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Issue Category: Chispa

THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE ACTION(!) – DECEMBER 17, 2021

Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“President Biden has made it clear that delivering environmental justice is a top priority for this Administration, especially in communities most gravely impacted by the pandemic and health outcome disparities from pollution. Thanks to the President and Congress, today’s environmental justice grants funded by the American Rescue Plan will provide critical support to our most overburdened and vulnerable communities.”

— EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, speaking on the EPA’s announcement this week to fund environmental justice efforts in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

“Literally, I am riding on sunshine. That’s why making these electric charging stations everywhere across the country is so critical. We need to make sure these electric vehicles are accessible to everyone. The future is electric.”

— Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, speaking at an electrical vehicle facility in Maryland for this week’s announcement from the Biden-Harris administration on the Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan.

“We know we’re going to be in storms that are more frequent and more intense. We’re using traditional ecological knowledge and wisdom from our own people, so we can rebuild better…Our whole focus is resiliency, adaptation, and sustainability.” 

— Chief Shirell Parfait-Dardar, leader of the Grand Caillou/Dulac tribe in Louisiana, who has organized relief efforts for her community members that need immediate help after extreme weather along the Gulf Coast in Al Jazeera article, “The Louisiana Indigenous community fighting for hurricane justice.”

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

E&E News: Greens offer warnings, pressure on reconciliation inaction
Cleveland.com: Cleveland gets $5 million to abate lead paint as part of broader fight against lead contamination
Arizona Daily Star: Arizona seeks dismissal of voting list lawsuit
Concord Monitor: Letter: Climate Action now

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:

Inside Climate News (OH + NC): Climate Activists and Environmental Justice Advocates Join the Gerrymandering Fight in Ohio and North Carolina
Las Vegas Sun (NV): Build Back Better Act is a big win for Nevada
News Miner (AK): PRO Act, Build Back Better will help build Alaska’s future
The Washington Post (VA): Hypocrisy emerges in Gov.-elect Youngkin’s vow to withdraw from the regional climate compact
Public News Service (CA): Redistricting Commission Urged to Consider Environmental Justice
WTVB (MI): Even as the power comes back on, Consumers Energy and DTE face further criticism
Patch (NJ): Will NJ Towns, Counties Set Up Stormwater Utilities After Ida?
Morning Sentinel (ME): The oyster savers: The mollusks filter water, protect against storms and taste amazing. Restoring their habitat is a no-brainer
The Colorado Sun (CO): Advocacy groups force Colorado water quality commission to consider upgrades for urban streams
Patch (MD): Senate Envisions Comprehensive Climate Bill; House To Tackle Provisions In Chunks
Energy News Network (CT): Study: Business lobbying a major barrier to clean energy legislation in Connecticut
Augusta Free Press (VA): Environmental groups decry state board vote approving Mountain Valley Pipeline project

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WE MUST ACT ON CLIMATE + DEMOCRACY: We know that we can’t wait to take action on climate — as former U.S. Representative and current LCV Board Member Donna Edwards stated earlier this week, “The fact is the clock is running out on dealing with climate change.” Our country must make the bold investments to transition to a clean energy future, address environmental injustices, and create good-paying jobs. The overwhelmingly popular Build Back Better Act will save families $500 a year on their energy bills, replace lead pipes, make electric vehicles more affordable and charging stations more accessible, create more opportunities for clean energy manufacturing jobs in the U.S., and so much more. We also know that we can’t have a healthy environment without a healthy democracy. With this week’s announcement that the Senate will continue to work to pass the Build Back Better Act parallel to voting rights legislation over the next few weeks, we continue to call on the Senate to quickly pass legislation that will protect both our planet and our democracy.

PRESIDENTIAL TAKE: President Joe Biden stated, “Build Back Better is urgently needed to lower the cost of prescription drugs, health care, child care, and elder care. Notwithstanding the unrelenting Republican obstruction – not a single Republican is willing to move forward on the bill – I am determined to see this bill enacted into law, to give America’s families the breathing room they deserve. We also need urgent action on climate change and other priorities in the Build Back Better plan. We will – we must – get Build Back Better passed, even in the face of Republican opposition. At the same time, we must also press forward on voting rights legislation, and make progress on this as quickly as possible.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld stated, “As the President and Leader Schumer have made clear time and again, failure to pass the Build Back Better Act is not an option. The Senate can and must pass the Build Back Better Act quickly. This overwhelmingly popular bill will save people money on their energy bills and other monthly expenses, create good-paying union jobs, and build a healthier, more equitable clean energy future for all of our communities. We remain confident that the Senate will act in the next few weeks to pass the strongest legislation in U.S. history to combat the climate crisis. Climate catastrophes are devastating our communities right now and further delay is unacceptable. Our climate and our democracy are inextricably linked, and we also urge the Senate to do what it takes to swiftly pass meaningful voting rights legislation.” 

CLIMATE + ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROVISIONS WILL IMPROVE LIVES: Today, LCV released a new memo from LCV Senior Director of Government Affairs Matthew Davis highlighting the benefits of the climate and environmental justice provisions in the Build Back Better Act for communities across the country. As political developments continue to unfold in the days and weeks to come, we encourage reporters and other experts to also cover the real and meaningful impacts families and communities would feel quickly upon bill passage. Read more how the climate provisions in the Build Back Better Act will improve lives and cut costs for the average person below and HERE.

THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT WILL:

    • Save families an average of $500 a year on their energy bills
    • Make electric vehicles more affordable and charging stations more accessible
    • Create more opportunities for clean manufacturing jobs in the U.S.
    • Improve public transit options including more accessible, cleaner, more frequent public buses and metro lines
    • Provide 3 million kids with clean rides to school by converting 60,000 diesel school buses to clean electric school buses
    • Replace lead pipes in homes and schools across the country
    • Communities on the frontlines of legacy environmental and health hazards will receive major grants to reduce pollution and climate threats

…AND SO MUCH MORE!

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BUILD BRICK BETTER: What’s a better representation of building back better than building LEGOs that take the shape of windmills, electric school buses, clean water flowing through lead-free pipes, and thriving wildlife? Through this Sunday, the League of Conservation Voters is hosting a one-of-a-kind LEGO advent calendar created by artists Adam Ward and Jef Caine in Union Market in Washington, D.C. Come see this family-friendly, interactive installation using LEGOS to highlight some of the nearly 130 provisions included in the Build Back Better Act that will make transformative investments in climate action, clean energy jobs, and environmental justice. See the benefits of the Build Back Better Act highlighted in the LEGO advent calendar HERE.

WE MUST BUILD BACK BETTER FOR ALL…: For too long, our country’s immigration system has been broken without comprehensive legislation to address its inequities. On Thursday night, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that immigration provisions in the Build Back Better Act, including deportation relief and work permits, could not be included. Immigrants are the backbone of this country and are often in jobs and communities that put them on the frontlines of the climate crisis — the same systemic inequities and institutionalized discrimination that fuels environmental racism also oppress the immigrant community. 

…INCLUDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: Earlier this week, advocacy organizations, including LCV, sent a letter to senators urging them to pass the Build Back Better Act immediately so that the Child Tax Credit’s payments for January go to families in time as the last authorized payment takes place on December 15th. Delays in funding for families who rely on this relief for their children puts them at risk of poverty, especially as the Omicron COVID-19 variant surges throughout the country. 

COALITION TAKE: The coalition letter reads, “We risk throwing nearly 10 million children back below the poverty line or deeper into poverty in 2022. Overall, 65 million children will lose out unless Congress acts with urgency. Passing the Build Back Better Act provides a historic opportunity to reduce childhood poverty and continued support to the most vulnerable children, particularly in Black and Latino families. This legislation also makes the most significant investments in climate and environmental justice in history and makes transformative improvements in our nation’s care infrastructure.

LCV PRESIDENT WEIGHS IN: This week, LCV President Gene Karpinski wrote an opinion piece for Story Partners, addressing the urgency for the Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act to tackle the climate crisis at the scale that science and justice require and highlighting the provisions in the transformative legislation that will help working families save money on their energy bills, create good-paying clean energy jobs, and invest in a clean energy future. 

LCV PRESIDENT TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “We cannot afford not to pass this bill. The U.S. incurred $104 billion in damages from extreme weather disasters in the first eight months of 2021 alone. The cost of investing in climate action is minimal compared to the cost of inaction. We also know there is a political cost for those opposed to Build Back Better — people across the nation overwhelmingly support climate action, and they will hold members of Congress who side with fossil fuel CEOs over their communities accountable at the ballot box. This legislation is about lowering costs for families and creating good-paying jobs. Period. There is nothing more bipartisan than that and the stakes could not be higher.”

PLAN FOR ACTION ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES: On Monday, the Biden-Harris administration released the Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan, which highlights the actions federal agencies are taking to support the development and deployment of electric vehicle charging stations across the country. In addition, LCV, Chispa, and Maryland LCV joined an event with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy at a Maryland electrical vehicle facility to discuss how electric vehicles can power a clean energy future and good-paying jobs. 

VP TAKE: Vice President Kamala Harris stated, “To combat this crisis, our administration has joined other nations in setting yes, an ambitious but achievable goal. By 2050, at the latest, we will achieve net-zero emissions. And one important way we achieve net-zero emissions is by investing in zero emissions vehicles.“

CHISPA TAKE: Chispa posted a video from the event with the caption, “The Biden-Harris administration is making the largest effort investment in electric vehicle infrastructure and technology in our nation’s history. This is only the beginning to ensure the health of our communities, strengthen our economy, and sustainability of our planet 🌎”

MDLCV TAKE: Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble stated, “The Biden Administration’s Build Back Better plan will include more than $60 million for Maryland for electric vehicle charging stations. The future is electric, but we need to make these technologies accessible to everyone. Build Back Better will do that. At Maryland LCV, we are particularly committed to advancing the transition to electric school buses to protect the health of our children and to reduce greenhouse gas emission. Electric school buses mean cleaner air and healthier children and communities. We can all get behind that.”

OUR TAKE: Senior Vice President of Government of Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld stated, “We applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s launch of the Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan to advance the movement for climate, jobs, and justice. We also thank Vice President Kamala Harris for her powerful words today envisioning a clean vehicle future, and for her longtime leadership to make that vision a reality. Specifically, this effort will help to create good-paying jobs at every step of the process, including the workers needed to manufacture, install, and maintain electric vehicle supply equipment. Once executed, the Biden-Harris administration’s comprehensive plan will increase access to electric vehicle charging stations across the country. Expanding accessibility to electric vehicle charging stations and jobs is just the beginning to building back better. The time for the Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act with investments that make it easier for working families to purchase and manufacture electric vehicles is right now.”

PLAN FOR ACTION AGAINST LEAD PIPES AND PAINT: This week, the Biden-Harris administration announced their Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, which outlines the administration’s plan to work with federal, state, and local levels of government to deliver clean drinking water, replace lead pipes, and remediate lead paint across the country — with a focus on historically excluded communities. Children in communities of color and communities with low wealth have disproportionately suffered from the devastating health impacts that lead pipes and paint pose. No level of lead is safe, and this action plan will work to accelerate the removal of lead from our homes and schools while prioritizing the communities that are some of the most impacted.

VP TAKE: Vice President Harris stated, “Over the years, I have traveled around the country and I have met many parents to talk about this very issue – so many parents – parents who are worried that every time they turned on the faucet to get their child a glass of water, that they may be filling that glass with poison; parents who worry, as they make breakfast in the morning or in the evening help their children to brush their teeth, that they are exposing their children to something that could harm them…So, the bottom line is that there is no reason in the 21st century for why people are still exposed to this substance that was poisoning people back in the 18th century.  There is no good reason.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Deputy Legislative Director Madeleine Foote stated, “We applaud the Biden-Harris administration on the launch of their Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and commitment to reducing lead exposure within a decade. Too many families across the country have to worry if the water from their tap or the paint on their walls is poisoning their children. This whole-of-government approach, and especially the centering of low-wealth communities and communities of color who have been disproportionately burdened by lead pollution, is a huge step forward in protecting our health and reducing environmental injustice while creating good union jobs. With this new plan, the investments in lead pipe replacement from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the additional funding Congress will soon pass in the Build Back Better Act, we will make historic progress in removing toxic lead from our lives once and for all.”

CONTINUING THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE: This week, the family of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, along with advocacy organizations fighting for voting rights, including LCV, announced plans to urge Congress to pass critical voting rights legislation in the days leading up to Dr. King’s birthday on January 17th. The Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would help protect, expand, restore voting rights for voters and potential voters so that their voices can be heard at the ballot box. Just this year, 19 states have passed 33 laws that restrict voting access. A healthy environment and a healthy democracy are inextricably linked — Congress must take swift action to protect both.

MLK III TAKE: Martin Luther King III stated, “President Biden and Congress used their political muscle to deliver a vital infrastructure deal, and now we are calling on them to do the same to restore the very voting rights protections my father and countless other civil rights leaders bled to secure. Like those who crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, we will not accept empty promises in pursuit of my father’s dream for a more equal and just America.”

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “A healthy environment and a healthy democracy are inextricably linked. It is not a coincidence that communities of color, immigrant, and low-income communities that suffer the most from environmental injustice are the same communities that have been historically targeted with voter suppression tactics. In a year where over 400 voter suppression bills were introduced in state legislatures, we are proud to join with the King family and our democracy partners in calling for the swift passage of the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Washington, D.C. Admission Act.”

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES:

🎉HUGE WIN🎉: REDUCING EMISSIONS IN OREGON: This week, a new plan developed by the Department of Environmental Quality was adopted and will take effect on January 1, which will require fossil fuel suppliers to cut emissions by half by 2035 and by 90 percent by 2050. The Climate Protection Program will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while focusing on environmental justice communities by also working to reduce other air contaminants and pollutants that negatively impact public health. Oregon’s action is a key one to reduce emissions that are fueling the climate crisis. The state has already seen the devastating impacts of climate change including this summer’s deadly heatwaves, wildfires, and drought.  

OLCV TAKE: Oregon League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Doug Moore stated, “Oregonians have long demanded this kind of bold action to reduce climate pollution and make a transition to a clean energy economy. Many of us do our part already, and the Climate Protection Program will now hold some of the states largest polluters to the same level of responsibility. Governor Brown has overseen an unprecedented era of climate protection progress in the legislature and through her executive action. Recognizing there’s still a lot of progress to make, today we see the results of electing climate and environmental justice champions.”

FROM THE FIELD: In case you missed it, LCV’s visibility and mobilization field program hit a major milestone, knocking on over 425,000 doors across 12 states and D.C. Our organizers continue to show that communities across the country want climate action now, as they talk with people across the country about the Build Back Better Act and its critical climate provisions! Through our canvassing, we’ve recruited over 25,000 people to take action, over 17,400 households have a sign in their yard, and over 18,000 businesses are displaying support. Every day we hear from community members who would like to see tangible steps taken toward mitigating climate change — over 5,600 people we’ve talked to have called their member of Congress in favor of the Build Back Better Act.

REDISTRICTING BATTLES IN OHIO AND NORTH CAROLINA: This week, the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) filed an amicus brief on gerrymandered congressional districts in the state with the Ohio Supreme Court — highlighting the impacts that partisan gerrymandering has on environmental injustices in communities historically excluded from the electoral process. Read the OEC’s full amicus brief HERE. In addition, in case you missed it, the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters filed a lawsuit earlier this month, claiming that “unconstitutional partisan and racial gerrymandering” across North Carolina violates the state constitution and arguing that the House and Senate maps in North Carolina make deliberate grouping choices and excessively cross counties in order to leverage outcomes. Last week, North Carolina’s state Supreme Court postponed the March primary amidst multiple lawsuits regarding North Carolina’s remapping of districts.

OEC TAKE: Ohio Environmental Council staff attorney Chris Tavenor stated, “We do not have a democracy that is responding to the needs of Ohioans, whether it’s people who are fighting for health care, or workers rights or fighting for a healthy environment. The reason why we joined this lawsuit is because we fundamentally believe that in order for us to achieve change here in Ohio, we need a democracy that is actually functioning…Their communities are diluted and divided in ways that don’t give them a representative that is from their community. Sometimes it’s difficult to even know what issue that particular community would want to be prioritized because they don’t have a district that is theirs.”

NCLCV TAKE: North Carolina LCV spokesperson Dustin Ingalls stated, “The same voters that are most impacted by gerrymandering and other forms of voter suppression are also most impacted by climate change and environmental injustice.”

BUILD BACK BETTER IS A BIG WIN ACROSS THE COUNTRY: This week, the Las Vegas Sun published an opinion piece from Nevada Conservation League Deputy Director Verna Mandez highlighting how the Build Back Better Act will benefit Nevadans who are seeing the impacts of the climate crisis first hand with record-breaking temperatures and devastating wildfires by cutting pollution and investing in clean energy. In addition, the Alaska Center Executive Director Polly Carr and Alaska AFL-CIO President Joelle Hall wrote an opinion piece in the Daily News-Miner highlighting how investments in the Build Back Better Act is a once in a generation opportunity to create jobs for a sustainable economy while addressing climate justice. We know that inaction on climate is not an option — the Build Back Better Act will make the investments needed to meet the moment on the climate crisis.

WE CAN’T WALK BACK ON CLIMATE IN VIRGINIA: Yesterday, the Washington Post published an opinion piece from Virginia League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Michael Town on Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin’s announcement that he would use his executive power to remove Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Since 2009, the program has generated “at least $5.7 billion of health savings through reductions in harmful emissions, especially particulate matter.” As Virginia continues to see the impacts of the climate crisis, now is not the time to walk back on efforts to curb emissions from the power sector. See the facts on the RGGI HERE.

 

COMING UP:

December 16-19: Advent Calendar Art Activation in Union Market

THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE ACTION(!) – DECEMBER 10, 2021

Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“Places like Germany have banned fracking. So they don’t allow it on their own land, but they don’t mind exploiting low-income communities in the United States.”

— Elida Castillo, the program director of Chispa Texas and one of the activists who traveled to Germany to join activists opposed to fracked gas exported from the United States to Germany in an article in The Nation, “The Export Boom.”

“Environmental justice – particularly as it relates to climate justice – is inherently tied to the fight for human and civil rights. And, as we see more and more wildfires, hurricanes, once-in-a-century storms, floods, and other climate disasters, there is a clear connection between the environmental justice we seek and the immigration justice our allies seek for our communities.”

— Alejandra Ramírez-Zárate, Chispa National Campaigns Manager, describing the links between the climate crisis leading global displacement and the need for immigration reform to be included in the Senate’s version of the Build Back Better Act in a new blog post, “Let’s Build Back Better For All” (more below!).

“There’s pretty significant evidence that this is the direction that voters want utilities to go. There are not very many industries that want to invest billions of dollars in rural Nebraska, and clean energy is one of those industries. I think these elected officials are thinking about that.”

— Chelsea Johnson, Nebraska Conservation Voters deputy director in a Grist article, “In a red-state first, Nebraska plans to decarbonize power sector by mid-century.”

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

Grist: This Nevada community is ‘United In Action’ in pursuit of cleaner air
The Wall Street Journal: Biden Commits U.S. Government to Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
E&E News: ‘Potemkin jobs’: GOP has no love for Civilian Climate Corps
Politico: GOP escalates air wars over Biden’s megabill
Telemundo Las Vegas: Dale Play: estas son las actividades navideñas en Las Vegas

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:

Grist (NE): In a red-state first, Nebraska plans to decarbonize power sector by mid-century
WFDD (NC): NC’s top court halts March primary due to remapping suits
The Nation (TX): The Export Boom
Trib Live (PA): Molly Parzen: We must tackle climate change to truly Build Back Better
CalMatters (CA): Redistricting will help determine how California deals with climate crisis
Post Independent (CO): Glenwood Springs Historical Society wins seed grant for Latino Stories project
Politico (NJ): ‘A stab in the back’: Murphy looks to Chemistry Council to regulate Pinelands
The Press of Atlantic City (NJ): Murphy drops Pinelands pick after criticism, may hint at compromise
Detroit Free Press (MI): Opinion: Communities can come together to take action on PFAS
Delaware Currents (NY): $1M quest(ion): Upper Delaware River supporters seek NYS funding

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⚡COMMUNITY POWER⚡ IN NEVADA: This week, LCV and Chispa, in collaboration with The Redford Center, announced the launch of the second part of their Community Power short film series entitled, “Community Power Nevada: Unidxs En Acción (United in Action).” The new film highlights how Southern Nevada’s Latinx community is advocating for clean transportation as a key solution in their state for improving air quality and public health outcomes. By using personal air quality tracking technologies and grassroots organizing, Nevada Latinx are building their community’s power to demand their families’ right to breathe clean air. The film highlights a tapestry of intergenerational community members who share how environmental pollution has harmed their health and led them to advocate for environmental and climate justice with Chispa Nevada. The film also chronicles the passage of state legislation, Assembly Bill 349, which will take high-polluting vehicles off the road and, eventually, replace them with cleaner alternatives. Now, local activists are working to ensure the legislation is implemented equitably throughout the community. Watch the film HERE.

