House Republicans Probe More Oversight in Environmental Lawsuits

Republican lawmakers probed possible oversight mechanisms for environmental litigators seeking attorney’s fees or settlements under federal environmental laws during a hearing Wednesday, accusing nonprofits of exploiting fee-shifting provisions in statutes.

Representatives on the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in the House Committee on Natural Resources argued non-governmental organizations and nonprofit environmental groups have exploited provisions in laws such as the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act to collect money from the taxpayer-funded Treasury Judgment Fund.

Groups including the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Northwest Environmental Advocates were named as organizations with attorney fee ...