©2024 League of Conservation Voters
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.
“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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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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🏈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!”
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
©2024 League of Conservation Voters