Washington, D.C. — In case you missed it, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) hosted an event with Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Greg Casar (TX-35), along with leaders from our state partners Michigan LCV and Oregon LCV to discuss the impacts of federal cuts to state and local communities and the need to protect federal clean energy investments that will save people money, create clean energy jobs, and address the climate crisis. This discussion took place as over 60 advocates from 23 of LCV state partners from around the country are coming together as a movement in D.C. to meet with elected officials and advocate for communities, democracy, and environmental justice.

Speakers outlined how the Trump Administration’s extreme actions will harm families and communities, threaten access to clean air and water, and increase costs for families across the country and emphasized the need to safeguard bedrock environmental law and protections. Despite the Administration’s actions, 64% of Americans say Congress should not support Trump’s planned rollbacks after learning the specifics of his proposals, including 58% of those living in Republican-held districts that have received IRA funding. 

“We must defend the critical clean energy and environmental justice investments that help lower costs for families, create clean energy jobs, and ensure cleaner air and cleaner water for our communities and future generations,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. “Our state affiliates are travelling from across the country to speak with their congressional delegations here in D.C., urging them to protect our democratic institutions, clean energy jobs and investments, and the health and safety of our communities.”

“Donald Trump and Elon Musk are gutting agencies that keep our water safe to drink, keep our air safe to breathe,” said Representative Greg Casar. “They’re ignoring the jobs that keep our planet clean and safe, they are getting rid of workers that are creating clean jobs here in America — and of course it’s all to make Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s friends richer. Instead of firing the folks that make our country safe and great, we should be firing Elong Musk. Let’s not fire the federal workers who keep our air clean, or scientists who help us tackle climate change, and let’s not fire the construction workers that are creating the clean energy economy in this country.”

“On the House Agriculture Committee, I’ve been working to valuable programs that help Illinois growers and producers increase yields, save on input costs, and protect the environment. These efforts are now at risk due to the President Trump’s attacks on programs that support our farmers while protecting our planet from harmful emissions,” said Representative Nikki Budzinski. “The Trump Administration has illegally canceled contracts, withheld funding, and dismantled key programs, without considering the impacts to rural America. I’m so thankful to the League of Conservation Voters for today’s lobby day to hold members accountable and urge them to fight for our farmers and our environment.”

“We cannot let Trump and his MAGA allies take away this funding and these opportunities from our communities,” said Britney VanCitters, Oregon LCV Political and Organizing Director. “We need these federal investments to remain to ensure continued access to clean air and drinking water, protections for the environment, cheaper clean energy that brings costs down, and safeguards for the health and safety of our communities.”

“The last 4 years have been absolutely massive in terms of new investment and standards to benefit the health of people, communities, and the economy of Michigan,” said Bentley Johnson, Michigan LCV Federal Government Affairs Director. “That’s mainly due to the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure bill, but because of the passage of those laws, particularly the IRA, action was taken at the state level to pass one of the most ambitious 100% clean energy laws in the country, supercharging renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Great Lakes State.”

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