CHISPA NEVADA TAKE: Chispa Nevada Program Director Rudy Zamora stated, “Latinx families in Nevada know all too well the harm of living in neighborhoods with the worst air quality, and we’re not waiting for our families to get sicker before demanding action to improve our air quality. We’re grateful to be able to share our stories as we organize our community and push for justice and long-lasting change. Our communities have been left out of environmental narratives for too long.” 

CHISPA DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS MANAGER TAKE: Chispa Digital Campaigns Manager Alexa Aispuro stated in the film, “We did a project with the air quality monitors where we went through different areas in the city — the air quality is usually worse in Latino communities or just communities that don’t have a lot of funding.”

THE REDFORD CENTER TAKE: The Redford Center Executive Director Jill Tidman stated, “In this film, unity and self-determination are on brilliant display at a level rarely seen, or even known, by those in seats of power. It makes essential links between how coordinated individual actions can collectively lead to state-level victories. It shows the massive potential we have to create systems change when groups like Chispa Nevada help communities organize to claim their right to breathe clean air, and win. I find this story deeply, and personally, inspiring.”

EXECUTIVE ORDER ON SUSTAINABILITY: This week, the White House released an executive order and sustainability plan that outlines commitments to tackle the climate crisis and vitalize America’s clean energy industry and manufacturing, create good paying jobs, and advance environmental justice and equity through federal sustainability actions. This announcement, which is a significant step toward confronting the climate crisis and passing the Climate Test, includes important provisions like: a new Buy Clean program, emissions and climate-risk disclosure requirements, the acquisition of only clean light duty vehicles for the federal fleet by 2027 and entirely clean fleet purchases by 2035, a 50% reduction in building emissions by 2032 and 100% by 2045, a preference for sustainable products without toxic PFAS chemicals, and the purchase of 100% clean electricity by 2030. In addition, these ambitious goals will aim to incorporate Justice40 initiatives and environmental justice in decision-making, agency sustainability planning, and climate adaptation and resilience planning. Now, it’s time that the Senate builds on this progress and passes the transformative investments towards clean energy, justice, and jobs in the Build Back Better Act. Read LCV’s full statement HERE and read the White House fact sheet on the executive order HERE.

PRESIDENTIAL TAKE: President Biden’s executive order reads, “In responding to [the climate] crisis, we have a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity to create and sustain jobs, including well-paying union jobs; support a just transition to a more sustainable economy for American workers; strengthen America’s communities; protect public health; and advance environmental justice. As the single largest land owner, energy consumer, and employer in the Nation, the Federal Government can catalyze private sector investment and expand the economy and American industry by transforming how we build, buy, and manage electricity, vehicles, buildings, and other operations to be clean and sustainable… Through a whole-of-government approach, we will demonstrate how innovation and environmental stewardship can protect our planet, safeguard Federal investments against the effects of climate change, respond to the needs of all of America’s communities, and expand American technologies, industries, and jobs.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Government Affairs Advocate Sara Fontes stated, “We commend the Biden administration for leveraging the power of the federal government to spur the clean energy economy, grow clean manufacturing jobs here in the United States, protect public health by transitioning away from toxic PFAS chemicals, and advance environmental justice and equity. Today’s executive order and plan begin to deliver on the administration’s commitment to revitalize the federal government’s sustainability efforts. It is imperative that Congress passes the Build Back Better Act this year and federal appropriations bills before the continuing resolution expires in February, to ensure that the federal government has the additional funding necessary to deliver on this ambitious plan.”

LET’S BUILD BACK BETTER FOR ALL: This week, Chispa released a new blog post from Chispa National Campaigns Manager Alejandra Ramírez-Zárate, “Let’s Build Back Better For All,” highlighting how the climate crisis is the leading catalyst forcing families and communities from their homes across the globe — nearly three times more than conflict and nine times more than persecution. We cannot only build back better for some in this country — the provisions in the Build Back Better Act will provide much-needed relief to immigrant communities, including work permits, and must remain in the final passage of the bill.

CHISPA TAKE: Chispa National Campaigns Manager Alejandra Ramírez-Zárate wrote, “Getting our respective priorities into the final Build Back Better Act package, legislation, or other legislative vehicles should not be a competition for who gets the best or biggest piece of the pie. Justice for our communities is an and instead of an or; we need both a pathway to citizenship and bold investment in immediate climate action to ensure our future generations can benefit from a safer, more equitable country – particularly for the Latinx community as we face xenophobic narrative and policies, underrepresentation in government and in the media (and overrepresentation of harmful stereotypes), and targeted disinformation in both English and Spanish. This is a historic opportunity to stand together and ensure that pandemic rebuilding efforts and revisioning of a more just future include relief for our communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 due to decades of disinvestment, discriminatory practices, higher pollution burdens, inequitable access to healthcare, and so much more.”

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX UPDATE: As our country is still reeling from supply chain disruptions and rising prices from the last year, people across the country are feeling the economic impacts of inflation everyday. The Build Back Better Act will not add to inflation and actually benefit communities and lower inflation by cutting costs for the middle class and lowering the cost of health care, child care education, housing, and more, while investing in a more resilient, clean energy infrastructure and tackling the climate crisis. In addition, by investing in infrastructure, ports, and domestic manufacturing, the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan infrastructure package will help ease the pressure on the supply chains, which is increasing inflation and prices. Furthermore, the Build Back Better Act will save people money — investments in clean energy and energy efficiency will save households an estimated $500 per year in energy costs. See more from our factsheet HERE on the provisions that the Senate must keep in their passage of the Build Back Better Act.

PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY PASSES THE HOUSE: This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5314, The Protecting Our Democracy Act, which aims to prevent corruption, abuse of power, and executive overreach. Many actions taken by Trump during his administration unveiled major gaps in measures meant to protect our democracy by ensuring government officials work for the interests of the people they serve. As Republicans continue to play by party lines, the Senate must now use every resource at their disposal to eliminate the filibuster and pass legislation that protects our democracy from suppression at the ballot box and overreach in the White House.

SPEAKER TAKE: Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated, “Disturbingly, the last administration saw our democracy in crisis with a rogue president who trampled over the guardrails protecting our Republic. Now, Congress has the solemn responsibility and opportunity to safeguard our democracy, ensuring that past abuses can never be perpetrated by any president of any party.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Advocacy Director for Judiciary and Democracy Doug Lindner stated, “In an era of unprecedented threats to our constitutional system, House Democrats have once again risen to the occasion by passing vital democracy legislation in the face of overwhelming Republican obstruction. By shoring up the rule of law and the integrity of our institutions, fighting corruption and abuse of power, and strengthening oversight of the executive branch, the Protecting Our Democracy Act will go a long way toward ensuring our democracy works for the people, including low-income communities and communities of color that have been systematically excluded from the political process, not wealthy polluters or other corrupting influences.

“As we approach the first anniversary of the violent January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, the need to protect our democracy, and to ensure officials, including the president, are held accountable to the people and the rule of law, has never been more important. Now that the House has done its job, it is time for the Senate to immediately eliminate the filibuster and send the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Washington, D.C. Admission Act to President Biden’s desk.”

WHITE HOUSE DEMOCRACY SUMMIT: While our democracy is at stake with 19 states enacting 33 laws that make it harder for people to vote just this year, and critical voting rights legislation stalled in the Senate, the White House hosted a summit of democracies this week. As noted above, the Senate must now use every resource at their disposal to eliminate the filibuster and pass legislation that protects our democracy, including the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. 

CLIMATE EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON EXTREME WEATHER: On Thursday, climate action organizers from New Hampshire, Virginia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania hosted a virtual event with Representative Chris Pappas, NOAA’s Communication Division Chief for the Climate Program Office David Herring, and Dr. Abigail Abrash Walton to review climate-fueled extreme weather disasters of 2021. Speakers discussed how the climate crisis is exacerbating devastating extreme weather events across the country like the ones we’ve seen just this year with the Texas freeze, the Pacific Northwest heatwave, the Western wildfires, the Southwestern drought, the Southern hurricanes, and flooding in the Northeast. The science is clear — we don’t have time to wait to take action on the climate crisis, especially in the communities of color and communities with low wealth who face the consequences of climate inaction every day. Watch a recording of the event HERE.

REP. PAPPAS TAKE: Representative Pappas stated, “The challenges before us are unprecedented — it’s going to require an all hands on deck effort, as well as the political courage to stand up to the entrenched interests that have for too long put their own profits over the health and well-being of our communities and our planet. This is really our time — this is the last, best opportunity we have to really make the kind of meaningful impact we need to be making.” 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES:

400K DOORS KNOCKED FOR CLIMATE ACTION: This week, LCV’s visibility and mobilization field program continues to show that communities across the country want climate action now, and hit a major milestone, knocking on over 409,000 doors across 12 states and D.C. talking with people about the Build Back Better Act and its critical climate provisions! Through our canvassing, we’ve recruited over 24,000 people to take action, over 16,000 households have a sign in their yard, and over 17,000 businesses are displaying support. Every day we hear from community members who would like to see tangible steps taken toward mitigating climate change — over 4,900 people we’ve talked to have called their member of Congress in favor of the Build Back Better Act. 

🎉HUGE VICTORY🎉: NEBRASKA IS FIRST RED STATE TO COMMIT TO DECARBONIZATION, SETS ON PATH TO 100% CLEAN ENERGY!!: This week, the largest utility in Nebraska, the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) committed to  net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in a 9-2 vote by the Board of Directors. Nebraska is the only state in the country with entirely publicly-owned power and it’s clear that people everywhere want clean energy, from red communities to blue communities, rural and urban, across the nation. This victory is due to years of strategic power building by Nebraska Conservation Voters (NECV) to grow support for carbon-free energy in the state. NECV’s efforts to elect and cultivate clean energy champions on Nebraska’s utility boards were critical to securing decarbonization commitments from Nebraska’s three major utilities which together serve over 95% of the state. NECV passed decarbonization commitments through the other two major utilities, Omaha Public Power District and Lincoln Electric System, in 2019 and 2020.

STATE SENATOR BOSTAR TAKE: Nebraska State Senator and Nebraska Conservation Voters Executive Director Eliot Bostar stated, “This is a historic day for every single Nebraskan. Today’s vote highlights what we have known for years – that Nebraskans from every corner of our state support investing in clean energy and reducing pollution because it makes good environmental and economic sense.”

NECV TAKE: Nebraska Conservation Voters Deputy Director Chelsea Johnson said, “NPPD’s vote is pro-growth, pro-economic development, pro-jobs, pro-opportunity, and pro-clean air and water. Setting a decarbonization goal signals commitment to all of these principles, so it makes sense that the NPPD Board adopted this policy and that Nebraskans are behind them. In recent election cycles, voters have elected new NPPD Board members who more closely reflect their values. These directors campaigned on clean energy development, the importance of staying abreast of the technological shifts happening in the electricity sector, and making sure that we can continue to provide affordable and reliable energy.”

VIRGINIA JOINS CLEAN TRUCKS AGREEMENT: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed onto the Multi-State Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle Memorandum of Understanding, joining 15 other states to set voluntary targets to electrify all new vehicles in those categories by 2050. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles account for 29% of the state’s emissions.

PROTECTING VIRGINIA’S COASTS: Virginia released its first Coastal Resilience Master Plan to respond to the climate change impacts that increasingly threaten the state’s coastal communities. Virginia’s Hampton Roads region is among the most vulnerable communities for sea level rise in the nation. The plan examines future scenarios and prioritizes resiliency projects, lays out funding strategies and details plans for coordination between federal, state and local governments.

GERRYMANDERED REDISTRICTING IN NORTH CAROLINA POSTPONED: Yesterday, North Carolina’s state Supreme Court postponed the March primary amidst multiple lawsuits regarding North Carolina’s remapping of districts. The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters filed a lawsuit last week claiming that “unconstitutional partisan and racial gerrymandering” across North Carolina violates the state constitution, including its free elections clause, equal protection clause, and free speech and free assembly clauses. In addition, the lawsuit argues that the House and Senate maps in North Carolina make deliberate grouping choices and excessively cross counties in order to leverage outcomes.

NCLCV TAKE: Last week, NCLCV Executive Director Carrie Clark stated, “There is more work ahead to get these maps overturned and fair maps adopted, and we will continue to fight to protect our democracy…The people of North Carolina deserve fair maps, and we will continue our fight to protect the voting rights of millions of North Carolina citizens.”

WE MUST TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS TO BUILD BACK BETTER: This week, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Interim Executive Director Molly Parzen wrote an opinion piece in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review on the importance of passing the Build Back Better Act to combat the climate crisis. The science is clear — we can’t wait to take action, and the overwhelmingly popular Build Back Better Act will help put our country on track to save customers $500 a year on energy bills, cut climate pollution in half by 2030, invest directly in historically under-resourced communities and create good-paying union jobs.

PUBLIC INPUT CRITICAL FOR REDISTRICTING IN CALIFORNIA: This week, California Environmental Voters (CEV) CEO Mary Creasman wrote an opinion piece about the importance of public participation in California’s current redistricting process. Creasman argues that the decisions made now about legislative representation will have long-term impacts on how the state responds to the climate crisis and other urgent issues. California is one of only a handful of states that draw district lines through a non-partisan citizens commission rather than through the legislature, which means Californians have a critical opportunity to give input in the process. 

CEV TAKE: California Environmental Voters CEO Mary Creasman said, “This is not about who wins or loses elections. This is about drawing district lines that reflect the unique needs, struggles and values of each California community to ensure their representation also reflects them. And the climate crisis and compounding threats like environmental racism will impact the lives of Californians more than any other issue in the next decade.”

COMING UP:

DECEMBER 31 — End of 2021
FEBRUARY 18 — Government Funding Expires

THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE ACTION(!) – NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“This bill makes it happen for us in terms of preserving the planet. It’s a health issue: clean air, clean water for our children. It’s a jobs issue: making America pre-eminent in good-paying green jobs. It’s also a national security issue, because competition for habitat and, and resources resulting from drought and, you know, all of the challenges of natural disasters springing from the climate crisis.”

— Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on the passage of the Build Back Better Act.

“My concern is that tribal nations, citizens and our members are going to end up becoming climate change refugees. This will result in the loss of entire cultures and people if we all have to move to urban areas — there is going to be a significant part of the nation’s cultural knowledge and wealth that would be lost.”

— Melanie Bahnke, Kawerak, Inc. president and CEO from Kawerak, a tribal consortium of 20 federally recognized tribes in the Bering Straits of Alaska, speaking on a climate change panel at the Tribal Nations Summit with Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory and White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy.

“This land is not your land — we are this land. What we do to our environment, we do to us. And we are paying for it.”

— Taylor Patterson, executive director of Native Voters Alliance Nevada in an opinion piece in the Las Vegas Sun, “Listen to tribal voices, act now to solve the climate crisis.”

“This concept of mutual aid is not just between humans. If we protect the land and waters, they will protect us.” 

— Ida Aronson, a member of the United Houma Nation, speaking on the impacts of extreme weather and hurricanes on Indigenous communities in Louisiana, who are often left with limited resources to rebuild after their homes are devastated year after year.

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

Time: U.S. School Buses May Never Be The Same Thanks to Biden’s Infrastructure Plan
Grist: Biden proposes 20-year drilling ban near sacred Indigenous site
The Hill: Schumer: Emissions reductions ‘not sufficient’ without meeting White House environmental justice standard
Washington Post: As Democrats await CBO score, experts argue it may not account for climate change

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:

Pagosa Daily Post (CO): Colorado to Receive Billions from Infrastructure Bill for Climate-Resiliency Projects
Spectrum News (NY): Con Edison commits to net-zero emissions and 100% clean energy by 2040
The News & Observer (NC): New gerrymandering lawsuit targets NC maps, and proposes some of its own

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A Note: Today we remember Kenosha. The verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial is a tragic recurrence in a systemically racist justice system. LCV joins Wisconsin Conservation Voters in calling for healing and accountability in Kenosha. Our Wisconsin state partners noted, “Tragically, Rittenhouse’s trial isn’t an outlier in our justice system or our country. It’s connected by the same thread that runs through Charlottesville, Tree of Life, and beyond. It’s also the same thread that runs through so many of our worst environmental problems.” And this thread, as LCV’s Chief Officer for Racial Justice and Equity, Leslie Hinkson said, “is further proof that while none of us are safe, some of us are afforded a greater right to and expectation of safety than others. This verdict devalues human life in the service of White supremacy.” 

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HISTORIC CLIMATE BILL PASSES THE HOUSE: After a late night, the House voted to pass the historic Build Back Better Act this morning, moving the legislation one step closer to becoming law. Once passed by the Senate and signed into law, the Build Back Better Act will be the strongest action the United States has ever taken to combat the climate crisis, and will put the U.S. on track to save people hundreds of dollars on energy bills, cut climate pollution in half by 2030, invest directly in communities of color too often left behind, and create good-paying union jobs. Studies have shown that the Build Back Better Act will save American families $500 per month on energy costs and deliver $9 billion a year in savings for utilities and their customers. See our memo highlighting climate priorities in the Build Back Better Act HERE.

SPEAKER TAKE: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “”This bill is monumental. It is historic. It is transformative. It is bigger than anything we have ever done.”

NATURAL RESOURCES CHAIR TAKE: House Natural Resource Committee Chair Raul Grijalva stated, “The Build Back Better Act lays a foundation for the future we want to build for our children and grandchildren. It is a robust, transformative investment for working and middle-class families that we need.  It is the desperately needed first step to address the existential threat of climate change. The legislation directly responds to the real life needs of my constituents by lowering prescription drug costs, providing paid family and medical leave, expanding tax benefits for lower- and middle-income families, providing workforce development programs, affordable housing, universal pre-K and more. The bill will reduce racial disparities and move us towards a more equitable and competitive future. A future that works for everyone, not just the very wealthy.”

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “Following the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, House passage of the Build Back Better Act caps off a historic and transformational week for climate, jobs and justice. Under Speaker Pelosi’s tireless leadership, the House just passed the strongest climate bill in U.S. history to put our country on the path to cut climate pollution in half by 2030, the goal set by President Biden and that science and justice require. The Build Back Better Act meets our climate goals while saving people money on their energy bills and other monthly expenses, investing in the frontline and communities of color that have suffered the most from toxic pollution, and creating and sustaining millions of good-paying union jobs in the clean energy economy.Getting to this point is a testament to the diverse coalition, including labor, environmental justice advocates, and young people, relentlessly organizing and advocating for a more sustainable, just, and equitable future. LCV is all in to ensure the Senate quickly seizes this historic opportunity to make life better for people and the planet by passing the Build Back Better Act and sending it to President Biden’s desk.”

…IT’S TIME TO FINISH THE JOB!: This week, ahead of the House vote on the Build Back Better Act, LCV and Climate Power hosted an event with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and members of Congress to highlight the urgent need to pass the Build Back Better Act, which would make historic investments in climate, clean energy, justice, and jobs that will lower costs and build a healthier future. Speakers included Senator Ed Markey, Senator Tina Smith, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Hakeem Jeffries, and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Veronica Escobar, Josh Gottheimer, Mike Levin, Joe Neguse, and Steven Horsford, who discussed how the overwhelmingly popular Build Back Better Act means lower prices, good-paying jobs, and a healthier, more equitable clean energy future. Now is the time to get this bill through Congress and on to President Biden’s desk. See more highlights from members of Congress HERE and watch a recording of the event HERE. 

SPEAKER TAKE: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “This bill makes it happen for us in terms of preserving the planet, and doing so by lowering costs for families, by cutting pollution in half by 2030, by creating good-paying, union jobs, and doing so with equity, with fairness to build back better.”

MAJORITY LEADER TAKE: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “In the days, weeks, and months ahead, the American people will see the benefit of this bill in their daily lives.” He also noted that just, “addressing our emissions reduction is not sufficient, we need to ensure that at least 40% of the benefits are flowing to disadvantaged communities and that people living in communities dependent on fossil fuels are given the support they need so no one is left behind during the transition.”

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CHAIR TAKE: Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Hakeem Jeffries said, “Investing in dealing with the climate crisis means investing the creation of millions of good-paying jobs, it means investing in dealing with the crisis in a decisive manner that meets the moment, it means lowering energy costs for everyday Americans, and it means meeting the promises that President Biden indicated he would undertake to deal with the climate crisis that we confront. We’re going to get climate action done, we’re going to get the Build Back Better Act done, we’re going to do it together.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said passing the Build Back Better Act, “could not be more important to saving consumers money on their energy bills and other monthly expenses, to investing in the frontline communities and communities of color that have suffered the most from toxic pollution, and creating and sustaining millions of good-paying, union jobs in the clean-energy economy.”

TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT RETURNS: This week, the White House hosted the Tribal Nations Summit for the first time since Trump took office. Tribal leaders gathered in person and virtually to voice concerns and engage directly with the Biden administration on policy for Indigenous communities across the nation. Biden spoke at the summit, announcing new commitments to address issues in Indigenous communities and protect tribal lands, and he reinforced the administration’s current commitments to address overdue infrastructure issues and climate injustices. The implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will include about $11 billion in investments to build and update outdated infrastructure in Indigenous communities that are experiencing some of the most devastating impacts of climate change and pollution firsthand. Tribal leaders must have a seat at the table to tackle the climate crisis in Indigenous communities — resuming the Tribal Nations Summit is a step in the right direction. See the White House factsheet on “Building a New Era of Nation-to-Nation Engagement” with Tribal nations HERE.

NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT TAKE: Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez stated, “A modern-day monster known as COVID-19 entered our communities —impacting the lives of many of our elders, our children, frontline warriors, and many others throughout the world. The onset of COVID-19 forced us to close our schools, government offices, and it magnified the lack of basic infrastructure on the Navajo Nation and all tribal communities.”

INTERIOR SECRETARY TAKE: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland stated, “Since time immemorial, the Earth’s lands and waters have been central to the social, cultural, spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. It is essential that we do everything we can to honor sites that hold historical, spiritual or ceremonial significance.”

PRESIDENTIAL TAKE: President Joe Biden stated, “My administration will be the first to work with the Tribes to comprehensively incorporate Tribal — Tribal ecological knowledge into the federal government’s scientific approach, helping us fight climate change.”

A BIF LAW IS SIGNED!: This week, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, which will make critical investments to replace outdated and toxic water lines, in electric school buses and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, to modernize our electric grid, clean technology research and development, and more needed infrastructure. The Senate must now act swiftly to pass the Build Back Better Act to advance the transformational climate and justice investments our communities need. As we saw from the COP26 climate summit, the climate crisis is here, and it is visibly devastating every corner of our planet — we cannot wait to act.

OUR TAKE: Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld stated, “We applaud the Biden-Harris administration and the bipartisan group of members of Congress for enacting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law and ensuring badly needed investments in electric vehicle charging stations and electric school buses, replacement of harmful lead service lines, clean technology research and development, grid modernization, and more. This is an important step forward, and now Congress must finish the job by passing the Build Back Better Act and getting it to President Biden’s desk in the coming weeks. Congress can and must pass the Build Back Better Act to meet the climate test of cutting climate pollution in half by 2030, the goal set by President Biden and that science and environmental and racial justice require. Doing so is critical to creating and sustaining millions of good-paying union jobs in the clean energy economy and investing in the frontline and communities of color that have suffered the most from toxic pollution, and it will save people money on their energy bills and other monthly expenses. The time to build on today’s progress and Build Back Better once and for all is right now.”

…INCLUDING HISTORIC FUNDING FOR ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES: The Alliance for Electric School Buses, a coalition including Chispa, responded to President Biden signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, which includes a $2.5 billion investment for a transition to electric school buses (ESBs) and another $2.5 billion for those zero emissions ESBs and other “clean buses” which still could be fossil-fueled. Currently, over 25 million children breathe polluted air from dirty diesel school buses, disproportionately impacting communities of color and communities with low wealth. Investments in cleaner buses will help children in all communities breathe cleaner air. See the coalition’s full statement HERE.

CHISPA TAKE: Chispa National Senior Director Johana Vicente spoke with Time, pointing out how, “the burden of those health problems falls heaviest on low-income communities of color…School buses were not necessarily part of the conversation at all. It was a very new topic that we were talking about.”

COALITION TAKE: The Alliance for Electric School Buses released a statement which read in part, “It is time to address this public health emergency, which is felt most acutely by low-income Black, Indigenous and people of color who are disproportionately burdened by air pollution, are more likely to use public transportation and school buses, and are already suffering from elevated asthma and COVID-19 rates.The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act also allocates another $2.5 billion towards “clean” school buses, which can include electric school buses. We call on the administration to dedicate this amount towards electric school buses, which offer the greatest pollution reductions and best protect the health of our children and the communities these buses travel through.”

BIDEN ON THE ROAD TO BUILD BACK BETTER: This week, President Biden visited a 82-year-old bridge in need of repair in New Hampshire and the grand opening of GM’s Factory Zero, which is reopening as a new facility for electric vehicles and trucks in Detroit, Michigan, to highlight investments that will be made through the infrastructure bill he signed Monday. He spoke on the first piece of the President’s agenda: major investments in the country’s shipping, transportation, public transit, clean water, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Alongside his visit, LCV ran a digital ad campaign in the surrounding communities in New Hampshire and Michigan, urging the President and Congress to finish the job and pass the Build Back Better Act. This is Congress’ chance to pass bold climate action by investing in clean energy, high-quality union jobs, and environmental justice — let’s finish the job! See our ad in New Hampshire HERE and in Michigan HERE.

LETTER TO TOYOTA: This week, environmental, health, and consumer rights advocacy organizations, including LCV, sent a letter to Toyota to urge them to immediately stop lobbying efforts that prevent the U.S. from tackling the climate crisis, including incentives for electric vehicles in the Build Back Better Act. Last week, organizations including LCV launched a new website, Pollutamotor.com, highlighting how Toyota’s greenwashing has limited progress for a transition to electric vehicles. Toyota is helping to fuel the climate crisis and pollution instead of finding solutions for a clean-energy future. See the facts HERE.

COALITION TAKE: The coalition wrote, “Toyota has greenwashed its image with the American public by touting its gas-only hybrid vehicles and relying on marketing to hide its true actions…Toyota’s concerted efforts to attack the current structure of the plug-in vehicle tax credit in the Build Back Better Act have been extensive and unacceptable,” the letter reads. “Transitioning to an all-electric future is essential to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and the full electric vehicle incentives in the Build Back Better Act, with their strong support for good, family-sustaining jobs and domestic manufacturing, are crucial to that transition. Toyota must step up and produce the plug-in electric vehicles that are needed for a safe future and stop trying to sabotage leaders who are taking action toward a safer climate and sustainable future.”

RECAPPING COP26: While a final agreement from COP26 was reached after progress and stall-outs over the two weeks of the conference, it fell short of tackling the climate crisis at the scale we need. We were encouraged by the commitments the U.S. did make, including leading the Global Methane Pledge and committing to ending deforestation, and Climate Envoy Kerry’s support of ending fossil fuel subsidies abroad and doubling U.S. climate finance funding by 2025. We also saw a joint statement with China pledging greater collaboration, and Speaker Pelosi and other members of the congressional delegation reiterating their commitment to passing the Build Back Better Act to help the US keep the promises made at the COP. However, we were disappointed to see the US not joining the cars pledge, of phasing out fossil fuel vehicles by 2040, the coal pledge, of ending all new investment domestically and abroad, or the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, which is committed to keeping warming below 1.5℃. While many have said the 1.5℃ goal remains on “life support,” we know the U.S. must drastically cut its own pollution and reestablish itself as a global leader if we have any hope of keeping this goal alive. This starts with finishing the job and passing the Build Back Better Act, which will set us on the course of cutting carbon pollution in half by 2030.

51 FOR 51: This week, 51 for 51 and over 100 Michigan-based and national advocacy groups, including Michigan LCV, sent a letter calling on Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Gary Peters to hold a Senate markup and pass Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would make Washington, DC the 51st state in the nation. DC residents of color are disproportionately impacted by toxic pollution and the climate crisis, and it’s past time for equal representation in our federal government and the fundamental right to self-govern for the more than 700,000 residents of our nation’s capital.

MILCV TAKE: Michigan League of Conservation Voters Federal Government Affairs Director Bentley Johnson stated,”We cannot sit idly by while 700,000 of our fellow Americans lack a vote in Congress — we must use our privilege of representation as residents of Michigan to call for D.C. statehood and democracy for all. The fights for D.C. statehood and environmental justice are deeply interconnected. Low-income and Black communities have historically suffered the consequences of environmental racism, and D.C., as a majority Black and Brown community, has faced this for generations while being denied foundational representation in Congress. As Michiganders, we thank Senator Peters for holding a hearing on this issue and now urge him to hold a markup and pass D.C. statehood to correct this injustice and continue being a champion for voting rights and the health of our planet.”

PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY: This week, LCV sent a letter to the House of Representativesurging members to vote for the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which would help defend against corruption and abuse of power, strengthen Congressional checks on the executive branch, protect whistleblowers and inspectors general, prevent foreign interference in elections, require presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns to the Federal Election Commission, and take other vital measures to secure the integrity of our constitutional system. We can’t build a clean energy future when the fossil fuel industry continues to line the pockets of lawmakers and influence policies that prevent action on the climate crisis.

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski wrote in the letter, “History has shown time and time again that the fossil fuel industry’s influence pollutes the people’s government as much as our environment. A robust democracy is critical to all of our rights, but especially members of marginalized groups who have few other ways to protect their interests. Low-income communities and communities of color have consistently and systematically been excluded from the political process, resulting in decades of environmental racism and a shameful lack of accountability for politicians and polluting corporations. By shoring up the rule of law and the integrity of our institutions, H.R. 5314 would go a long way toward ensuring American democracy works for the people, not the polluters.”

PROTECTIONS FOR CHACO CANYON ADVANCED!: This week, the Biden administration announced that it is initiating a process to consider barring new federal oil and gas leasing for 20 years within a 10-mile radius around Chaco Culture National Historical Park, in addition to undertaking a broader assessment of the Greater Chaco  cultural landscape to ensure that public land management better reflects the sacred sites, stories, and cultural resources in the region. Chaco Canyon is just one of many sacred sites around the country that needs protections from extractive and destructive industries that pollute local communities.

INTERIOR SECRETARY TAKE: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland stated, “Chaco Canyon is a sacred place that holds deep meaning for the Indigenous peoples whose ancestors lived, worked, and thrived in that high desert community. Now is the time to consider more enduring protections for the living landscape that is Chaco, so that we can pass on this rich cultural legacy to future generations. I value and appreciate the many Tribal leaders, elected officials, and stakeholders who have persisted in their work to conserve this special area.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director Alex Taurel stated, “It’s wonderful to see the Biden administration announce these steps toward protecting the sacred landscape of Chaco Canyon. We are thrilled that the Biden administration is heeding the calls of Indigenous communities that have been fighting for hundreds of years to protect their ancestral lands from further desecration, and we hope this process results in long-term protections for the Chaco Canyon area. Embracing this and other examples of tribally-led conservation efforts can help the United States fight climate change and advance equity at a time when we must act boldly on both fronts.”

RESUMING OIL & GAS LEASING IN THE GULF: This week, the Biden Administration auctioned off millions of acres in the Gulf of Mexico to the disappointment of LCV and other pro-environment groups. Recent oil spills devastated California, harming wildlife, shutting down beaches, and negatively impacting the environment. In order to prevent disasters like this, it is critical that the Biden Administration change course and align the management of our public lands and waters with our climate goals.

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Government Affairs Advocate Ben Alexandro stated, “It is disappointing that the Biden administration is moving forward with a major oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. This region has experienced the lasting impacts of offshore drilling spills on their communities, the environment, and the local economy for years. The decisions the administration makes now can prevent future offshore drilling disasters and align the management of our public lands and waters with our climate goals. It is time for a course correction.”

TONGASS PROTECTIONS: This week, the Biden administration proposed reinstating protections that ban logging and road building on much of Tongass National Forest in Alaska. This is the largest temperate rainforest in North America and these protections are supported by Alaska Indigineous leaders, environmentalists, and tour operators who point to the ecological importance of the area as well as the economic benefit for preserving the forest as is.

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TAKE: In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “Restoring the Tongass’ roadless protections supports the advancement of economic, ecologic and cultural sustainability in Southeast Alaska in a manner that is guided by local voices.”

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES:

CLEAN TRUCKS IN OREGON: On Wednesday, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission approved regulations requiring medium- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions electric vehicles in the state each year, starting in 2025. Oregon is the second state to approve the “Clean Trucks Rules,” which were first created and adopted in California. This win comes after the state passed legislation committing to 100% clean energy earlier this year and will help address the state’s highest source of greenhouse gas emissions, transportation.

CLEAN WATER IN MICHIGAN: This week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposed a $300 million expansion to the MI Clean Water Plan to replace lead pipes across the state. The plan was developed last year to utilize federal investments from the American Rescue Plan for critical water infrastructure upgrades in the state notorious for the Flint water crisis. Whitmer’s administration has already heavily invested in water infrastructure and has begun awarding grants to jurisdictions through the clean water plan to ensure safe and clean drinking water for Michiganders. 

GOVERNOR WHITMER TAKE: Governor Gretchen Whitmer stated, “Every Michigander in every community deserves access to safe drinking water, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity right now to use the federal dollars we have to put Michiganders first and make lasting investments in our water infrastructure. Together, we can utilize the resources we have to create thousands of good-paying jobs, deliver safe water to every home and kid in school, and shore up our water infrastructure to make it more resilient to extreme weather. I look forward to the $1.3 billion in federal funding specifically for water that we will get, among billions more, from the bipartisan federal infrastructure plan.” 

MLCV TAKE: Michigan League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Lisa Wozniak stated, “For too long, a lack of investment in our water has left us with crumbling infrastructure, unaffordable rates, lead pipes and toxic contamination. The time to fund our water is now. We can’t wait any longer. The investments proposed by Governor Whitmer are a step toward re-establishing Michigan as a national leader in protecting our water and our health, and we call on lawmakers to join together at this pivotal moment to invest now for future generations to come.”

🏈FROM THE FIELD🏈: LCV’s visibility and mobilization field program continues to show that communities across the country want climate action now! Organizers have knocked on nearly 375,000 doors across 12 states and D.C., talking with people about the Build Back Better Act and its critical climate provisions. Through our canvassing, we’ve recruited over 21,000 people to take action, over 16,000 households to place a sign in their yard, and over 14,500 businesses to display support. Every day we hear from community members that would like to see tangible steps taken toward mitigating climate change — over 3,700 people we’ve talked to have called their member of Congress in favor of the Build Back Better Act. 

CLEAN CARS IN NEVADA AND BEYOND: Nevada Conservation League Policy and Advocacy Director Christi Cabrera co-authored an opinion piece with state Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui in the Las Vegas Sun this week arguing for federal action to reduce transportation pollution and advance clean transportation. Cabrera and Jauregui describe the impacts of air pollution in Nevada and present opportunities to address it, calling for a national clean cars standard and passage of Build Back Better to increase access to safer and cleaner transit.

CABRERA AND JAUREGUI TAKE: Nevada Conservation League Policy and Advocacy Director, Christi Cabrera, and Nevada state Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui wrote, “every community in Nevada deserves breathable air, drinkable water and a livable climate. We finally have a golden opportunity to make this a reality. Strong clean car standards and the Build Back Better Act are historic opportunities to create a healthy, sustainable, clean transportation future for our nation. It’s time to get this done.”

MAKING THE CASE FOR RGGI: A volunteer with Climate Action Pennsylvania wrote a letter to the editor in support of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Richard Cole highlights benefits of the program and the necessity of immediate climate action in The Mercury. Conservation Voters PA continue to participate heavily in the state’s process to consider joining RGGI, and it is one of their main policy priorities.

COLE TAKE: Climate Action PA volunteer Richard Cole said, “we need to address the climate crisis with a sense of urgency. RGGI represents a tremendous opportunity to deliver real results and help preserve a world our future generations deserve.”

COMING UP:

NOVEMBER: Indigenous Peoples’ Month

ONLINE:

Alliance for Electric School Buses Responds to Historic Funding in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Washington, D.C. – In response to President Biden signing into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Alliance for Electric School Buses — a coalition representing environmental, equity, community, and labor groups who advocate for an equitable transition to zero-emission school buses — issued the following statement:

“We applaud this unprecedented federal investment in electric school buses, even as we continue to work towards funding the full transition of the nation’s school bus fleet to zero-emission models. The $2.5 billion allocated for electric school buses in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act begins the transition to cleaner buses for the 25 million children who ride polluting school buses every day. It is time to address this public health emergency, which is felt most acutely by low-income Black, Indigenous and people of color who are disproportionately burdened by air pollution, are more likely to use public transportation and school buses, and are already suffering from elevated asthma and COVID-19 rates.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act also allocates another $2.5 billion towards “clean” school buses, which can include electric school buses. We call on the administration to dedicate this amount towards electric school buses, which offer the greatest pollution reductions and best protect the health of our children and the communities these buses travel through. 

We look forward to working with the Environmental Protection Agency and Congress to ensure an equitable distribution of these resources to high-need communities across the country, and to enact policies that incentivize the creation and protection of good, green U.S. jobs producing and maintaining this critical fleet. Only by doing so can we ensure the advancement of our collective goals of promoting worker and environmental justice.”

# # #

About the Alliance for Electric School Buses: We are a diverse partnership of nonprofit organizations united by our commitment to fully transition the nation’s school bus fleet to electric models that will clean up the air 25 million children breathe. Our coalition represents environmental, equity, community, and labor groups who work at the local, state, and federal levels. Members include: Chispa Arizona, Chispa Florida, Chispa Maryland, Chispa LCV, Chispa Nevada, Clean Energy Works, Earthjustice, Electric School Bus Learning Project, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Green For All, Jobs to Move America, Moms Clean Air Force, Mothers Out Front, New York League of Conservation Voters, Save the Sound, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, US PIRG, VEIC and WE ACT for Environmental Justice. 

 

THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE ACTION(!) – OCTOBER 29, 2021

Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“It is unacceptable that communities of color living on the frontlines of power plants, refineries, and other industrial facilities have higher rates of cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease, neurological issues and other life-threatening health problems. The Build Back Better Framework includes vital investments to address these historic injustices.”

— Michele Roberts, national co-coordinator at the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform on a panel that discussed the climate provisions in the newly released Build Back Better Framework.  

“The ultimate goal of fighting climate change is to ensure [an environment with] viable living conditions. If we are ignoring that living conditions are already unviable for many communities due to the burden of systemic racism, then what is it that we are fighting for?”

— Olivia Aguilar, director of the Miller Worley Center for the Environment and associate professor of environmental studies at Mount Holyoke College, in the Mic article, “People of Color Contribute the Least to Climate Change and Suffer the Most. That has to Stop.”

“The summer of 2021 made it clear to everyone just how dangerous laboring in high heat can be. This long overdue heat standard is critical to saving the lives of our essential workers”

— Juley Fulcher, a worker health and safety advocate at Public Citizen, in an E&E article, “OSHA Targets Heat Threats Heightened by Climate Change.”

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

The Atlantic: Democrats Need to Count Up, Not Down
E&E News: Inside the $40M campaign for Biden’s climate agenda
The Guardian: Biden plan pledges ‘largest effort to combat climate change in US history’
Bloomberg Law: Here’s How Biden Would Spend $555 Billion in Climate Funds
Yahoo News!: Record-smashing climate change spending in budget framework
Essence: After Republicans Block Voting Rights Bill, Black Women Activists Are Fighting Back
E&E News: ‘We need more people like me’: Cori Bush on EJ, coal, Manchin
Scrap Monster: Broad Coalition of Advocates, Community Leaders and Officials Praise EPA’s New Roadmap on PFAS

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:
Cronkite News (AZ): Latina moms, environmental advocates fight air pollution with electric school bus
NJ.com (NJ): Biden tells Congress ‘Let’s get it done’ on big spending plan, touts N.J. projects during visit
Hi-Line Today (MT): Martha Williams nominated To Lead U.S. Fish and Wildlife
BizNewsPost (AZ): Climate advocates who backed Sinema exasperated by blocking of Biden bill
The Hill (VA): McAuliffe, Democratic groups launch climate ad blitz in Virginia a week out from election
Virginia Mercury (VA): After years of bipartisan giving, Dominion Energy leans into Democratic control
Vermont Biz (VT): Fisher: Wetlands are a nature-based solution to climate change
Daily Kos (VA): VA-Gov: Pres. Biden Reminds Voters That Trumpism Can Come In The Form Of A Smile & A Fleece Vest

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BUILD BACK BETTER FRAMEWORK RELEASED!: On Thursday, President Biden announced the Build Back Better Framework — putting our country a significant step closer to achieving the transformative investments in climate and environmental justice that voters across the country are counting on. The framework proposes the largest investments in combating environmental injustices and the climate crisis that our country has ever made. Now, Congress must take immediate action to adopt this framework and help put the United States on the path to cutting climate pollution in half by 2030, invest directly in communities experiencing environmental injustices, and create good-paying union jobs. See LCV’s full statement on the Build Back Better Framework HERE, statements from Chispa and Chispa state partners HERE, and our memo detailing why the framework is good climate policy and good climate politics HERE.

