ICYMI, today, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), and Climate Power held a Build Back Better on Climate press event in the U.S. Capitol with LCV’s Tiernan Sittenfeld, House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL), Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS), Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV), Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV).

Watch the full recording here.

The speakers highlighted the urgent need to pass the Build Back Better Act with ambitious investments in America’s clean energy future. Their message was clear: Congress must invest in climate, clean energy, justice, and jobs at the scale that science and justice demand.

At the top of the presser, Speaker Pelosi reiterated her commitment to passing the climate provisions in the Build Back Better Act in her just-released Dear Colleague letter, saying, “[President Biden] will go to Glasgow — and we want him to do so — with legislation that is passed that confirms our commitment to the Paris Accords by honoring our commitment to emissions standards.”

LCV’s Tiernan Sittenfield made clear, “We must cut climate pollution in half by 2030 and we must transition to 100% clean energy once and for all. It is so unacceptable that nearly one in three people in this country this summer alone have experienced climate fueled extreme weather — this has to stop. The time for Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act and send it to President Biden is now.”

Chair Kathy Castor (FL-14) said, “This is it, it’s a code red moment, but Democrats are answering the call and we’re fighting for hard-working American families. Our only hope to avoid catastrophe is to act with urgency and to act now.”

Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) said, “Climate change is an emergency that demands urgent, bold action. The Build Back Better Act is bold action — this historic legislation builds on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package to tackle the climate crisis by helping communities transition to clean energy, while creating good paying jobs to power our future.”

Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03) said, “I’m going to continue to show up. I know that we can build on some of the work that’s being done at the local level — and I know that we’re going to continue to work on getting these bills through. When you think about what the future holds, I want to be sure people know we’re not just talking about the clean energy industry — we’re talking about promoting an amazing economic driver that is going to leave our grandchildren in a much better place.”

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) said, “People in New Jersey understand how critical this is for our children, for our planet, for our neighbors, and that’s what we need to see more of here and that is why we need to pass the Build Back Better Bill. The time is now, it’s truly critical.”

Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) said, “I represent Las Vegas and we’re still recovering like the rest of this country from the devastating impacts of pandemic — but we can’t continue to ignore the climate catastrophe that’s not coming, it’s here now — impacting Americans every single day. The Build Back Better Act will create thousands of clean energy jobs, reducing our carbon emissions while combating climate change.”

Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) said, “The day I was touring storm damage in Michigan, another storm hit, knocking out power lines, shutting down businesses. Basements, cars, homes, and roads destroyed as our existing infrastructure couldn’t keep up with the extreme weather caused by climate change. The time is now to come together to build back better — we can do this.”

Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) said, “Climate action is protecting our planet — but it’s also about fairness, and about justice, and about jobs. None of this is about politics. This is bipartisan — our constituents, whether they be Republicans, Democrats or Independents — they want climate action now. With the Democrats in charge of this House, and the Senate, and the White House, we will deliver.”

Speaker Pelosi closed things out by reiterating the emissions reductions goals that must be met through the Build Back Better Act to act on climate at the scale that science and justice demand, “Our goal is to pass this legislation, our goal is meet the standards — 50% by 2030, 100% by 2050, and to do so in a way that is a model for the world. We fully intend to do it.”

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