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 Issues
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Secret Senate Holds on Nominees
Unprecedented numbers of secret holds by senators against even the most noncontroversial judicial and other nominees are delaying and blocking confirmation of President Obama's nominations
Creating New Judgeships
Pending legislation to help reduce backlogs in the nation’s district and circuit courts by authorizing additional permanent and temporary judgeships.
Access to Courts
Citizen access to the courts ensures that essential legal safeguards for people and the environment are upheld and enforced.
Takings Law
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that “private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
The Commerce Clause
Almost every major federal environmental statute relies on Commerce Clause authority
Clean Water
Polluter lawsuits are trying to effectively repeal the Clean Water Act for up to 60 percent of the nation's streams, creeks, and rivers. In light of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and administrative actions that are jeopardizing federal water pollution protections, Congress is considering the Clean Water Protection Act to reaffirm Congress' intent to protect all waters of the United States.
Clean Air / Global Warming
Fair federal courts are needed to uphold and enforce Clean Air Act limits on toxic pollution and global warming gases.
Fair Pay for Federal Judges
The effectiveness of our federal courts depends on our ability to attract the most exceptional lawyers to become federal judges and then keep them on the bench to administer our laws.
Ninth Circuit Split
Anti-environmental special interests are trying to "judge-shop" by dividing the Ninth Circuit in order to alter the results of cases and generate more industry-friendly decisions.
Learn More About What's at Stake