LCV TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “It’s a historic day for people and the planet. Once passed, this framework for the Build Back Better Act will be the strongest action the United States has ever taken to combat the climate crisis. All year we have been on the ground in states across the country, on the airwaves, and in the halls of government in our biggest campaign ever. Getting to this point is a testament to the diverse coalition, including labor, environmental justice advocates, and young people, relentlessly fighting for climate action, environmental justice, and good paying jobs. Right now is the time to finalize this transformational bill and get it done. Paired with bold executive and state actions, the Build Back Better Act will ensure the U.S. equitably meets its climate goals by 2030.”

CHISPA TAKE: Chispa National Campaigns Manager Alejandra Ramirez-Zarate stated, “We commend President Biden’s leadership for taking action on climate change and for prioritizing the electrification of school buses, which will ensure cleaner air for the 25 million children who ride school buses each day and create good, family-sustaining, green jobs as we meet our climate goals. We also know that the climate crisis does not exist in a silo — environmental injustices are linked to racial, gender, reproductive, health, voting, and many more inequities. Our immigrant communities have long known the reality of this crisis and its devastating consequences. Justice for our communities is an and instead of an or. We need both a pathway to citizenship and bold investment in immediate climate action to ensure our future generations can benefit from a safer, more equitable country.”

….CLIMATE EXPERTS HOST PANEL ON WHAT’S INCLUDED: In response to the Build Back Better Framework release, LCV co-hosted a virtual briefing with leading experts from across the environmental, labor, and environmental justice movement. Panelists discussed how the transformational investments of the framework will meet the Climate Test and help communities across the country by delivering on climate action, jobs, and justice, if passed. See a recording from the event and additional statements from speakers HERE. 

LCV BOARD CHAIR + FORMER EPA ADMINISTRATOR TAKE: League of Conservation Voters Board Chair and former EPA administrator Carol M. Browner stated, “I was very proud to be part of President Obama’s commitment on climate change in the Recovery Act — this is on the order of six times that investment. And it could not come soon enough. As we think about cars, renewables, jobs, the opportunities are in front of us to create a very different future. We need Congress to act, we need them to act quickly. The world is watching.”

CAP + CLIMATE POWER TAKE: Chair of Center for American Progress and co-founder of Climate Power John Podesta stated, “We commend the White House and the leadership in the House and Senate for overcoming some real disappointments in the climate space and producing a framework that was released today … that shows that the Build Back Better Act has the most significant, historic investments in climate and environmental justice in history. We believe it will meet the climate test by putting us on a clear path to cut carbon pollution in half by 2030.”

ALL THE TAKES: The following experts all participated in the panel and you can see their takes HERE: Center for American Progress Chair and Climate Power Co-Founder John Podesta, League of Conservation Voters Board Chair and former EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner, BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Jason Walsh, Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform National Co-Coordinator Michele Roberts, and Evergreen Action Senior Policy Advisor and UC Santa Barbara Associate Professor Dr. Leah Stokes.

…AND WILL INCLUDE HISTORIC EJ INVESTMENTS + EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS: In advance of President Biden’s announcement of the Build Back Better Framework, we released a memo from LCV Senior Director of Government Affairs Matthew Davis, highlighting the historic investments in the Build Back Better Act that will address environmental injustices in communities of color and communities of low wealth. These investments include equitable and pro-union tax incentives for clean energy, vehicles, and manufacturing, and so much more. As the Rhodium Group’s new analysis details, between the Build Back Better Act, executive actions, and strong state leadership, we can — and will — equitably meet our climate goals. 

MORE ON EJ: See priority investments from the Equitable and Just Climate Platform HERE and a full list of critical environmental justice investments included in the House’s Build Back Better Act HERE. 

LCV TAKE: LCV Senior Director of Government Affairs Matthew Davis stated, “Between the robust clean energy tax package, unprecedented environmental justice investments, clean vehicle incentives, a methane fee, conservation and restoration investments that reduce emissions and store carbon, and so much more, the Build Back Better Act will result in transformational progress. With the Build Back Better Act as law, in the years ahead we’ll save $500 a year on energy bills, send our kids off to school in clean electric school buses, drive affordable electric cars, breathe clean, healthy air, worry less about health problems caused by polluted air and water, and ultimately stave off even more devastating, costly extreme weather and other catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis. And from manufacturing electric vehicles and building EV charging stations to upgrading buildings and weatherizing homes, the Build Back Better Act will create millions of new, good-paying, union jobs in the clean energy economy and provide the resources to help workers get the skills they need.”

RACE TO THE COP26: This weekend, President Biden will take to the world stage at COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland, just days after releasing the Build Back Better framework that includes historic investments in climate action. LCV hosted a Twitter Q&A with congressional climate leaders who are pushing for domestic climate action that will help our country meet our obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement and model what is possible around the globe. See tweets from members below, and find more HERE. In addition, see Rhodium group’s new report HERE analyzing the pathway to achieving the goals set by the Paris Climate Accord — without bold action, these goals will not be met. The investments world leaders will discuss over the next two weeks are critical to the future of our planet, and we must build upon them in order to sustain progress on climate issues.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIR TAKE: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks tweeted, “I’ve seen how bottom-up pressure can yield significant progress for a clean energy transition. Creating a global climate revolution takes public pressure & involvement, starting from community-based, climate-friendly practices – at schools, businesses, and places of work.”

REPRESENTATIVE KIM TAKE: Representative Andy Kim tweeted, “This is our last best chance to meaningfully tackle climate change. This requires a whole of society strategy. We should push for big steps like electrifying our transportation sector and pushing for new technologies for energy production and storage.”

SENATOR MURPHY TAKE: Senator Chris Murphy tweeted, “Next week is huge for the future of our planet. And that’s why it’s so important to send @POTUS to Glasgow with a deal to make major climate investments here at home. U.S. leadership matters.”

FREEDOM TO VOTE NOW!: In case you missed it, last weekend, LCV joined partners for the Freedom to Vote Relay to highlight the urgent need to pass legislation protecting voting rights and representation for all: the Freedom to Vote Act, the Washington, DC Admission Act, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The relay ended with a rally at the Capitol, where LCV’s Chief Officer for Racial Justice and Equity, Leslie Hinkson, joined civil rights leaders and activists in addressing the crowd, and fighting for a more just, accessible, and equitable democracy.  

LCV TAKE:  At the rally, LCV Chief Officer for Racial Justice and Equity Leslie Hinkson said, “An inclusive democracy is the foundation from which we can create change. A healthy democracy is the foundation from which we can create a healthy environment. A healthy democracy is the foundation from which we can create a society that intentionally works for us all, and not just for a small elite while the rest of us cross our fingers and hope some of the benefits trickle down.”

+ REPARATIONS NOW!: On Wednesday, LCV participated in a virtual town hall with advocates from across the country and Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, the lead sponsor of H.R. 40, to discuss why, after generations of structural racism in this country, reparations are a necessary part of dismantling the racism embedded in our country’s governance and policies. See our blog from LCV Chief Officer for Racial Justice and Equity Leslie R. Hinkson, discussing how reparations will help build power for people and the planet HERE.

MYRNA PÉREZ CONFIRMED: On Monday, the Senate confirmed voting rights advocate Myrna Pérez to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit — making her the first Latina woman to serve on the Second Circuit since Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s historic confirmation to the Supreme Court over 12 years ago. See LCV’s letter from LCV President Gene Karpinski urging senators to vote to confirm Pérez HERE, and highlights from her career at the Brennan Center for Justice HERE.

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “Pérez has distinguished herself as one of the nation’s foremost experts on the fundamental right to vote. She has litigated dozens of cases, including matters before the United States Supreme Court and federal appellate courts. She has taught law students at both NYU and Columbia, and is a former Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Election Law Committee…In addition to her exceptional professional qualifications, Pérez would bring much-needed diversity to the bench. Although nearly 20% of the people who live in its jurisdiction are Hispanic or Latino, the Second Circuit currently has only one Latino judge. If confirmed, Pérez would be the first and only Latina woman to serve on the Second Circuit since Justice Sotomayor’s elevation to the Supreme Court over twelve years ago.”

HEARING FOR CORPORATE POLLUTER ACCOUNTABILITY: The House Oversight and Reform Committee held a hearing with executives from major oil corporations, including BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell on Thursday, where lawmakers pressed for answers on the “misinformation and disinformation” that Big Oil has publicized and funded for decades — including denial of the devastating impacts that polluters have on the climate crisis. 

CHAIR MALONEY TAKE: Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Carolyn Maloney stated, “This is a historic hearing. For the first time, top fossil fuel executives are testifying together before Congress, under oath, about the industry’s role in causing climate change—and their efforts to cover it up. For far too long, Big Oil has escaped accountability for its central role in bringing our planet to the brink of a climate catastrophe. That ends today.”

CHAIR KHANNA TAKE: Chair of the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on the Environment Ro Khanna stated, “The choice is yours. As you make it, think of the Indigenous-led demonstrations last week, and the 5 young activists from the Sunrise Movement who have been outside the White House on a hunger strike for nine days and counting. They are putting their lives on the line because they know countless thousands will suffer and die if we continue on our current path. What will you do to end the hunger strike? What do you have to say to America’s children, born into a burning world? Tell the truth. It will be better for your companies’ future, and it will be better for humanity’s future.”

REDUCING LEAD: On Thursday, the EPA announced a draft strategy to address lead exposure, focused especially on environmental justice communities that have been disproportionately burdened with toxic lead pollution.  No amount of lead is safe, and it is beyond time for the EPA and other federal agencies to take strong action to eliminate lead exposure in our water, air, soil, and homes. While this draft strategy is a start, the EPA must strengthen the plan to include firm deadlines for their proposed actions, commit to setting health-based standards for lead in paint and aviation fuel, and release a stronger Lead and Copper Rule to eliminate lead in drinking water.  

MEANWHILE AT THE CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its blood lead reference value (BLRV), lowering it to 3.5 µg/dL from 5. This will help better identify higher levels of lead in children and better protect them from harmful lead exposure sooner. DC Acting Principal Deputy Director Debra Houry, M.D., M.P.H. stated, “Lead exposure at all levels is harmful to children and can be detrimental to their long-term health. Protecting the health and wellbeing of children as they grow and develop is of the utmost importance, and I am confident this update will allow us to further safeguard the health of the next generation.”

TRUMP WATER RULE DISMISSED: This week, a District Court vacated a Trump-era rule that undermined clean water protections by preventing states and tribes from safeguarding their waters against harmful projects. The restoration of this important tool chips away at Trump’s dirty legacy and re-prioritizes people over polluters.    

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES:

🏈FROM THE FIELD🏈: LCV’s visibility and mobilization field program continues to show that communities across the country want climate action now! Organizers have knocked on over 325,000 doors across 12 states and D.C., talking with people about the Build Back Better Act and its critical climate provisions. Through our canvassing, we’ve recruited over 19,000 people to take action, 15,000 households to place a sign in their yard, and 11,500 businesses to display support. Every day we hear from community members that would like to see tangible steps taken toward mitigating climate change — over 2,000 people we’ve talked to have called their member of Congress in favor of the Build Back Better Act. 

DANGEROUS DELAYS: Two years ago, Griffin Plush, who serves on the board of LCV’s state affiliate The Alaska Center, joined 15 young Alaskans who delivered oral arguments before the Alaska Supreme Court, challenging the state’s policy of promoting fossil fuels that are contributing to the climate crisis. Since then, Plush and his peers have waited for a ruling on their appeal as the climate crisis in Alaska has grown more grave. Read more in Plush’s op-ed published in the Anchorage Daily News HERE.   

AK CENTER TAKE: The Alaska Center Board Member and Organizer with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action Griffin Plush said, “I am 24, the oldest plaintiff in Sagoonick. Alaska’s energy policy throughout my life has been characterized by the stubborn promotion of fossil fuels in the face of science and in spite of the known threats to the lives, health and safety of my generation and future generations.”

ICYMI: Just before Indigenous Peoples Day, The Alaska Center unveiled a new video, “Inextricably linked to this land: Our Home. Our Future. Our Alaska.” The film features testimony from Alaska Native peoples facing the calamitous economic, health, and communal impacts of climate change — showing impacts of the state’s dangerous fossil fuel policy.     

UPGRADING IDAHO’S WASTEWATER SYSTEMS: Conservation Voters for Idaho Board Chair Mike Lanza wrote an opinion piece in the Idaho Statesman, urging Boiseans to vote “yes” for a water bond that will finance much-needed upgrades to the city’s crumbling wastewater infrastructure. 

CVI TAKE: Conservation Voters for Idaho Board Chair Mike Lanza said, “Vote yes for affordable rate increases and investing in resilient, sustainable, renewable infrastructure that will sustain Boise now and in our future.”

COMING UP:

NOVEMBER: Indigenous Peoples’ Month

LCV’s Chispa Responds to President Biden’s Build Back Better Act Framework

Washington, D.C. — In response to President Biden’s announcement of the Build Back Better Framework, Chispa National and Chispa state partners issued the below statements. 

Communities of color are disproportionately exposed to harmful air pollution and have been waiting for immigration solutions for decades. This historic Framework addresses these inequities and advances environmental justice as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 goals, as well as adds significant funding to address the needs of our nation’s undocumented and historically excluded communities.

“Arizona is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, from wildfires and extreme heat, to dangerous air pollution disproportionately harming Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities. This historic investment in climate action and clean energy responds to these urgent needs and ensures our most impacted communities are prioritized,” said Vianey Olivarria, Co-Director for Chispa Arizona. “We’re eager to see Arizona’s delegation support this investment and soon provide relief to our communities.”

“With the two fastest warming cities and among the most polluted counties in the country, Nevadans need meaningful, transformational federal investments in clean energy, pollution-free transportation, and restoration to address the climate crisis,” said Rudy Zamora, Program Director for Chispa Nevada. “This Framework gets us closer to investing in the jobs and technologies we need to protect our communities, our air, our lands, and our waters. We urge Congress, and especially members of Nevada’s federal delegation, to quickly pass this historic package and put us on a path towards climate justice.”

“Florida is ground zero for the climate crisis. Millions of Florida residents are impacted every day by coastal erosion, hurricanes, contaminated water, flooding, and vanishing wildlife and habitat,”  said Maria Revelles, State Director for Chispa Florida. “Some scientists predict the lower third of the state will be underwater by the end of the century. Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other communities of color have for too long been on the front lines of toxic pollution and face the most severe harms from climate change, undermining their ability to participate equally in the economy and to live safe, healthy, and prosperous lives. People displaced by climate-related disasters need real solutions now. Congress can help to pass this Build Back Better Act that invests in tackling climate change and programs that deliver economic, public health, and environmental benefits to the communities that need them the most.”

“We commend President Biden’s leadership for taking action on climate change and for prioritizing the electrification of school buses, which will ensure cleaner air for the 25 million children who ride school buses each day and create good, family-sustaining, green jobs as we meet our climate goals,” said Chispa National Campaigns Manager Alejandra Ramirez-Zarate. “We also know that the climate crisis does not exist in a silo — environmental injustices are linked to racial, gender, reproductive, health, voting, and many more inequities. Our immigrant communities have long known the reality of this crisis and its devastating consequences. Justice for our communities is an and instead of an or. We need both a pathway to citizenship and bold investment in immediate climate action to ensure our future generations can benefit from a safer, more equitable country.”

We Build Back Better together by prioritizing highest-need communities; these investments can address climate change and secure the wellbeing and health of our nation’s immigrants and Black, Indigenous and people of color. We call on Congress to expedite passage of this package to respond to the needs of our communities, and we support the efforts of our partners to legalize and transform the lives of 11 million undocumented immigrants.

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THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE ACTION(!) – OCTOBER 22, 2021

Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“We have ‘sacrifice zones’ across our country, where people have made decisions to disinvest in certain areas. And many times those areas are our Black and Brown communities and Indigenous communities, our lower-wealth White community sometimes. So, we have a chance to change that dynamic.”

— Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation, speaking on how lead pipes disproportionately impact communities of color and communities of low wealth across the country.

“Our only fault was being too close to a hog farm. The congregation has had to invest finances and time and energy towards a problem we did not create.”

— Jimmy Melvin, a pastor at Mt. Zion AME Church in the Taylor’s Bridge community in North Carolina, which is surrounded by massive hog farms, in a North Carolina Health News article, “Unchecked growth of industrial animal farms spurs long fight for environmental justice in Eastern NC.”

“Water is life. Water is alive and water has rights. And we all as human beings have the right to have clean water.”

— Rita Capitan, the cofounder of Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM) said during a press conference on filing a case with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to address human rights violations from uranium mining in the Navajo Nation.

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

Yahoo!: Pelosi vows budget will meet Biden’s climate change goal of cutting emissions
Florida Phoenix: U.S. Rep Castor of FL and other climate leaders call for passage of Biden’s historic climate agenda
E&E News: ‘More than one way’: Dems mull options for climate program
NPR: Living on Earth: Biden Infrastructure and the Environment
The Washington Post: Climate 202: Top green groups are launching a six-figure ad campaign
Deseret News: Here’s what Kamala Harris said in Nevada about fighting climate change
The Hill: Nevada becomes early Senate battleground
E&E News: Inside the Senate’s new fiscal 2022 spending bills
The Hill: Democrats say they’re committed to reducing emissions in Biden plan
Elko Daily: Rosen helps introduce bill to ‘stop public land giveaways’
E&E News: Inside the Senate’s new fiscal 2022 spending bills

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:

Independent Record (MT): In favor of tax fairness, and the American Families Plan budget
The Gazette (CO): Colorado poll shows COVID-19’s economic toll on Latinos
Idaho Statesman (ID): I support Boise’s water renewal bond for sustainability and to save ratepayers money
Tri-City Herald (WA): Inslee, Murray plan new report on breaching Snake River dams. ‘We need an answer …’
WBFO – NPR (NY): Could all Buffalo school buses be electric by 2035?
North American Clean Energy (MI): Michigan State University Study: Community Solar Would Create $1.47 Billion Economic Impact, Support 18,500 Well-Paying Jobs
Grist (NY): Meet the rogue birding group blocking wind energy at every turn
The Chestertown Spy (MD): Federalsburg Steel Company to Make Components for Wind Energy Turbines
The Buffalo News (NY): Another Voice: Lead-free drinking water is clear choice for schools
VT Digger (VT): Proposed synthetic turf prompts concerns about more PFAS in Bennington
NC Policy Watch (NC): EPA finally launches major effort to curb PFAS pollution, to mixed reviews about whether it’s enough
Albuquerque Journal (NM): Groups: New Mexico needs to fund more conservation projects
Insider NJ (NJ): New Jersey LCV Applauds $100 million in Green Acres Funding for Urban Parks, Playgrounds, Open Spaces
Los Angeles Times (CA): California Politics: Redistricting gets real

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WE MUST MEET THE CLIMATE TEST TO BUILD BACK BETTER: Congress returned to D.C. this week to discuss the fate of climate provisions in the Build Back Better Act ahead of COP 26 in Glasgow, and members and the president are expected to finalize a deal in the coming days. The science is clear — we are at our “code red for humanity” moment, and we are out of time for inaction. Congress MUST meet the Climate Test to put our country on the path to cut climate pollution in half by 2030, and do it equitably in communities of color and communities of low wealth who face disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis.

OUR TAKE: LCV SVP of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld stated, “As Congress returns to D.C., it’s absolutely urgent that they finalize and pass the Build Back Better Act to put the U.S. firmly on track to meet the Climate Test and cut our climate pollution in half by 2030, the goal that President Biden set and that science and justice demand. We remain fully supportive of the Clean Electricity Performance Plan, but under any scenario there are multiple ways for Congress to maximize climate ambition and meet our goals. As our country has been rocked by unprecedented climate-fueled extreme weather events costing precious lives and billions of dollars in the last few months alone, anything less is unacceptable. The vast majority of voters across the country are demanding transformative action on climate, and with international climate negotiations in Glasgow fast approaching, the entire world is watching. The time for Congress to make once-in-a-generation progress on climate, good jobs, and justice is right now.”

…AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AGREE!: On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Senators Cory Booker, Tom Carper, Martin Heinrich, Ben Ray Luján, Tina Smith, Ed Markey, Ron Wyden, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor, and Representatives Andy Kim, Ro Khanna, Donald McEachin, and Melanie Stansbury for an event on Capitol Hill with LCV, Climate Power, and the Climate Action Campaign on the urgency and importance of meeting the goal of cutting climate pollution in half by 2030. Congress knows that they have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pass the Build Back Better Act and make climate and environmental justice investments that will create good-paying jobs, reduce costs for families, and slash pollution — especially in the communities that have historically been left behind. Watch a recording of the event HERE.

CHAIR CASTOR TAKE: Chair Kathy Castor stated, “History is not going to judge us on the price tag. History is going to judge us on our determination to do the right thing at the right time before it’s too late, and that time is now.”

SENATOR MARKEY TAKE: Senator Ed Markey stated, “The Senate must put together a climate package that is something that Joe Biden can say to the rest of the world that we are the leaders and not the laggards, because you cannot preach temperance from a barstool. You cannot tell the rest of the world what to do if you as a country are not doing it yourselves.”

