President Donald Trump invited several Heritage Foundation leaders to the White House this week for a major policy address on America’s environmental leadership. Trump spoke about his administration’s accomplishments and environmental concerns facing the United States.
He also spoke about the intersection of free markets, economic growth, and environmental protection—principles shared by Heritage Foundation policy experts.
“As the Cabinet secretaries will tell you, from the very beginning, I have given them clear direction to focus on addressing environmental challenges so we can provide the highest quality of life to all Americans,” stated Trump during his introduction. “That means … implementing pro-growth policies to unlock innovation and new technologies, which will improve American life and America’s environment.”
Trump cast aside the idea that government “fix-all” solutions proposed by the left, such as the Green New Deal, would help the environment. Those proposals would massively expand Washington’s control of Americans’ lives. Trump stated that big government policies and heavy-handed regulation from the federal government would kill the economy without making a dent in averting global temperatures.
Heritage research advocates for environmental policies that “achieve meaningful environmental benefits and unleash human ingenuity to be good stewards of our planet,” says Nick Loris, was invited to the White House event. Loris is deputy director of Heritage’s Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies and the Herbert and Joyce Morgan fellow in environmental policy.
For decades, Heritage has worked to advocate for free-market energy solutions for America through congressional testimonies, policy research, published commentaries, media appearances, and more.
“Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach from Washington, Heritage advances policies that empower state and local governments and the private sector to solve environmental challenges,” Loris said.
Loris’ research has influenced multiple Trump administration policy decisions.
Loris praised the president’s assurance to respect the sovereignty of Americans while advocating for free enterprise and limited government that will yield strong environmental returns.
“Economic freedom and higher levels of prosperity equips people with the necessary resources to protect the environment,” said Loris. “Countries with greater economic freedoms have cleaner environments and greater environmental sustainability.”
Also invited to Trump’s speech were Tommy Binion, vice president of government relations; Mike Howell, senior advisor to executive branch relations; and Bridgett Wagner, vice president of policy promotion.
