To: Interested Parties
From: Jennessa Agnew, National Field Director, LCV
Date: October 6, 2021
Re: Iowans share why they want climate action NOW

We are in the midst of one of the biggest pushes for climate action in our nation’s history as members of Congress work to finalize the Build Back Better Act. President Biden, House Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Schumer have made it clear that the bipartisan infrastructure framework must move in tandem with the Build Back Better Act with a new deadline of October 31st. From the ‘code red’ IPCC report, to devastating climate change-fueled hurricanes and tropical storms, scorching heat waves, drought, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that have impacted nearly 1 in 3 people in America just this summer, voters have had enough and it has never been more urgent for Congress to act on climate. Since launching in late June, LCV’s field program has been on the ground in Iowa and across the country, knocking on over 260,000 doors, and nearly 13,000 households and 9,000 businesses are displaying “Climate Action Now” signs in their neighborhoods.

Voters throughout Iowa’s 3rd congressional district have shared their concerns about extreme weather, climate injustice, and the overall health of the planet and they are stepping up by calling their representatives and demanding they take climate action now.

• Des Moines, IA: At a local farmer’s market, Charlotte, who’s family is a vendor, voiced her strong support for climate action in the Build Back Better Act. She is excited to support this cause by signing petitions calling on Congress to act on climate now and wants to continue to see positive changes that will keep the environment safe and protected.

• West Des Moines, IA: Randall is a science teacher who is currently incorporating climate change into his curriculum and plans to talk with his students about the Build Back Better Act because he wants them to understand and discuss solutions to the climate crisis. Randall is a big proponent of clean energy jobs, especially in the wind energy sector, which is yielding very positive results in the state.

• Des Moines, IA: Tim is supportive of climate action because he knows clean energy jobs will add more opportunities to the economy. 

• Des Moines, IA: Patty, an elementary school teacher, worries about what the future will be like for young children having to grow up in a polluted world and wants to do everything she can to show her support for immediate climate action, saying, “I work with kids, and the environment we have now is all that’s left to them.”

• West Des Moines, IA: A couple, Janet and Chris, had seen the Climate Action Now signs in their neighborhood and are excited to display one in their own yard. This excitement continues to grow as they learn more about the bold proposals in the Build Back Better Act.