REPRESENTATIVE KIM TAKE: Representative Andy Kim said, “A lot of people ask me, ‘Surely your district is divided on this issue?’ They are not. This district that voted for Trump twice understands the challenges of climate change. It is a district that got crushed by Superstorm Sandy. You might remember the iconic image of a roller coaster in the ocean: that’s my district. … We need the change now. People in my district, Democrats and Republicans, all agree upon a bold climate agenda.”

THE HEARTLAND AT THE HEART OF CLEAN ENERGY: On Thursday, labor and environmental leaders, including LCV President Gene Karpinski, joined Senator Bob Casey for a panel discussion on how the investments outlined in the Build Back Better Act is good policy and good politics for everyone, especially the working families and communities that rely on industry jobs, and the communities of color and communities of low wealth that are disproportionately impacted by pollutants and the climate crisis. Watch a recording of the event HERE. 

SENATOR CASEY TAKE: Senator Bob Casey stated, “We’re going to make sure that we take advantage of the remarkable potential in domestic clean energy technology and manufacturing. We’re also going to take advantage of a well-trained, dedicated, and highly-skilled workforce that has grown out of our industrial past…to rebuild both crumbling infrastructure as well as lifting up these communities and making sure that no worker and no community is left behind as we confront and tackle the challenge of climate change…A lot of workers aren’t anticipating some impending doom down the road — a lot of them are feeling it right now.”

BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE TAKE: BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Jason Walsh stated, “Build Back Better can build a clean, equitable economy that mitigates the effects of climate change and provides good-paying, family-sustaining jobs to the workers who will build our clean energy systems, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, and manufacture the materials and components we need for a clean future. Doing that can turn around the lives of workers in factory towns across our country by building back better. And these communities will remember who showed up for them—and who did not. Congress needs to get it done.”

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “The climate crisis is smacking us in the face — people see it now every day. They’re living it. We’re experiencing it. It’s right in front of us. [These investments] will help address the racial justice crisis to make sure that forty percent of the investments are made in impacted communities and communities of color that are most affected by the climate crisis.”

NEW REPORT ASSESSING 2030 CLIMATE TARGETS: This week, energy research firm the Rhodium group released a new report that analyzes the pathway to achieving the goals set by the Paris Climate Accord. It clearly states that without bold action, these goals will not be met. These investments are critical and we must build upon them in order to sustain progress on climate issues.

OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo stated, “Congress has an opportunity right now with the Build Back Better Act to save their constituents $500 a year on their energy bills, create good-paying union jobs, and build a healthy, more equitable clean energy future — all while slowing the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. The Rhodium Group’s new report makes it clear that we can still cut our emissions in half by 2030 through swiftly enacting the Build Back Better Act combined with continued bold executive branch and state leadership. President Biden and Congress: The time is now to quickly come to an agreement on the Build Back Better Act that meets the Climate Test with once-in-a-generation investments in climate, clean energy, jobs, and justice.”

NEW ADS TO GET BUILD BACK BETTER TO THE FINISH LINE: As Build Back Better Act negotiations reach a critical point and fossil fuel-interests ramp up their misinformation campaign about the bill and the positions of key Democratic senators, LCV and Climate Power are unleashing new TV ads in Washington, D.C., Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and New Hampshire because, as one ad says, “our very way of life is at risk.” These new ads are the latest addition to more than $40.5 million that LCV and Climate Power have invested in paid media across the country this year to set the stage for historic action on climate through the Build Back Better Act. Watch “The Moment,” running nationally, and see sample state ads, “For Families,” in Nevada and “Innovation,” in Georgia.

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Campaigns stated, “Congress has an opportunity right now with the Build Back Better Act to save their constituents $500 a year on their energy bills, create good-paying union jobs, and build a healthy, more equitable clean energy future — all while slowing the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. It’s no surprise that fossil fuel-interests are ramping up their false attacks as we near the finish line — the bad news for them is that the Build Back Better Act is overwhelmingly popular in every corner of the country. The time is now for President Biden and Congress to quickly pass the Build Back Better Act.”

CLIMATE POWER TAKE: Climate Power Executive Director Lori Lodes stated, “This is our climate moment and it’s time to get this done. There is no question that the Build Back Better Act is our best shot to make the investments we need to finally take on the climate crisis, create millions of good-paying jobs, lower families’ electricity bills by $500 a year and tackle environmental injustice. This is a code red moment, and Congress must seize it and get a bill that passes the climate test across the line.”

NEW ADS IN ELECTRIC CITY: LCV released digital ads in Scranton in conjunction with President Biden’s visit this week, where he highlighted the need for federal climate action, focusing on bolstering support for climate and clean energy provisions of the Build Back Better Act. These ads will urge Congress not to miss this opportunity to take bold climate action by investing in clean energy, high-quality union jobs, and environmental justice. Watch the ads HERE.

DID YOU KNOW?: Scranton is known as “Electric City,” a nickname used since electric lights were first introduced in 1880 at the Dickson Manufacturing Company. In 1886, the United States’ first successful streetcars powered only by electricity began operating in Scranton. Earlier this year, Pennsylvania artist Bill Strobel (@billstro4_art) used this nickname as inspiration for an art activation calling for federal climate action. See photos from the activation HERE.

NEW ADS IN CHARM CITY: Yesterday, LCV released digital ads in Baltimore alongside President Biden’s visit for a CNN townhall, which focused in part on the urgency and need for climate and clean energy provisions of the Build Back Better Act, which has wide support among Marylanders. In a recent survey, Data for Progress modeled 85% of Marylanders would support additional federal investments for clean energy jobs, including the majority of independents and Republican voters. Support was equally as high for other specific issues covered under the plan like removing lead water pipes and expanding clean energy tax credits. Watch the ads HERE.

PRESIDENTIAL TAKE: During his speech in Scranton, President Biden stated, “Folks, we’re in a situation now where you see what’s happening. I’ve flown all over this country since coming in. You realize more of our land has been burned to the ground — burned to the ground in the West and in the Northwest than the entire state of New Jersey? Every single square mile in New Jersey — more has been burned down this year — this year — in the West because of climate change and because of electric utilities failing, wires falling.”

GOP ABUSES FILIBUSTER TO SUPPRESS THE FREEDOM TO VOTE: On Wednesday, the Freedom to Vote Act failed to pass the Senate due to a Republican filibuster. Republicans are making it harder for historically excluded communities to exercise their rights to vote while abusing the filibuster to prevent reforming racist legislation. Just this year, at least 19 states have enacted 33 laws that implement barriers for voters, particularly Black voters and voters of color, who voted in record numbers in key battleground states last election. We must get rid of the filibuster. LCV first called on the Senate to eliminate the arcane filibuster rule in June to protect the health of our democracy and environment. In addition, ahead of the Senate’s vote on the Freedom to Vote Act, LCV sent a letter to the Senate from LCV President Gene Karpinski urging senators to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, adding that the vote will be considered for the 2021 National Environmental Scorecard.

OUR TAKE: LCV Advocacy Director for Judiciary and Democracy Doug Lindner stated, “It is alarming and undemocratic that Republicans continue to use the archaic filibuster rule to prevent overwhelmingly popular voting rights legislation from passing the Senate. The Freedom to Vote Act is essential to protecting our democracy, making sure all people can exercise their right to vote, and ending partisan gerrymandering. The communities targeted by voter suppression — people of color, young people, people with disabilities, and indigenous people — also disproportionately bear the burden of threats to our air, water, and climate. While Republican state legislators make it harder for marginalized people to vote, Republican Senators are blocking the Senate majority from protecting that fundamental right. Senate Democrats must step up and eliminate or reform the filibuster in order to get democracy reforms passed including the Freedom to Vote Act, John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and D.C. Statehood. They cannot allow an undemocratic relic of history to keep holding back democracy itself.”

OUR DOUBLE TAKE: LCV’s letter from LCV President Gene Karpinski urging Senators to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, writing, “It’s clear that a healthy democracy and a healthy environment are inextricably linked, and that the clock is ticking for both. When the Voting Rights Act of 1965 came up for a vote in the Senate, it faced a filibuster. At the time, there was sufficient bipartisan support to invoke cloture. While LCV believes democracy should never be a partisan

issue, Republican Senators have used the archaic filibuster rule to stall and stonewall democracy legislation all year. This blockade cannot be allowed to continue. The Senate must eliminate or reform the filibuster without further delay. Today’s filibuster is not a tool of compromise; it is a tool of obstruction. People from all walks of life are waiting for this body to protect their democracy and their environment from unprecedented threats before it is too late. No mere procedural device is worth denying them those protections.”

TODAY AND TOMORROW IN DC — RALLY FOR THE FREEDOM TO VOTE: This week, LCV is collaborating with Public Citizen, Black Voters Matter, DC Vote, League of Women Voters, Drum Majors for Change, Declaration for American Democracy and the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda on the Freedom to Vote Relay. The relay highlights the need to pass legislation to protect voting rights for all and to help make the United States a more just and representative democracy. This legislation includes the Freedom to Vote Act, the Washington, DC Admission Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which was recently reintroduced in the Senate. Participants will arrive by various modes of transportation from West Virginia to DC today and will participate in a rally tomorrow at the Capitol. See highlights from the event so far HERE and more information on how to join tonight and tomorrow below.

TODAY — CELEBRATE WITH US IN DC!: Today, participants from the relay, activists, and residents will gather at the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl in DC to celebrate the final stretch of the relay before they rally at the Capitol the following day. Sign up for this event and get more information HERE! 

TOMORROW — RALLY WITH US IN DC!:  On Saturday, October 23, at 11:30 a.m. at the Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carillon, LCV joins Black Voters Matter, CREW, DC Vote, Declaration for American Democracy, Drum Majors for Change, League of Women Voters, the People’s Agenda, Public Citizen, the Working Families Party of West Virginia, and other activists to rally for voting rights legislation and D.C. Statehood. All are welcome to join and more information can be found HERE!

ELECTRIC VEHICLE DISPLAY: This week, Chispa, along with the Electrification Coalition and Plug in America, co-hosted two electric vehicle display events at the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Senate to show an array of light, medium and heavy duty electric vehicles including an electric school bus. Advocates and manufacturers were at the events, discussing the many benefits of electrifying vehicles across the country, including improved air quality, reduced transportation costs, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. These events were focused on building momentum to Build Back Better and protect the health of communities and combat climate change. See some highlights from the events HERE.

@USDOT TAKE: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated, “We have a huge opportunity in front of us. It’s not going to happen on its own, but if we get it right, it will be quick enough, widespread enough and it will be made in America, creating good jobs across the U.S. And it’s up to us not to take our foot off the accelerator and making sure we get that done.”

WH NATIONAL CLIMATE ADVISOR TAKE: White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy stated, “One of the key pieces of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda is supercharging America’s ability to get more EVs on the road, to make them affordable for families and for businesses and to install charging stations all across the country, so that people know they can get where they want to go and back again in the coolest vehicles ever. These are really exciting times. And we have to make sure that we keep working with Congress, because it’s so important that we get the kind of investments we need to build the kind of transportation that is going to be the backbone of our economy moving forward.”

INTRODUCING APPROPRIATIONS: This week, the remaining nine annual FY22 appropriations bills were introduced, which included bills on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy. These bills would provide critical investments to establish a Civilian Climate Corps, support management of our national monuments, tackle harmful toxics like PFAS and lead in our nation’s water supply, fund tribal climate resiliency programs, boost environmental justice grants, expand clean air and enforcement programs, increase clean water infrastructure grants, and invest in programs that promote zero emission vehicles, among many others. See our full statement and some of the investments these appropriations bills would provide HERE.

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Director of Government Affairs Matthew Davis stated, “These ambitious FY22 appropriations bills are further evidence that Democrats are leading the way on fighting the climate crisis, advancing environmental justice, and safeguarding our communities and public spaces all while creating good-paying jobs. These bills would adequately fund the Environmental Protection Agency and Park Service, among other federal agencies, to reverse more than a decade of underinvestment and thousands of staff positions lost and make sure these agencies can deliver on their missions to protect human health and the environment and preserve the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system, respectively. These bills also rescind funding for President Trump’s destructive, racist border wall and put an end to years of harmful legacy riders that have damaged our environment, health, and democracy.”

CLEAN WATER ACT 49TH ANNIVERSARY: In honor of the 49th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, LCV hosted a Q&A on Twitter, asking Congressional leaders what the landmark legislation means to them. These water champions know that clean water is not only essential for survival, but it also has cultural and recreational significance to communities across the country. It is critical that Congress takes bold action to protect this precious resource for all communities, particularly communities of color and communities of low wealth who experience the impacts of polluted water and toxic lead pipes the most.

REPRESENTATIVE MCBATH TAKE: Representative Lucy McBath tweeted, “Water quality affects everyone everywhere, and we must ensure our children and grandchildren have access to the clean water they need to drink and bodies of water to play in for generations to come.”

SENATOR DUCKWORTH TAKE: Senator Tammy Duckworth tweeted, “To build back better, we must remove lead pipes, rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water systems and bring environmental justice to every community.”

CHAIR CARDIN TAKE: Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair Ben Cardin tweeted, “Congress needs to deliver historic investments in our drinking water and wastewater infrastructure with a focus on upgrading aging infrastructure, addressing the threat of climate change, investing in new technologies, and providing assistance to marginalized communities.”

REPRESENTATIVE TONKO TAKE: Representative Paul Tonko tweeted, “Clean water is a human right. Every American deserves to know their drinking water is safe & have access to America’s beautiful lakes and rivers.”

EPA ROADMAP TO ADDRESSING PFAS: This week, the EPA released their PFAS Strategic Roadmap —  an important first step to addressing toxic PFAS pollution, which negatively impacts the health of communities across the country, especially communities of color and communities of low wealth across the country that are disproportionately exposed to pollution. See LCV’s full statement and reactions to this announcement from advocates, community leaders, and elected officials HERE.

OUR TAKE: LCV Deputy Legislative Director Madeleine Foote stated, “The steps outlined in EPA’s new PFAS Roadmap are an important start to addressing the toxic PFAS contamination that has impacted the health of communities across the country for too long. We’ve known for decades that PFAS pose significant dangers to our health, and yet, our government has been slow in acting to eliminate PFAS from our food, water, air, and lands. 

As the administration looks to implement an all-of-government approach to tackling the growing PFAS crisis, we urge the EPA, and branches of government like the Department of Defense, Food & Drug Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration who have so far failed to take sufficient action, to move as swiftly as possible to finally deliver the protections our communities need and go even further to eliminate the use of these dangerous chemicals and hold polluters accountable for the damage they’ve caused.”

MOVING TO PROTECT THE BOUNDARY WATERS!: This week President Biden initiated a mineral withdrawal process that would begin a two-year moratorium on mineral leasing and permitting and allow for a review of potential environmental impacts of proposed mining that would put at risk America’s most visited wilderness area. The review could serve as a basis for a 20-year withdrawal. 

OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director Alex Taurel stated, “It is great to see the Biden administration take these critical steps towards protecting the Boundary Waters. Mining companies should not be allowed to pollute America’s most visited wilderness area and put at risk the vital outdoor recreation jobs, clean water, and wildlife habitat it provides for the communities of northeast Minnesota. We look forward to the Biden administration’s environmental review and are confident it will demonstrate that this watershed should never face the risk of toxic mining.”  

VP SEES WATER CRISIS AT LAKE MEAD: This week, LCV released a digital ad campaign in Southern Nevada for Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to Lake Mead in Nevada, highlighting the unprecedented drought and need for federal climate action. Her visit focused on bolstering support for climate and clean energy provisions of the Build Back Better Act. These ads urge Congress not to miss this opportunity to take bold climate action by investing in clean energy, high-quality union jobs, and environmental justice. Lake Mead, the country’s largest reservoir, supplies drinking water for roughly 25 million people across the West. At around 1,067 feet above sea level and 35% full, the Colorado River reservoir is at its lowest since the lake was filled after the Hoover Dam was completed in the 1930s. Water rationing and cuts have already begun across Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado throwing the future for farmers, ranchers, and smaller cities and towns into question. See the ads HERE. 

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES:

🏈FROM THE FIELD🏈: LCV’s visibility and mobilization field program met a major benchmark this week by knocking on over 300,000 doors across 12 states and D.C. to talk with people about the Build Back Better Act and its critical climate provisions. See LCV’s latest video lifting up this important milestone. Through our canvassing, we’ve recruited over 18,000 people to take action, 14,500 households to place a sign in their yard, and 11,325 businesses to display support. Organizers hosted honk and waves, including outside of the Cannon Office Building before a press conference hosted by LCV, Climate Power, and CAC to drum up visibility for climate action. In addition to visibility, we’ve collected 3,360 petitions and directed 1,800 constituent calls into congressional offices in favor of the Build Back Better Act.

CHISPA TEXAS LAUNCH: ¡La Chispa familia está creciendo! Join us in welcoming Chispa Texas to the Chispa Family! Based out of the coastal bend of Texas, an area that is heavily affected by pollution, extreme weather and rising sea levels, the Chispa Texas team is ready to fight for climate justice. Please show your support by following them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and sharing their amazing work with any Tejanos you know!

VA ELECTIONS: With election day fast approaching, Virginia LCV-PAC is increasing their investment to protect the current pro-conservation trifecta in Richmond. The total investment in Virginia races has been $2.4 million, spent on field work, digital campaigns, mail campaigns, and other voter outreach efforts. With all of the important progress made in the state over the past two years on the line, VALCV-PAC is doing their part to let Virginians know the urgency of voting to protect this majority.

VALCV TAKE: VALCV-PAC Campaign Director Michael Town stated, “This election is absolutely consequential to ensuring Virginia keeps moving forward on climate action, environmental protection, and a just clean energy economy that benefits all Virginians. Glenn Youngkin just said he isn’t smart enough to know what causes climate change – we can’t afford four years of his leadership in Richmond. That’s why we are upping our investment this cycle to re-elect Terry McAuliffe and secure a pro-conservation House of Delegates.”

SPOTLIGHT ON CHISPA NEVADA: Chispa Nevada was featured on page 22 of el Concilio Hispano Media Group’s Southern Nevada Hispanic Heritage Magazine! The piece talks about Chispa NV’s work and highlights their mission to build the power of Latinx families to fight for a more just and healthier future in Nevada.

CHISPA NV TAKE: Chispa NV’s Program Director Rudy Zamora said, “We believe that our community deserves to live with dignity. We need transformational and systematic change in order to create a world that is equitable, inclusive and just.”

ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND LABOR JOIN FORCES IN MONTANA: As Montana Conservation Voters continues pushing for the American Families Plan federal budget, they are joined by labor groups that are pointing out the benefits this budget will have for working families.Leaders from both camps teamed up to write an op-ed in the Helena Independent Record, highlighting the provisions that will put the country on a path to meet the climate test while creating good-paying, union jobs. That is why it is urgent this plan passes through Congress and is signed by President Biden.

MCV TAKE: MCV’s Whitney Tawney and SEIU 775’s Jacquie Halt wrote, “It’s not every day that union members and environmentalists team up, but the American Families Plan federal budget gives us a lot to agree on. It will make taxes fairer, create jobs, mitigate climate change, and improve education and health care”.

CALIFORNIA CONTINUES CRACK DOWN ON OIL DRILLING: Yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a new rule to further curb oil and gas extraction in the state by requiring a 3,200 ft buffer zone between new oil wells and communities — the largest in the country — and increased pollution regulations for existing wells within that distance. The announcement follows Newsom’s executive order earlier this year to ban new fracking permits by 2024. Currently over 2 million Californians live within 2,500 feet of an oil and gas well, and 5 million are within 1 mile.

CEV TAKE: Mike Young, political and organizing director for California Environmental Voters, said, “We applaud Governor Newsom for proposing a draft rule that will create a buffer zone between oil drilling sites and homes and schools. He is showing how California can lead the way by pushing for the largest setback in the country. This is a precedent setting moment!”

COMING UP:

OCTOBER 22: Freedom to Vote Relay Celebration
OCTOBER 23: Freedom to Vote Relay Rally
OCTOBER 26: 30th Anniversary of the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit

THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE ACTION(!) – OCTOBER 15, 2021

Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“It’s just empty words without action. What’s next? We have to move to action. We are here as Salmon People, and the salmon are going extinct. What are we doing to be a good ancestor? We are writing history in this moment. Everything we do, whether on the salmon issue, or climate change, we are writing the future.”

— Alyssa Macy, citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon, and Washington Conservation Voters CEO and LCVEF board member, speaking during a gathering on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

“All them people over there got flooded. And so all of them left.”

— Willa Billings, a resident of Fair Bluff, North Carolina, whose house and entire community was severely damaged after flooding from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and again from Hurricane Florence in 2018 in The Daily podcast episode, “Which Towns Are Worth Saving?”

