Reps. Cleaver, Fletcher & Senators Whitehouse, Sanders, Merkley Lead Amicus Brief Supporting Solar for All Program

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) alongside Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a coalition of over 80 Members in the House and Senate in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to vacate the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) unlawful termination of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Solar for All program.

The $7 billion Solar for All program was designed to help low-and moderate-income communities invest in residential and community solar projects – lowering energy costs for working families while creating jobs in the clean energy economy. The program was expected to deliver solar access to more than 900,000 households nationwide and save participating families an estimated $350 million annually on utility bills. 

“The Solar For All program was created by Congress, funded by Congress, and signed into law to lower energy costs for working families while accelerating the transition to clean energy,” said Congressman Cleaver. “This administration does not have the authority to unilaterally dismantle a program established by statute. That’s not how our Constitution works. This amicus brief defends both the rule of law and the communities – like those across Missouri - that were counting on these investments to reduce utility bills, create jobs, and confront the climate crisis. I am grateful to Congresswoman Fletcher and Senator Whitehouse for the collaboration on this effort and to all of my colleagues who joined us.”

“Solar for All is one of the most important affordable energy programs in our country’s history,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “The Trump administration’s decision to terminate Solar for All was not just reckless — it was unlawful. Congress established the Solar for All program. Congress appropriated the funds for it. No president or political appointee can unilaterally eliminate a program Congress has created. We created this program to serve every American, in red states and blue states alike. We wanted to make sure that families from El Paso to Elkhart, Amarillo to Austin, and Houston to Harlingen could all share in the prosperity of America’s energy future. That is why Harris County is suing — not for politics, but for principle — and why I am glad to join Congressman Cleaver and Senator Whitehouse in this effort to support Harris County.

“I am grateful to all of my colleagues who joined us, especially our newest, Congressman Christian Menefee, who filed this lawsuit as Harris County Attorney,” concluded Congresswoman Fletcher.

During the Biden Administration, EPA awarded Solar for All grants to 60 state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Tribal governments across all 50 states. The program is part of the IRA’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Rep. Cleaver is leading the amicus brief alongside colleagues in the House and Senate to defend Congress’s constitution power of the purse and ensure communities receive the clean energy investments promised under the law. 

The amicus brief was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) as well as Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Diana DeGette (D-CO), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Adam Smith (D-WA), John B. Larson (D-CT), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Joe Courtney (D-CT), André Carson (D-IN), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Ed Case (D-HI), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Susie Lee (D-NV), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Deborah K. Ross (D-NC), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Casar (D-TX), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Valerie P. Foushee (D-NC), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), Robert J. Menendez (D-NJ), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Janelle S. Bynum (D-OR), Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Sara McBride (D-DE), Dave Min (D-CA), Emily Randall (D-WA), Christian Menefee (D-TX).

See full amicus brief here. 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.