protect critical infrastructure from sea level rise is not just risky, it is irresponsible. This decision is another example of the Trump administration's refusal to acknowledge the effects of climate change and will end up costing taxpayers billions of dollars over the long-term as our public infrastructure sustains flood-related damages.

"I will fight to restore these common-sense building standards for government-funded projects and other measures that mitigate the threat climate change poses to our environment, economy, and national security."