“We move for the price on the rent, how much it’s going to cost us. But we don’t think about how it’s going to hurt us or our families.”

— Columba Sainz, coordinator for Mom’s Clean Air Force (Ecomadres), speaking on impacts on her daughter’s respiratory health after moving into a community near an airport and bus parking lots in an Arizona Republic article, “New EPA report confirms what South Phoenix’s residents of color know: Climate change discriminates.”

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

The Hill: Moderates split over climate plans in Democrats’ spending package
Politico: Dems torn between wooing and badgering the Biden agenda holdouts
Ocean County Breeze: Rep. Lowenthal (D-CA-47) wants new offshore drilling bans in the Democrats’ Building Back Better Act
The Sag Harbor Express: Climate Corner: Hope (The Pessimist’s Guide)
Washington Post: Group close to McConnell to spend $10 million attacking vulnerable Democratic senators on domestic spending

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:

The Nevada Independent (NV): Extreme heat in Nevada is a daily reminder that climate change is a current threat | Opinion: Dina Titus
Patch (DC/AK): Ice Sculpture Along The Anacostia Shows Effects Of Climate Change
Seattle Times (WA): ‘We are the land’: Indigenous Peoples’ Day gathering at Lummi Nation celebrates survival
MLive (MI): Line 5 opponents criticize Canada’s treaty maneuver, ask Biden to reject move
Independent Record (MT): Ryan Zinke is a critical threat to Montana’s public lands
Earth.com (WA): Washington voters want dam removal to save salmon
Patch (CA): CA Oil Spill: Oiled Birds Die, SHIP Act, Fallout In Spill’s Wake
LA Opinion (CA): Local economy, in addition to the environment, will be affected by the oil spill that occurred in Huntington Beach
WITN (NC): Energy bill gets pushback from environmental groups
Politico (CA): Newsom assails ‘those damn platforms’ in new fight against oil drilling
Albuquerque Journal (NM): How can New Mexico pay for conservation?
Transportation Today News (MI): Biden endorses electric vehicle tax credit

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HONORING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY: Monday marked the first time a U.S. president has formerly recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a long overdue acknowledgement of communities who are continuing to fight for their lands after generations of broken treaties and promises. Leadership from Indigenous leaders and activists resulted in the recent restoration of protections to the Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument after the Trump administration scaled them back. But as we saw at this week’s demonstrations at the Department of the Interior, there is still much work to be done to restore and protect Indigenous lands. Indigenous communities are some of the most impacted by the climate crisis and pollution, and are also fierce leaders in calling for climate action. LCV state affiliate The Alaska Center, Native Peoples Action, and Indigenous activist of Cup’ik descent Sophie Swope unveiled a new video highlighting the impact of the climate crisis on Indigenous Alaskans. The video was projected on a 9,000 pound ice sculpture of a salmon jumping out of water (see more on the art activation here and in our state highlights below!👇). View the video, “Inextricably linked to this land: Our Home. Our future. Our Alaska,” HERE and see photos from the installation HERE.

ALASKA YUP’IK MEMBER TAKE: Andrea Wuya, who is from a Yup’ik community, spoke on the devastating impacts of the climate crisis on critical resources for Indigenous Alaskans, stating, “Some of these things are irreversible, and to see that the number of our salmon population decrease due to climate change is scary because you think of the generations after us, and how are they going to sustain themselves out here?”

SECRETARY HAALAND TAKE: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland ran the Boston Marathon in honor of her ancestors on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, writing, “I run because my ancestors gave me this ability…On this special day, I will run for missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and their families, the victims of Indian boarding schools, and the promise that our voices are being heard and will have a part in an equitable and just future in this new era. I will run for Tom Longboat, Tarzan Brown, and Patti Dillon because they paved a path for me.”

LATINX HERITAGE MONTH CONTINUED: This week, LCV and Chispa continue to honor Latinx Heritage Month, with Chispa closing out the month with highlights from state partners who have hosted and participated in events across the country over the last few weeks. The fight for Latinx communities continues, and Chispa will be hosting events in DC next week to bring attention to the opportunities that a transition to clean vehicles provides (see more in our Electric Vehicle Display Preview below!👇)

LATINX ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE: On Friday, The Latino Climate Justice Framework Project, a coalition of Latinx and Hispanic organizations, that includes Chispa, called for Congress to include climate and justice priorities focused on Latinx communities in the Build Back Better Act. Latinx communities are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis and pollution, and are too often excluded from community investment opportunities — community voices must be centered in the Build Back Better Act to ensure that resources go to the most impacted communities.

COALITION TAKE: The coalition wrote in the letter, “Latinx communities are on the frontlines of climate change. We live in geographies with high exposure to climate hazards and are overrepresented in industries that make us susceptible to their impact, such as the agricultural and construction sectors—both vulnerable to increasing incidence of extreme heat days and wildfire smoke.”

GREEN LATINOS TAKE: GreenLatinos Founding President and CEO, and LCV Board Member Mark Magaña stated, “Our communities have suffered from a history of environmental racism that has historically and purposefully placed polluting industries in our communities, and also placed [us] financially only able to get housing in areas of high risk — high risk of flooding, high risk of hurricanes, high risk of tornadoes, high risk of heat and drought.”

TO BUILD BACK BETTER, WE MUST STOP LEAVING COMMUNITIES BEHIND: ICYMI, last month, the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform, of which LCV is a founding member, released a statement calling for full inclusion of environmental justice priorities in the Build Back Better Act. Historically excluded communities, including communities of color and communities of low wealth, continue to disproportionately suffer from the impacts of the climate crisis and environmental injustice — Congress must make the investments necessary for transformative change in all of our communities. See the priorities that will help ensure that justice is given to communities who need it the most HERE.

COALITION TAKE: Signatories of the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform wrote, “Congressional leaders have a critical opportunity to join forces with President Joe Biden to turn the tide against climate change, economic inequality, and environmental injustice. Black, Latino, Indigenous and other communities in the United States have for too long been on the front lines of our nation’s most dangerous environmental and health hazards. Oil refineries, power plants, ports and waste incinerators are just a few of the many industrial facilities that pump billions of pounds of pollution into the air and water. These are disproportionately sited in communities of color, leading to higher rates of cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease, neurological issues and other life-threatening health problems for the people living there. This undermines these communities’ ability to participate equally in the economy and live safe, healthy and prosperous lives.”

OUR TAKE: LCV tweeted, “We can’t fight the climate crisis without fighting environmental injustice and racism. We can’t #BuildBackBetter without prioritizing marginalized, low-wealth, and communities of color previously left behind.”

GOODBYE, OFFSHORE DRILLING: The California oil spill is only the latest example of the dirty and dangerous impacts of fossil fuel production. The House Natural Resources Committee is highlighting the dangers and offering solutions to the risks of offshore drilling — they held a mark-up of offshore reform bills, an oversight hearing, and will hold a field hearing in Orange County this coming Monday. There is strong and growing support in Congress to seize the opportunity to address one of the issues raised from this most recent oil spill by including language in the final Build Back Better Act to block new leasing for offshore drilling off the West Coast, East Coast, and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, which the House Natural Resources Committee included in their portion of the Build Back Better Act.

HELLO, OFFSHORE WIND: This week, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland laid out a blueprint for offshore wind leasing as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. We are in our “code red for humanity” moment — we cannot wait to build the infrastructure to put our country on the path to a clean energy future, and these bold plans put us one step closer to that future. See how our state affiliates responded when the Biden-Harris administration approved the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project earlier this summer HERE.

@INTERIOR TAKE: Interior Secretary Haaland stated, “The Interior Department is laying out an ambitious roadmap as we advance the Administration’s plans to confront climate change, create good-paying jobs, and accelerate the nation’s transition to a cleaner energy future. This timetable provides two crucial ingredients for success: increased certainty and transparency. Together, we will meet our clean energy goals while addressing the needs of other ocean users and potentially impacted communities. We have big goals to achieve a clean energy economy and Interior is meeting the moment.”

ROADMAP TO BUILD A RESILIENT ECONOMY: Today, the Biden-Harris administration released a roadmap outlining the risks of the climate crisis and how to build a resilient economy. In addition, it highlights the urgent need for Congress to take action to address the climate crisis through the Build Back Better Act. Our communities, especially communities of color and communities of low wealth, are already seeing the devastating impacts of the climate crisis on their economy, with some communities at risk of disappearing altogether.

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld stated, “The Biden-Harris administration is absolutely right — as we saw this summer when climate-fueled extreme weather impacted 1 in 3 people in the country, costing billions of dollars — the climate crisis is a direct threat to our communities and our economy. This roadmap builds on the whole-of-government approach necessary to protect our economy and all communities, especially communities of color and low-wealth communities that have long borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution. We applaud these executive actions, but they must be coupled with transformational climate, jobs, and justice legislation. The Biden-Harris administration and so many Democrats in Congress are working tirelessly to make that happen. It’s past time for Congress to finalize, pass, and send the Build Back Better Act to President Biden’s desk. With international climate negotiations fast approaching, the world is watching. Let’s get this done.”

PUBLIC HEARING ON CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS: This week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held a hearing for its proposal for “Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2024-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks,” where environmental justice advocates, climate activists, public health officials, and other proponents of the proposal gave testimony on how Obama-era clean car standards will help drivers save money and reduce vehicle pollution.

OUR TAKE: LCV Government Affairs Advocate Darien Davis stated, “The transportation sector is the largest source of emissions and needs bold action to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles across all types…Ultimately, the strongest possible CAFE rule would help grow the share of new zero emission vehicles sold to approximately 60-75% of new car sales by 2030. Once again, I urge this administration to set the strongest possible fuel economy standards by finalizing Alternative 3. Simply put: these standards are practical and help to maximize the deployment of electric vehicles.”

ICYMI — INTRODUCTION OF AMERICAN ENERGY WORKER OPPORTUNITY ACT: Last week, Senators Sherrod Brown, Bob Casey, Sheldon Whitehouse, Tina Smith, Michael Bennet, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, and Tammy Baldwin introduced the American Energy Worker Opportunity Act, which would invest in workers in a transition to a clean energy economy. This investment would help provide essential benefits to workers, increase wages, and allow workers in polluter industries access education and training grants. We need workers to transition to a cleaner future, and the American Energy Worker Opportunity Act will help invest in and train workers already in the energy industry, in addition to investing in future workers.

BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE TAKE: BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Jason Walsh stated, “As our nation’s energy system transitions, it is absolutely vital that we do not leave workers and communities behind. These are the workers that have powered our nation for generations and we owe it to them to ensure that they have every opportunity to succeed in the clean economy.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo stated, “The transition to a clean energy future means we cannot leave behind those workers who have played such a crucial role in powering our homes and communities for decades. These workers, their families, and their communities must be supported to take advantage of the millions of new jobs in the clean energy economy that will be created by passage of the Build Back Better Act. We believe this bill helps us achieve this, and thank Senators Brown, Casey, Whitehouse, Baldwin, Bennett, Duckworth, Smith and Warren for their leadership on this important issue.”

ICYMI — MONUMENTAL RESTORATION: ICYMI, last week, the Biden administration fulfilled its promise to restore protections to the sacred lands of Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monuments, where protections were mostly or entirely removed. Bears Ears contains cultural and natural heritage for five tribal communities who make up the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition (BEITC) — the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, and the Pueblo of Zuni — who have and continue to lead the protection and preservation of these sacred spaces from corporate pollution and environmental racism. See our blog from LCV Conservation Program Director Alex Taurel on how the restoration of the Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts national monuments are a crucial next step for conserving 30% of our nation’s lands and waters by 2030.

BEITC MEMBER TAKE: Shaun Chapoose, chairman for the Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee and BEITC member, stated, “President Biden did the right thing restoring the Bears Ears National Monument. For us the Monument never went away. We will always return to these lands to manage and care for our sacred sites, waters and medicines. The Monument represents a historic opportunity for the federal government to learn and incorporate our tribal land management practices.  Practices that we developed over centuries and are needed more now than ever. President Biden was right to reinforce the action taken by President Obama almost five years ago. We battled for this Monument because it matters.”

SECRETARY HAALAND TAKE: Interior Secretary Haaland stated, “It’s about this administration centering the voices of Indigenous people and affirming the shared stewardship of this landscape with tribal nations. The president’s action today writes a new chapter that embraces Indigenous knowledge, ensures tribal leadership has a seat at the table, and demonstrates that by working together we can build a brighter future for all of us.”

FREEDOM TO VOTE RELAY PREVIEW!: In advance of the Senate’s vote on the Freedom to Vote Act next week, LCV is collaborating with Public Citizen, Black Voters Matter, DC Vote, League of Women Voters, Drum Majors for Change, Declaration for American Democracy and the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda for the Freedom to Vote Relay. The relay will highlight the need to pass legislation to protect voting rights for all Americans and help make the United States a more just and representative democracy. This legislation includes the Freedom to Vote Act, the Washington, DC Admissions Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which was recently reintroduced in Congress. The relay will take place October 20th – 23rd, with participants travelling by various modes of transportation from West Virginia to DC. See Senators Amy Klobuchar, Jeff Merkley, Alex Padilla, Tim Kaine, and Raphael Warnock discuss why our democracy needs the Freedom to Vote Act HERE.

CELEBRATE WITH US IN DC!: On Friday, October 22, participants from the relay, activists, and residents will gather at the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl in DC to celebrate the final stretch of the relay before they rally at the Capitol the following day. Sign up for this event and get more information HERE!

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “A healthy environment and a healthy democracy are inextricably linked. It is no coincidence that the communities most affected by climate change and pollution are the same Black, Brown, Asian-American, Native, disabled, and immigrant communities that are targeted by voter suppression. We’re proud to join fellow conveners and marchers from West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia to call on Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and DC Statehood, and fight for a healthy, functioning democracy where all people can participate freely and equitably.”

ELECTRIC VEHICLE DISPLAY PREVIEW!: Next week, Chispa will be hosting two electric vehicle display events to show an array of clean vehicles and to discuss the advantages of going electric. On Wednesday, October 20th, from 9am-1:30pm EST, the Electrification Coalition and Plug in America will host an Electric Vehicle Display at the U.S. Department of Transportation, and on Thursday, October 21st, from 9am-3pm EST, Chispa is partnering with the Senate Auto Caucus and other activists to host an Electric Vehicle & Charging Infrastructure Static Display. Advocates and manufacturers will be at the events, discussing the many benefits of electrifying vehicles across the country. These benefits include improved air quality, reduced transportation costs, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. Register for the Wednesday event HERE and the Thursday event HERE!

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES:

INDIGENOUS ALASKANS CALL ON A FROZEN CONGRESS FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE: In advance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, LCV state affiliate The Alaska Center, Native Peoples Action, and Cup’ik Indigenous activist, Sophie Swope, unveiled a new video, “Inextricably linked to this land: Our Home. Our future. Our Alaska,” which was projected onto a 9,000 pound ice sculpture of a salmon jumping out of water to highlight how the climate crisis is impacting Indigenous Alaskan communities. This art activation sends a clear message to legislators in Washington, DC that it’s time to listen to the voices of Indigenous peoples and invest in communities so that they can continue their way of life and future generations can thrive for years to come.

ALASKAN ACTIVIST TAKE: Sophie Swope, of Cup’ik descent from Mamterilleq Bethel, Alaska stated, “Climate change is challenging the traditional ways of life and hurting my community. The numbers of fish in our rivers — specifically salmon — are declining, and hunting and harvesting trails are not freezing properly. We can’t keep compromising our climate and polluting our waters, lands, and community health…Let’s listen to those most impacted by the climate crisis and pollution who have for too long, not had a seat at the table. There is a world of opportunity here now, we just need our leaders to take bold steps forward and pass legislation that will support our future and address environmental injustice.”

THE ALASKA CENTER TAKE: The Alaska Center Communications Director Leah Moss stated, “For too long, extractive industries have polluted our communities, our climate and our economic health in Alaska. It’s time that our leaders invest in the long term health of Alaskans and invest in the vibrant future that clean energy jobs and a commitment to climate justice could make possible. We are at a pivotal moment to Build Back Better and we must act now before climate change destroys more communities in our state. We need policy makers to take bold action on climate that helps Alaskans thrive, not just survive.”

NATIVE PEOPLES ACTION TAKE: Executive Director of Native People’s Action Kendra Kloster stated, “Indigenous peoples have stewarded the lands and waters across this nation since time immemorial. Having our voices at the decision-making tables with projects that directly impact our ways of life is imperative. “There is vast opportunity and potential for economic growth in our Tribal communities and regions when our Indigenous voices are part of the processes that affect our people, lands, waters and all relations. Our ways of life are on the line – the time is now for investments toward climate justice solutions in partnership with Indigenous people.”

🏈FROM THE FIELD🏈: LCV’s organizers on the ground continue to knock on doors and build support for climate action across the country. So far, our field team has knocked on over 290,000 doors, made nearly 420,000 calls, and mobilized over 10,500 businesses across 12 states to support climate action and clean energy jobs! 💪 See people across the nation share why they want climate action now, and read stories from climate advocates across the country HERE.

PUBLIC HEARING ON REDISTRICTING IN MICHIGAN: This week, Michigan LCV Education Fund and partners hosted a virtual event to provide updates on the latest opportunities to engage with Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Special guest experts Loida Tapia of the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Quentin Turner of Common Cause Michigan spoke with participants on making their voice heard to help ensure fair district maps for the next 10 years.

ICYMI — SCHOOL BUS WIN IN NYC!: Last week, the NYC City Council voted to transition our nation’s largest school district to 100% electric school buses by 2035. This is another example of how the country is moving away from fossil fuels towards clean, emission-free vehicles. As activists work to accelerate this transition, this is a major victory, especially for communities in NYC benefitting from decreases in air pollution.

NYLCV TAKE: At a recent rally in support of electric school buses, New York LCV President Julie Tighe said, “We need electric school buses! They are the cleanest alternative with 70% less GHG emissions and zero tailpipe emissions. Our students go to school to learn and instead we put them at risk when we send them to school in diesel buses.”

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR LATINX COMMUNITIES IN NEW JERSEY: In New Jersey, climate activists are committed to addressing the barriers that make it harder for Latinx communities to be involved in the climate justice movement. New Jersey LCV Campaigns Director Patty Cronheim released an opinion piece with Atlantic Climate Justice Alliance Founder Maria Sanitago-Valentin, highlighting how trust must be built between climate activists and the Latinx community by confronting language and economic barriers in their outreach strategy. Black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by environmental issues, it is important that their voices are at the forefront of this movement.

NJLCV TAKE: In their piece, New Jersey LCV Campaigns Director Patty Cronheim and Atlantic Climate Justice Alliance Founder Maria Sanitago-Valentin wrote, “Factors that stem primarily from language and economic barriers often keep Hispanics from becoming involved with the environmental causes that impact their daily lives. If we don’t want environmental engagement to remain primarily the province of white privilege, we need to break down the barriers that make it difficult for people to get involved.”

CALLING OUT ATTACKS ON PUBLIC LANDS IN MONTANA: Montana Conservation Voters is calling out the blatant lies from former Congressman and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. Zinke is currently running ads claiming that he is supportive of protecting Montana’s public lands, while his votes and actions say otherwise. Activists are letting the public know that Zinke has sold out to oil and gas companies, putting profits above Montana’s public lands and people.

MCV TAKE: In the Helena Independent Record, Montana Conservation Voters Board Chair Jock Conyngham wrote, “The truth is that Zinke has — through his statements, actions, votes and policies — joined the assault on America’s public lands and the strong drive to transfer or sell the lands that support out hunting, fishing, and outdoor culture.”

 

COMING UP:

OCTOBER 18: House Natural Resources Committee Field Hearing in Irvine, CA on the offshore oil disaster
OCTOBER 18: 49th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
OCTOBER 19: Climate Action New Hampshire: Road to COP26 Event
OCTOBER 20: US DOT Electric Vehicle Display
OCTOBER 21: Electric Vehicle & Charging Infrastructure Static Display
OCTOBER 22: Freedom to Vote Relay Celebration
OCTOBER 26: 30th Anniversary of the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit

THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE ACTION(!) – OCTOBER 8, 2021

Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“There are agricultural workers who go to work, get paid at piece rate, and the faster you work, the faster you fill up barrels, the more you get paid. It’s in direct conflict with what you’re supposed to do if you’re experiencing a potential heat illness. Then, the worker goes home, and they have a residence where they don’t have access to a cooling system or maybe they don’t have electricity, so they don’t have access to a fan or a cooling system.”

— Ana Padilla, executive director of the University of California, Merced, Community and Labor Center in a PBS article, “What will it take to keep workers from dying of heat? Enforcement and trust, advocates say.”

“This is not the time for regressive voting policies. It is time to make voting as easy as possible for eligible voters, especially those in hurricane-prone regions. Unwillingness to do that means that some people, namely people of color, will be unable to participate fully in the franchise of voting.”

