CLAIM: The Society of Native Nations claims that legislation designed to protect critical infrastructure projects and workers is a “fear tactic” that “protect(s) the dirty fossil fuel industry.”
RATING: False
FACT CHECK
As with other laws and legislation across the country, the bill passed this week by the legislature in Texas – and expected to be signed into law – is clear in its language and those behaviors it seeks to discourage:
DAMAGING OR DESTROYING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY. (a) A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person enters or remains on or in a critical infrastructure facility and intentionally or knowingly damages or destroys the facility.
IMPAIRING OR INTERRUPTING OPERATION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY. (a) A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person enters or remains on or in a critical infrastructure facility and intentionally or knowingly impairs or interrupts the operation of the facility.
The “fear tactic” is instead pretending that the legislation somehow threatens First Amendment protections of free speech and lawful assembly. The bills protect critical infrastructure projects – and those who work on them – that have been given all required permits by all relevant regulatory bodies.