— Nsé Ufot, founding member of the Black Southern Women’s Collective and executive director of the New Georgia Project, writing how, “Without Intervention, The Climate Crisis May Result In Voter Suppression.”

“You’ll notice in Black and Brown communities in New York City and across the country that major sources of pollution tend to be concentrated in those communities.”

— Blaze Jones-Yelling, an environmental justice professor at John Jay College, who spoke to community members during trolley tours to raise awareness about environmental racism in New Rochelle.

“Creating equitable access to the outdoors for people of color and addressing environmental injustice requires conversation and collaboration.”

— Interior Secretary Deb Haaland tweeted after speaking at a virtual event with Latinx and Hispanic elected leaders and conservationists.

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

USA Today: Hailing from coal country, Sen. Joe Manchin could determine how Joe Biden confronts climate change
E&E News: Farm groups fear being left behind as budget bill shrinks
WisBusiness: U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Introduces bill to empower fossil-fuel workers to train, find jobs in changing energy industry

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:

New York Times (AZ): Kyrsten Sinema Wants to Cut $100 Billion in Proposed Climate Funds, Sources Say
Nevada Public Radio (NV): With much to discuss, immigrant rights groups gather in Las Vegas
NJ.com (NJ): Barriers keep Hispanics from becoming involved with environmental causes | Opinion
Sun Journal (ME): Kathleen Meil, Grant Provost and Mary Kaszynski: Build Back Better: Common ground is common sense
NJ.com (NJ): The defeat of the PennEast project is a long-awaited victory | Opinion
River Reporter (NY): Money Flowing into the Delaware
NC Capitol (NC): ‘Bold step’: Bipartisan support for energy bill as some worry over costs, ‘ambiguities’
Farm And Dairy (OH): Ohio House passes bill to deregulate ephemeral streams
Daily Kos (NY): The Right To Life, Liberty and A Clean Environment.
The Spokesman (WA): Poll finds most Washington voters support plan to breach Snake River dams

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LATINX HERITAGE MONTH CONTINUES: LCV and Chispa continue to honor Latinx Heritage Month  — this week, Chispa released a new video showing how some of our youngest generation already know that we can’t wait to take action for our communities and our planet. Children who rely on public transportation to get to school suffer from aggravated lung health and increased risk of asthma attacks — a leading cause of school absences — and disproportionately impacts educational opportunities in communities of color and communities with low wealth. See the video, “Children Are The Future,” HERE, and see Chispa’s latest petition to call on Congress to take immediate action on the climate crisis for communities who have been historically excluded HERE.

OUR FUTURE GENERATION’S TAKE: The children in the video represent children across the nation that simply want to breathe clean air and drink clean water. They know the importance of taking action to save the planet because they will be the ones affected the most as the crisis continues to get worse year after year — they know, “we need everyone’s help to fix our planet.”

CA OIL SPILL DISASTER SPURS SUPPORT FOR BLOCKING NEW DRILLING: Last weekend, a disastrous oil spill off the coast of California leaked over 126,000 gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean — a devastating event for the already fragile ecosystem, local communities, and local fishing economy. Extreme weather, which is exacerbated by the fossil fuel industry, has made dangerous pipelines even more precarious — 55 oil spills were reported within two weeks of Hurricane Ida. These spills are disastrous for not only our planet, but also for the communities already on the frontlines of the climate crisis, who are too often communities of color and communities with low wealth. Congress must take action to include provisions banning new offshore drilling in the Build Back Better Act to help prevent future disasters. Read our memo from LCV Conservation Program Director Alex Taurel highlighting the climate champions who are taking the lead to put people over polluters HERE.

SENATOR PADILLA TAKE: Senator Alex Padilla tweeted, “We’ve seen time and time again how damaging offshore oil spills are to our coastal ecosystems as well as to our economy. We have the power to prevent future spills—that’s why I’m committed to ending offshore drilling.” 

REPRESENTATIVE PORTER TAKE: Representative Katie Porter stated, “Big Oil’s offshore drilling puts the health of our communities, our local economies, and our planet at risk. Cleaning up this spill is not enough; we need to stop these disasters from happening in the first place.”

REPRESENTATIVES MIKE LEVIN, ALAN LOWENTHAL, AND 77 COLLEAGUES’ TAKE: “Dead birds and dead fish are already washing ashore, local beaches have been closed, boaters are being asked to stay away, and all fishing is curtailed for the area. Oil pollution threatens the more than $2 billion in wages and $4.15 billion in gross domestic product generated by the marine economy in Orange County,” members wrote in a Dear Colleague letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer. “We urge you to retain the offshore oil and gas related provisions in the Build Back Better Act, including the provision that invests in the long-term protection of coastal communities by ending new federal oil and gas leasing off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico […] Congress has a crucial opportunity to end new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Build Back Better Act. We are confident your leadership will help us pass a budget that invests in protecting our coastal communities.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director Alex Taurel stated, “Offshore drilling harms coastal economies and communities, wildlife, and our climate. With the Build Back Better Act, Congress has the opportunity to make investments to prevent future oil spill disasters, act on climate at the scale that science and justice require, create good-paying jobs, and reduce costs for families. We strongly support the calls by a large and growing segment of Congress to invest in coastal communities by retaining provisions in the final Build Back Better Act to ban new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Eastern Gulf of Mexico.”

MONUMENTAL RESTORATION!: This week, the Biden administration fulfilled its promise to restore protections to the sacred lands of Bears Ears, which the Trump administration reduced by 85%, Grand Staircase-Escalante, which was cut by nearly half, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monuments, where protections were entirely removed. Bears Ears contains cultural and natural heritage for five tribal communities who make up the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition (BEITC) — the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, and the Pueblo of Zuni — who have and continue to lead the protection and preservation of these sacred spaces from corporate pollution and environmental racism. Check out our blog from LCV Conservation Program Director Alex Taurel on how the restoration of the Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts national monuments are a crucial next step for conserving 30% of our nation’s lands and waters by 2030.

BEITC MEMBER TAKE: BEITC member and Hope Tribe Vice Chairman Clark W. Tenakhongva stated, “Thank you, President Biden and Vice President Harris for upholding your commitment to restore Hommuru (the Bears Ears monument), which is the birthplace of many Hopi and other Native peoples. Through this action, the history of our people, our culture, and religion will be preserved for future generations.”

CHAIR GRIJALVA TAKE: House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raul Grijalva stated, “It’s time to put Trump’s cynical actions in the rear-view mirror, restore rightful protections, and restart the Bears Ears co-management arrangement with the tribes who have held this place sacred since time immemorial.” 

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “We stand in solidarity with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition who came together to advocate for the creation of the Bears Ears National Monument and celebrate this important step toward fulfilling their vision for safeguarding their sacred sites and ancestral lands. President Biden’s moves restore health and economic protections to the communities that live and work near these lands and waters and provide economic certainty to other communities that rely on national monuments to power their outdoor recreation and tourism businesses. Thank you to Secretary Haaland for her detailed review of the cultural, historical, and scientific importance of these national monuments. This is exactly the type of whole of government approach required to achieve racial justice, respect for Tribes, and address the climate crisis, while rebuilding a more equitable economy and creating good-paying jobs.”

RESTORING NEPA!: This week, the Biden-Harris administration’s Council of Environmental Quality proposed a rule to restore some key provisions for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that the previous administration gutted in their 2020 rule. This move is an important first step to reinstituting meaningful environmental review in the consideration of major projects and is an important action to protect the health and hear the voices of all communities, especially communities of color. 

CEQ CHAIR TAKE: Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory stated, “The basic community safeguards we are proposing to restore would help ensure that American infrastructure gets built right the first time, and delivers real benefits – not harms – to people who live nearby. Patching these holes in the environmental review process will help reduce conflict and litigation and help clear up some of the uncertainty that the previous administration’s rule caused.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Director of Government Affairs Matthew Davis stated, “Today, the Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory is taking an important first step toward restoring environmental protections in the consideration of major projects – a critical action for advancing environmental justice. We look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to ensure that NEPA analyses take climate impacts and cumulative health effects into account when considering and assessing infrastructure projects and their potential alternatives. For far too long, climate change pollution and the effects of multiple harmful sources of contamination on communities have been ignored, and this proposed rule would help make sure these concerns are addressed, and alternative approaches seriously explored, so that we truly can Build Back Better.”

JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT HEARD!: On Tuesday, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) was reintroduced in the Senate by Senator Patrick Leahy, and on Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing regarding the advancement of the bill. In this hearing, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke presented evidence of voter discrimination and strongly urged the Senate to advance and pass the bill, which would restore the critical voter protections from the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We cannot have a healthy environment without a healthy democracy — it is imperative that the Senate takes up and passes both the VRAA and the Freedom to Vote Act, to ensure an equitable redistricting process and free and fair elections in 2022. This year, at least 19 states have enacted 33 laws that make it harder for people to vote, particularly Black voters and voters of color, who voted in record numbers in key battleground states last election. 

BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE TAKE: Brennan Center for Justice Vice President for Democracy Wendy Weiser submitted oral testimony for the hearing, stating, “States have piled voting restriction upon voting restriction, passing new ones as soon as old ones are struck down, in what amounts to legal whack-a-mole. For instance, the new Georgia and Texas voter suppression laws, the worst in the country, come after years of earlier voting hurdles in those states. Safeguarding our democracy and protecting voting rights is one of the most sacred responsibilities this body has. The House has passed this bill. It’s now up to the Senate to act — without delay — to pass both the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.”

COMPETES ACT INTRODUCED: On Thursday, Senator John Hickenlooper introduced the Competitive Onshore Mineral Policy via Eliminating Taxpayer-Enabled Speculation (COMPETES) Act, which would prevent leasing of taxpayer-owned public lands to oil and gas companies for diminished rates. Currently, these public lands are leased and managed for oil and gas production and are not managed for outdoor recreation or conservation purposes — which takes opportunities and benefits away from local communities.

SENATOR HICKENLOOPER TAKE: Senator John Hickenlooper stated, “Non-competitive leasing encourages speculation on public lands at taxpayers’ expense. Westerners lose out when large swaths of land are set aside for speculation instead of conservation or recreation.”

COCO TAKE: Conservation Colorado Deputy Director Jessica Goad stated, “Public lands are critical to our fight against climate change and will be a solution to solving the crisis. The practice of leasing public lands for drilling at bargain basement prices in a noncompetitive process directly conflicts with our national climate and conservation goals. We’re thrilled that Senator Hickenlooper is leading this effort. The Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management must advance reforms to the oil and gas program to align our dual climate and conservation goals and the U.S. Senate should pass this good bill right away.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Government Affairs Advocate Ben Alexandro stated, “For too long oil and gas industry CEOs have reaped the benefits of a broken leasing system that is rigged in favor of oil industry executives and leaves our public lands, waters, and communities to pay the price…These lands could be opened for conservation, recreation, as well as other uses, and provide invaluable benefits to communities across the country including protecting public health, clean water, and air. We applaud Senator Hickenlooper for his leadership in proposing the COMPETES Act and urge Congress to include common sense reforms like this in the final Build Back Better Act to make oil and gas companies pay their fair share for exploiting taxpayer-owned resources.”

THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION IS NOW!: This week, Climate Power hosted an installation calling on Congress to Build Back Better, kicking things off with a night display of climate advocates emphasizing that we are in a “code red for climate.” Our communities can no longer wait for action — we need Congress to pass the full Build Back Better Act to put our nation on the path to clean energy while creating jobs and addressing the climate crisis and environmental injustices.

OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo tweeted, “The time for bold climate action is NOW. It is costing lives, livelihoods and our health. We have the solutions and the public support. NOW is the time to pass the #BuildBackBetter Act with the investments that science and justice require.” 

BIDEN IN MICHIGAN: On Tuesday, President Biden travelled to Michigan to speak on how investments in the Build Back Better Act are critical to creating jobs and economic growth for working families while putting our country on the path to address the climate crisis. Michiganders have seen the devastating impacts from the climate crisis and crumbling infrastructure firsthand — see stories our field team heard from Michiganders below and HERE.

PRESIDENTIAL TAKE: President Biden stated, “Our infrastructure used to be the best in the world, literally not figuratively. Today, according to the world economic forum, we rank 13th. … All those investments that fueled a strong economy, we’ve taken our foot off the gas. These bills are about competitiveness versus complacency. They’re about opportunity versus decay. They’re about leading the world or continue to let the world pass us by, which is literally happening.”

MICHIGANDER STORIES: Michiganders from Plymouth to Lansing to Holland 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 climate action now. And as President Biden heads to the Great Lakes State to talk about the importance of passing the Build Back Better Act with all of the current climate provisions intact, the people of Michigan are on his side and agree with the need for bold climate action. See more stories from Michigan HERE and highlights from stories from advocates across the country HERE.

IN LANSING: Nicole was forced to leave her home in Flint, Michigan because of the water crisis. Now, with the state of the climate and the amount of chemicals going into our water, she fears others will share this same fate. 

IN PLYMOUTH: Kathleen is frustrated that her children and her children’s children will most likely have to inherit a climate crisis even though we’ve known about climate change for over a generation now. Kathleen has been conscious of the need to slow the effects of climate change since she first voted when she was 18, and she hopes that her representatives in Congress will take action in a truly transformative way now to address the climate crisis while also addressing our infrastructure needs.

IN WARREN: Ken is concerned about the need to improve drinking water and ensuring all communities in Southeast Michigan have equal access to clean, safe, affordable water. He used to live in Flint, giving him a personal understanding of the importance of this issue. He hopes Congress takes action on environmental issues now.

FREEDOM TO VOTE RELAY PREVIEW!: LCV is collaborating with Public Citizen, Black Voters Matter, DC Vote, League of Women Voters, Drum Majors for Change, Declaration for American Democracy and the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda for the Freedom to Vote Relay later this month, which will highlight the need to pass legislation to protect voting rights for all Americans and help make the United States a more just and representative democracy. This legislation includes the Freedom to Vote Act, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which was recently reintroduced in Congress (see above!). The relay will take place October 20th to October 23rd, with participants travelling by various modes of transportation from West Virginia to DC. 

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski stated, “A healthy environment and a healthy democracy are inextricably linked. It is no coincidence that the communities most affected by climate change and pollution are the same Black, Brown, Asian-American, Native, disabled, and immigrant communities that are targeted by voter suppression. We’re proud to join fellow conveners and marchers from West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia to call on Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and DC Statehood, and fight for a healthy, functioning democracy where all people can participate freely and equitably.”

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY PREVIEW!: In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, Chispa will be centering Indigenous climate activists at the forefront of the fight for protecting people and the planet. Indigenous communities are some of the most impacted by the climate crisis and pollution, and are also fierce leaders in calling for climate action and adapting to changes exacerbated by the climate crisis. See accounts for 7 Indigenous climate activists to support and follow on Twitter below!

Tara Houska @zhaabowekwe
Dallas Goldtooth @DallasGoldtooth
Princess Daazhraii Johnson @ArcticDaazhraii
Bernadette Demientieff @bernademientief
Winona LaDuke @WinonaLaduke
Jade Begay @_jadebegay
Dr. Elizabeth Hoover @bluefancyshawl

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES:

INDIGENOUS ALASKANS CALL ON A FROZEN CONGRESS FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE PREVIEW!:  LCV state affiliate The Alaska Center, Native Peoples Action, and an Alaska based Indigenous activist, Sophie Swope, will unveil a new art installation on Saturday, October 9 in Washington DC. A video will be projected on a 9,000 pound ice sculpture depicting salmon in the Diamond Teague Park along the Anacostia River beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. AK. The event, in advance of Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, is a message to Congress to share the ways that Indigenous Alaskans are deeply impacted by the climate injustice and the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, a crisis that needs federal action now. The installation features testimony from Alaska Native peoples facing the calamitous economic, health, and communal impacts of climate change through short films captured by Alaskan videographer Chris Ho. RSVP with Mika Hyer at mhyer@lcv.org.

NYC IS ON BOARD WITH ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES!: This week, The New York City Council passed Intro 455-A to transition the city’s school bus fleet to entirely electric buses by 2035. This victory will help children breathe cleaner air while creating more clean energy jobs, and addressing the disproportionate impacts of fossil fuel pollution from transportation on environmental justice communities.

NYLCV TAKE: NYLCV President Julie Tighe stated, “The New York League of Conservation Voters applauds Speaker Corey Johnson, Council Member Daniel Dromm, and City Council for getting on board the electric bus! Today, we pushed forward important legislation to switch the largest school district in the country to clean electric school buses, a landmark measure Mayor de Blasio’s committed to earlier this year. This has been a priority for the League for several years, and we’re thrilled to see climate action that will reduce transportation emissions and keep our children healthy. Thank you to all the Council Members that have advocated for the bill and all our partners in the NYC Clean School Bus Coalition that have contributed to creating a cleaner, healthier future for all of New York City’s children. We look forward to Mayor de Blasio signing this important bill in the coming days.”

DEFENDING IMMIGRANT RIGHTS IN NV: This week, immigration and refugee rights organizations gathered in Las Vegas at the 2021 National Immigration Integration Conference. Among the topics discussed was the urgency to pass the Build Back Better Act to address the infrastructure needs of immigrant and refugee communities and the disproportionate effects they face from the climate crisis. 

CHISPA NV TAKE: Chispa Nevada Program Director Rudy Zamora stated, “Climate change is important to everyone in Nevada, but in particular immigrants. We have to make sure that the air that we’re breathing is clean; most of the immigrant communities and low-income families live in areas of the state that are the most polluted. We have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), we have TPS (temporary protected status), we have other things, but none of those are a clear pathway to citizenship. And there’s so many people in this country that deserve a pathway to citizenship. I myself was a (DACA) dreamer at one point, and I’m fortunate enough to be a citizen now, but DACA is just the initial step.”

🏈FROM THE FIELD🏈: LCV’s organizers on the ground continue to knock on doors and build support for climate action across the country. So far, our field team has knocked on almost 270,000 doors, made nearly 380,000 calls, and mobilized over 9,500 businesses across 11 states to support climate action and clean energy jobs! 💪 See people across the nation share why they want climate action now, and read stories from climate advocates across the country HERE.

ACTIVISTS CALL FOR CLIMATE ACTION AT AXNE TOWN HALL: In Iowa’s third congressional district, residents showed up to Rep. Cindy Axne’s town hall to voice their concerns about the climate crisis and demand action. Representative Axne reiterated her support for the Build Back Better Act and urged the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass the legislation, which makes major investments in green energy job creation and puts the country on the path to be carbon neutral by 2050.

ICYMI, CROP ART ACTIVATION IN NJ: In case you missed it, last week, local artist Suki Dewey, along with New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, organized a community crop art activation to call for immediate climate action. Dewey and New Jersey LCV made a statement by spelling out the word “NOW” in a soybean field — there is no time to waste when it comes to addressing the climate crisis. Action must be taken now, our people and planet cannot wait. See photos and video of the crop art from Dewey HERE.

ARTIST TAKE: Local artist Suki Dewey stated, “These fields are my canvas and with this installation I wanted to simply underscore the urgency of this very moment. It is clear that we need climate action and we need it NOW. And I hope my art, thanks to the help of community activists, can serve as a reminder to voters, members of Congress, everyone —  we have no time to waste. Our planet is on fire. We need Congress to boldly move forward to address the climate crisis at the scale that science and justice demands.” 

NJ LCV TAKE: New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Ed Potosnak stated, “At a time when New Jersey is seeing the effects of climate change firsthand we want to thank members of Congress who are taking action to fight climate change, particularly those who are committed to passing President Biden’s Build Back Better Act. Residents in New Jersey whose homes have been damaged by flooding need to know that Washington stands with them and is doing everything it can to build a green energy future. The time for action is now.” 

BUILDING BACK BETTER IN MAINE: Maine Conservation Voters teamed up with local labor and veteran groups to call on Maine’s federal delegation to support the Build Back Better Act alongside the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework. Not only would this  legislation make major investments in Maine’s infrastructure, but it would also create green energy jobs and protect our planet — delivering the bold climate action we need. The bill also has provisions that would benefit VA hospitals and other investments to bolster the economy.

MAINE CONSERVATION VOTERS TAKE: In a joint op-ed the groups released, MCV Director of Policy Partnerships Kathleen Meil and representatives from both a local union and VoteVets said, “A more sustainable planet, thriving economy, and stronger communities are just a few votes away from becoming a reality. We urge Maine’s entire federal delegation to support the Build Back Better Act alongside the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework. We have the power to truly transform our nation with these pivotal bills. We hope they see it that way, too”.

VICTORY! PLUG PULLED ON PENNEAST PIPELINE IN NJ: After seven years of fighting the proposed PennEast pipeline, landowners and activists achieved a major win when the developers officially canceled the project. The pipeline would have stretched from Northeastern Pennsylvania to New Jersey, disrupting hundreds of miles of land, threatening the health and safety of local communities and the environment. Activists, including New Jersey LCV, have been on the forefront of this fight pressuring legislators to deny permits and encouraging the public to express concerns about the project. 

NJLCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Executive Director Ed Potosnak wrote an op-ed stating, “The PennEast project was unneeded and unwanted. This project would have damaged the lands and polluted the water in the impacted communities, and significant natural resources, historic sites, pristine protected streams and endangered species would have been at risk.”

WASHINGTONIANS SUPPORT RESTORING SALMON RUNS: Washington Conservation Voters released a new survey showing that a majority of Washington state voters support plans to restore vital salmon runs in the area. These efforts would breach the Lower Snake River dams, allowing the local salmon to flourish. In May, the Nez Perce Tribe released a study highlighting the catastrophic impacts of dams on salmon runs in the Snake River Basin which threaten the salmon population to extinction and  go against promises to the Tribal communities who rely on them.

NEZ PERCE TRIBE TAKE: Last month, the Nez Perce Tribe announced the launch of the Salmon Orca Project, which calls on the Biden administration to take action to support replacing dams along the snake river. Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Chairman Samuel Penney stated, “We are battling for the future of a sacred way of life for many in our region. The United States and native nations signed treaties-treaties that were to ensure the existence and protection of salmon in perpetuity.  But, our salmon are going extinct. Treaties have not been honored. As a result, our people and our culture and our very way of life face extinction. That’s why we stand united as Tribal Nations and call on the Biden Administration to honor the treaties made between our sovereign nations.  We call on this Administration to work with us to replace the Lower Snake River Dams. And we call on the Administration to do so now, not tomorrow or two years from now. The time to act is now.”

WCV TAKE: Washington Conservation Voters CEO Alyssa Macy stated, “What we learned from this is that voters across Washington are adamant that they do not want salmon to go extinct.”

RAMPING UP FOR VIRGINIA’S ELECTIONS: This week, VALCV PAC announced significant campaign ramp-up in final weeks of 2021 race, including major investments in mail, digital, and field campaigns to ensure that Virginia’s current conservation majority is protected and progress will continue being made to pass pro-environment policies that improve the quality of life for all Virginians.

VALCV PAC TAKE: VALCV PAC Campaign Director Michael Town stated, “This election is absolutely pivotal to protecting and building on the incredible progress we’ve made in recent years addressing the climate crisis, transitioning to a clean energy economy, and safeguarding our environment. We are committed to doing everything we can to win on Nov. 2, which starts with letting voters know exactly what’s at stake for clean air, clean water and Virginia’s future.” 

 

COMING UP:

SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 15: Latinx Heritage Month
OCTOBER 9: Alaskans for Climate Justice Ice Installation
OCTOBER 11: Indigenous Peoples Day
OCTOBER 20-23: Freedom to Vote Relay

THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE ACTION(!) – OCTOBER 1, 2021

Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“Having this electric school bus is confirmation that things happen because the community has power. Once the community knows there is power, they will exercise that power.”

— Teo Argueta, speaking in LCV and Chispa’s film produced in partnership with the Redford Center, “Community Power Arizona: En Nuestrxs Manos (In Our Hands).”

“If you don’t have air conditioning or you can’t run it because you don’t have that kind of financial resources and that coping capacity, and let’s say you have a preexisting health condition…and in your neighborhood that’s five or six degrees hotter than other neighborhoods around you. That could be a lethal difference in terms of temperatures.”

— Vivek Shandas, a professor of climate adaptation at Portland State University on a Living Downstream podcast episode, “Degrees Of Injustice – The Social Inequity Of Urban Heat Islands.”

“Since they put a hog farm a quarter of a mile from where I live, we can’t drink the water or hang out our clothes. I don’t even wear white clothes anymore because when you wash them, they turn yellow.

— Elouise Stokes Jacobs, a resident of Waycross, North Carolina, speaking at a commissioners meeting during a public comment period on air and water pollution issues.

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

Yahoo!News: Biden’s climate change agenda hangs in balance as Congress debates budget
AP: On climate change, Biden $3.5T plan making up for lost time
The Hill: Labor, environmental groups in new ad press lawmakers for bigger package
Bloomberg Law: ‘Disruptive’ Shutdown Seen as Crippling EPA Powers and Economy
E&E: Greens target Sinema with ad campaign over spending bill

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: 

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:

Fayetteville Observer (North Carolina): Opinion: Why a clean energy future sets Fayetteville up for success
Blue Ridge Public Radio (North Carolina): NC Coalition Forms To Advocate For Offshore Wind Energy Projects
TAPinto (New Jersey): PennEast Company ‘Ceases All Future Development’ of Fracked Gas Pipeline that Threatened County’s Public and Private Lands

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LATINX HERITAGE MONTH CONTINUES: LCV and Chispa continue to honor Latinx Heritage Month — this week, Chispa participated in Drive Electric Week, hosting an electric school bus event  with Generation 180 and World Resources Institute (see more on Drive Electric Week below 👇). Chispa also highlighted the power of community action with a film produced in partnership with the Redford Center, “Community Power Arizona: En Nuestrxs Manos (In Our Hands).” Additionally, Chispa National Communications and Creative Strategies Director Pita Juarez was featured as one of NETA Collaborative’s Latinx Systemic Disruptors for her leadership, storytelling, and filmmaking in the fight for climate justice, centering Latinx communities and communities of color who are on the front lines of the climate crisis and environmental racism.

CHISPA TAKE: Chispa National Communications and Creative Strategies Director Pita Juarez said her heroes are, “mujeres/women who have paved the way for me, for us, and for future generations to be able to say who we are and what we want loud and proud.”

‘SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE PLAYING POLITICS WITH PEOPLE’S LIVES’: Earlier this week, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans blocked a bill to fund the government and avoid financial catastrophe from a U.S. government default. While a government shutdown was averted on Thursday night, Senate Republicans must stop playing politics while lives are on the line. 

OUR TAKE: Senior Director of Government Affairs Matthew Davis stated, “While Democrats work through legislation to rebuild our country and address the interwoven crises of the coronavirus pandemic, economic inequality, racial injustice, and climate change, Senate Republicans are playing politics with people’s lives. Mitch McConnell’s utter disregard for struggling families and refusal to fund recovery efforts following an unprecedented summer of climate change-fueled extreme weather disasters is beyond shameful. Congress must act swiftly to raise the debt ceiling, deliver relief to suffering communities, maintain critical government services, and invest in a safer, healthier, and more equitable future.”

$4 MILLION AD INVESTMENT FOR BBB!: This week, LCV and Climate Power announced an additional $4 million paid media investment in key House districts, thanking members for their support and encouraging others to back the Build Back Better Act with popular climate provisions. Experts warn the window is closing to avert the worst effects of the climate crisis, and the Build Back Better Act is our best opportunity to take transformative action. We need all hands on deck now to ensure the final package meets the “Climate Test” and to push it across the finish line. New TV ads will run in the following representative’s districts: Representatives Stephanie Murphy,  Josh Harder, Kathleen Rice, and Scott Peters. New innovation-focused digital ads will run in these representative’s districts: Representatives Sharice Davids, Haley Stevens, Angie Craig, and Steven Horsford. Additional resources will also be invested in previously announced TV and digital ads in more than 20 key districts. See the full list of ads HERE and read our full checklist to see how the current Build Back Better Act measures up to LCV’s priorities HERE. 

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Campaigns Pete Maysmith stated, “Polluter CEOs might have deep pockets for false advertising, but science and the public are on the side of climate action. Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tackle the climate crisis in a way that also helps address economic and racial equity — and their constituents are demanding that they pass the Build Back Better Act now.” 

CLIMATE POWER TAKE: Climate Power Executive Director Lori Lodes stated, “This is a code red moment that requires Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act that meets the Climate Test. The crisis is disrupting lives in every part of the country. Thankfully, members have the opportunity to pass the Build Back Better Act, including climate investments that will create jobs, reduce energy costs for families, and build a more just and equitable nation. The case for climate action is backed by people in every corner of America, now it’s time for Congress to finish the job.” 

NEW ADS FOR CLEAN BUSES!: On Wednesday, Chispa and electric school bus partners released a new bilingual, six-figure digital ad buy in nine key states to thank members and to call on Congress to support clean rides for kids in the Build Back Better Act. The digital ad campaign brings attention to the consequences of polluted air from dirty school buses, which aggravates lung health in children and increases the risk of asthma attacks — a leading cause of school absences — and disproportionately impacts educational opportunities in communities of color and communities with low wealth. The ads support Representatives Tony Cárdenas, Jahana Hayes, and Frank Pallone, and Senators Alex Padilla, Tom Carper, Raphael Warnock, Catherine Cortez-Masto, and Patty Murray for their leadership on electric school buses to help our kids breathe clean air, Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper for helping advance the Build Back Better Act and encouraging them to fight for clean buses, and to urge Senator Kyrsten Sinema to take action now to support the Build Back Better Act and clean school buses for kids. See example ad for Sinema HERE and a full list of released ads HERE.

CHISPA TAKE: Chispa National Senior Director Johana Vicente stated, “About twenty-five million children ride dirty diesel school buses to and from school. These buses are putting the health of millions of children at risk, especially Black, Indigenous, and Latinx children who already bear an unfair burden of air pollution. Congress must act and support funding for electric school buses. By prioritizing our children’s health, we can start to build a more just and equitable clean energy future that invests in the health and sustainability of our communities. Our children, our communities have a right to breathe clean air.”

CHISPA DOUBLE TAKE: Chispa National Communications and Creative Strategies Director Pita Juarez stated, “Our mission is to prioritize the health of kids and we know we can do that by getting more electric school buses out on the road.”

TALKING BBB WITH SPEAKER PELOSI + HOUSE MEMBERS: On Tuesday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, LCV, and Climate Power hosted a press event on the importance of taking bold climate action and passing the Build Back Better Act. Speakers included House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor, Representatives Lauren Underwood, Sharice Davids, Mikie Sherrill, Susie Lee, Haley Stevens, Steven Horsford, and LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfield. 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. Watch the full event HERE.

SPEAKER PELOSI TAKE: Speaker Nancy Pelosi closed out the event 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, stating, “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.”

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs 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.”

TALKING CLEAN TRANSPORTATION @EPA: On Tuesday, LCVEF hosted an event with climate advocates to deliver public comments to EPA Administrator Michael Regan and call for the boldest and strongest clean car standards possible. Speakers included former EPA Administrator and current LCV Board Chair Carol M. Browner and President and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus and LCV Board Member Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr., along with several other climate advocates, who highlighted the importance of strong standards as an environmental justice issue, pointing out that low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by tailpipe pollution. Watch the full event HERE.

FORMER EPA ADMINISTRATOR TAKE: Carol M. Browner, former EPA administrator and Board Chair for the League of Conservation Voters stated, “The science is telling us we need to act now to reverse the threat climate change represents for our health, environment, and economy. We need the strongest possible standards to drive the change we need in the transportation sector to reduce pollution and save consumers money at the pump. We look forward to working with Administrator Regan to go even further and set the strongest possible clean car standards. The stakes have never been higher and the opportunity has never been greater.”

HIP HOP CAUCUS TAKE: Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO and LCV Board Member Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr. stated, “Climate change is a public health and a civil rights issue that poses a particular threat to communities of color and low-income families, who are often hit the hardest by climate change and carbon pollution. It is the responsibility of our leaders in Washington to not only protect the environment, but to protect the people in harm’s way and to bring the economic benefits of clean energy and clean transportation to underserved communities.”

DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK: This week, as we noted at the top, Chispa participated in Drive Electric Week, hosting an electric school bus event — “Communities in the Driver’s Seat” — with Generation 180, and World Resources Institute. Chispa Arizona Organizing Director Masavi Perea highlighted that persistence from communities has driven change that is creating cleaner air for kids. In addition, Chispa highlighted the power of community action with a film produced in partnership with LCV and the Redford Center, “Community Power Arizona: En Nuestrxs Manos (In Our Hands)”.

CHISPA AZ TAKE: Chispa Arizona Organizing Director Masavi Perea stated, “We can make a change — right here, right now.”

HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT: On Monday, the House Budget Committee completed its markup of the Build Back Better Act, bringing the legislation one step closer to becoming a reality. The latest report on the climate crisis makes it clear — this is our “code red for humanity” moment — Congress must take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to fully invest in the infrastructure to put our country on the path to 100% clean energy, create clean energy jobs, and address the climate crisis and environmental injustices in all communities.

OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld stated, “We applaud Chairman Yarmuth and other committee chairs, members, and leadership for prioritizing the transformational legislation we need for climate, clean energy, justice, and jobs in the Build Back Better Act. These popular investments are critical to cutting climate pollution in half by 2030 and Congress doing its part to meet the Climate Test. Congress must swiftly finalize, pass, and send to President Biden the Build Back Better Act, which will create a more clean, just, and equitable future for all. Climate change’s impacts are already harming communities across the country. Now is the time to seize this once in a generation opportunity to tackle climate change in a manner that addresses the inter-related crises of racial and economic inequality.”

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY: Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day, where LCV and Chispa programs across AZ, FL, NV, NC, PA and VA participated in voter registration special events at college campuses, community redistricting meetings, and online community gatherings like Civics con Chispa in NV. We cannot have a healthy environment without a healthy democracy — registering to vote is a critical step for communities to be heard at the ballot box. See Chispa Nevada’s video encouraging people to check their voter registration and register to vote HERE. See LCVEF Voter Resources HERE.

WE ARE HOME: In response to the Senate parliamentarian rejecting the Democrat’s second proposal to include a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the reconciliation package, immigrant advocacy group We Are Home released a statement calling on Democrats to take immediate action. Millions of immigrants who have already lived here for decades, working and investing in our nation’s economies in some of the most low-paying and dangerous jobs critical to our nation, need a path to citizenship. The same systemic inequities and institutionalized discrimination that fuels environmental injustices also oppress the immigrant community.

TRIBES SPEAK ON BEARS EARS: Tribal leaders from the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, which includes the Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe and Pueblo of Zuni, sent a letter to President Biden calling for the restoration and expansion of the Bear Ears National Monument’s boundaries after the previous administration significantly downsized the protected area. The letter highlights the spiritual, cultural, and environmental importance of the area and urges immediate action citing the potential for vandalism, desecration, and looting from tourists. See Washington Post’s article HERE.

OUTDOORS FOR ALL ACT: On Wednesday, the Outdoors for All Act was introduced, which would guarantee funding for projects that support outdoor spaces in communities historically excluded from funding opportunities, particularly in communities of color, urban areas, and communities with low wealth. Studies show that “urban heat islands,” areas without green spaces, can be up to 15 to 20 degrees hotter during the day than temperatures in outer areas with natural vegetation — and with the record-setting extreme temperatures we’ve seen this summer, it is only expected to get worse. The latest climate report makes it clear — we must take every action to combat the climate crisis, and green spaces in urban areas can help lower urban heat island temperatures, lower energy costs, and save lives.

OUR TAKE: LCV tweeted, “Green spaces are vital to communities; they’re places to recharge mentally, connect with people, and can even cool down neighborhoods. We’re proud to support @RepBarragan & @SenAlexPadilla’s #OutdoorsForAll Act, which will help ensure that all communities have access to nature.”

SEN. PADILLA TAKE: Senator Padilla stated, “No matter your zip code, everyone should have access to outdoor space in their community. Having grown up in Los Angeles, I know all too well how people living in urban areas often lack adequate park space, an injustice that negatively impacts our communities and our environment. The Outdoors for All Act would invest in new parks and open spaces—and upgrade existing ones—to bring nature’s benefits to urban residents’ doorsteps.  Improving park access will provide benefits like shade, tree cover, and clean air that are critical as we grapple with the intensifying effects of the climate crisis.”

REP. BARRAGAN TAKE: Representative Barragán stated, “By passing the Outdoors for All Act, we make it crystal clear that funding for urbans parks is here to stay. Far too many low-income communities and communities of color lack access to a nearby park or green space. Green spaces are crucial for the health and well being of our communities. By preserving the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, we will provide much needed urban parks funding for underserved communities throughout our country.”

@BLM CONFIRMED: This week, Tracy Stone-Manning, environmental advocate and executive at the National Wildlife Federation, was confirmed as the director of the Bureau of Land Management — drawing a stark contrast to the Trump administration’s anti-environmental acting directors who put polluters over people and rolled back critical environmental protections for our nation’s federal lands. Earlier this week, LCV sent a letter to the Senate, urging senators to support Stone-Manning’s nomination. 

OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski said, “Stone-Manning is uniquely qualified to lead the BLM. She will bring important professional experience to this role after serving as the former director of Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality, a congressional staffer, and a senior policy advisor at the National Wildlife Federation. As an outdoorswoman and recreationist, she is also personally invested in the stewardship of our public lands and resources.”

🏈FROM THE FIELD🏈: LCV’s organizers on the ground continue to knock on doors and build support for climate action across the country.  So far, our field team has knocked on over 243,000 doors, made nearly 375,000 calls, and mobilized 9,000 businesses to support climate action and clean energy jobs across 11 states! 💪 See our new video highlighting why people across the nation want climate action NOW, and our mid-recess recap HERE.

CLIMATE ACTION SPOTLIGHT: LCV Youth Digital Organizer Aida Amirul wrote a blog series highlighting LCV Climate Action volunteers who are helping lead the next generation to take action — read about Renada, a hair stylist by day and an environmental justice activist by night. See our last climate action spotlights on New Hampshire volunteer Maddy HERE and Climate Action Nevada intern Jezreel HERE!

NEW REPORT: UNION JOBS IMPROVE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY!: NRDC released a new report this week, “United: Union Jobs Improve the Clean Energy Economy,” detailing how union workers are shaping the clean energy economy, producing better outcomes for both workers and the environment. Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in a clean energy economy and the workforce needed to Build Back Better while addressing the climate crisis and environmental injustice in communities. Read the full report HERE. 

STEELWORKERS UNION TAKE: United Steelworkers Organizing Director Maria Somma stated, “As union workers, we care about the communities we live in. We certainly believe that stronger labor standards will lead to better standards for all Americans. Giving workers a fair and speedy way to join a union and continue to expand high-quality good paying jobs must be a part of taking action on climate and transitioning to a clean energy economy.”

REP. RYAN TAKE: Representative Tim Ryan stated, “Our unions are positioned to lead the way as we transition to the clean energy economy of the future. We know that climate change is a dangerous and growing threat to our children, our families, and our economy. The Build Back Better Act takes a direct aim at addressing climate change while strengthening our communities and economy by investing in clean energy jobs, technologies, and initiatives — while putting workers first.”

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES:

LATINX HERITAGE MONTH IN THE STATES: ICYMI, our Chispa state partners have been taking over Chispa’s social media, highlighting what #LatinxHeritageMonth means to them! Make sure to follow Chispa on twitter to stay up to date with these highlights and more!

CHISPA MARYLAND: In her highlight, Chispa Maryland Social Media Fellow Maria Vicente stated that she is proud of her heritage and of strong Latinxs such as her mother who made so many sacrifices to give her family a better life.

CHISPA NEVADA: Chispa Nevada staff, including Program Director Rudy Zamora, National Organizing Director Astrid Martinez, Senior Organizer Rodrigo Gonzalez, Civic Engagement Director Guillermo Barahona, and Organizer Juan Carlos Guardado, were also highlighted.

CLEAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE MIDWEST: This week, the governors of Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin announced a bipartisan effort to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations on major highways throughout the Midwest. This partnership is an important step in moving away from fossil fuel-powered transportation and meeting the increasing demand for EV infrastructure. Additionally, over 100,000 new jobs in the utility sector will be created, bolstering local economies with new clean energy jobs.

🎨ART ACTIVATIONS: Across the country, communities are joining with local artists to demand climate action, justice and clean energy jobs at the scale that science requires. This is our now or never moment with the critical opportunity provided by the Build Back Better Act as the the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report recently declared a “code red for humanity”. 

IN MAINE: This week, Maine Conservation Voters worked with artist Katie Runde to create a chalk art activation in Skowhegan Farmers’ Market, highlighting the need for climate action in Maine. See the finished art piece HERE, and see the work in progress HERE.

IN NEW JERSEY: This week, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters organized a community crop art activation with local artist Suki Dewey to call for climate action NOW. By spelling out the word “NOW” in this soybean field, both Dewey and New Jersey LCV hope to bring attention to the fact that there is no time to waste when it comes to addressing the climate crisis — action must be taken now. See images from the event HERE.

PUBLIC LANDS DAY IN NV: Climate Action NV joined partners Chispa NV, Nevada Conservation League, Battle Born Progress, and NV Voters Alliance for a public lands day event at Mountains Edge Regional Park, where they spoke to community members about the need to protect our public lands and pass bold climate legislation. The organizations gathered petition signatures urging Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto and Representatives Lee and Horsford to continue fighting for climate investments in the Build Back Better Act.

COMING UP:

SEPT 15- OCT 15: Latinx Heritage Month
SEPT 25 – OCT 3: National Drive Electric Week