©2024 League of Conservation Voters
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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, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
“We can do this, we really can. We owe it to our children — quite frankly, we owe them to lead the world.”
— President Biden on addressing the climate crisis during his speech at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum at Climate Week.
“We have the best tool to address climate that we’ve ever had. First we have to protect that, then we can build on top of that.”
— Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico on the Inflation Reduction Act and the upcoming election.
“It would be such a step back for the American people should President Trump be elected. Clearly, they’ve laid out their road map for destroying EPA.”
— Radhika Fox, former EPA water chief, on Project 2025 and the stakes of the upcoming election.
“Project 2025 is mad sus.”
— The Ranking Rizzler of Appropriations, Representative Rosa DeLauro, on MAGA Republicans’ dangerous Project 2025.
BIDEN SPEAKS AT CLIMATE WEEK: President Biden spoke on addressing the climate crisis at Climate Week in New York City on Tuesday.
OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski said, “President Biden is by far the most pro-environment, pro-climate president in the history of this country. Together with Vice President Kamala Harris, he has made unprecedented progress on climate and clean energy while bringing hundreds of thousands of good-paying, family-sustaining jobs to communities across the country, saving consumers money, improving public health, and revitalizing U.S. manufacturing. From the historic Inflation Reduction Act, to over 300 environmental safeguards, new national monuments, protections for America’s Arctic and our air and water, investments in environmental justice communities overburdened by pollution, and a pause on LNG export facilities–no administration has done more for the planet.
LCV is forever grateful to President Biden for his continued commitment to advancing a cleaner, healthier, more affordable energy future for the people of this country. As we move forward as a nation, we could not be more excited to advance and preserve President Biden’s legacy of protecting people, the planet, our democracy, and future generations.”
EPA ANNOUNCES NEARLY $1 BILLION AVAILABLE FOR CLEAN SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM: EPA has announced an investment of nearly $1 billion, on top of $3 billion already awarded, to help school districts replace their dirty diesel school buses with cleaner or tailpipe-pollution-free buses.
OUR TAKE: LCV Government Affairs Advocate on Climate Change & Clean Energy Darien Davis said, “The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program is already bringing safer, healthier air to children across the country, and this new funding will allow even more school districts to replace their dirty diesel school buses with clean, electric models. The Biden-Harris administration continues to roll out critical investments from the affordable clean energy plan that help put cleaner air in reach for more students, tackle climate change, and help school districts buy books and pay teachers instead of allowing Big Oil to poison their communities, especially communities of color and communities with low wealth, with toxic diesel pollution. We encourage schools to apply for support for electric school buses to get cleaner rides for their kids and we look forward to continuing to work with the Biden-Harris administration and the EPA to encourage investments in communities facing the worst air pollution and with the fewest resources to clean up their air.”
CHISPA TAKE: Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González said, “We celebrate this new round of nearly $1 billion in funding for the EPA Clean School Bus program, which has been very successful in delivering cleaner buses for kids and cleaner air for the communities most harmed by toxic transportation fumes and other pollutants in their neighborhoods for far too long. Already, the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program has more than tripled the number of zero-emission electric school buses in the country, and with today’s announcement, will continue to offer an equitable opportunity for all families, parents, students, and communities to get support in improving the quality of the air they breathe and the health of our children. We look forward to working to ensure this funding reaches our communities.”
THE AMERICAN CLIMATE CORPS HAS PUT 15,000 YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK: President Biden’s American Climate Corps has put 15,000 young people to work fighting the climate crisis, putting the program on track to reach its goal of employing 20,000 people in clean energy and climate jobs ahead of schedule.
HARRIS DELIVERS “AMERICA FORWARD” SPEECH: Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech on the clean energy economy and “Moving America Forward” in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Vice President Harris made it clear she will build on the historic climate progress of the Biden-Harris administration.
LCVAF TAKE: LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “Today Vice President Kamala Harris laid out a compelling vision for the Opportunity Economy that will continue to supercharge our clean energy economy. Her America Forward agenda will build on the historic progress of the Biden-Harris administration, lower costs for working families, create good-paying union jobs, and center climate solutions, clean energy, and environmental justice. Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz are determined to continue growing our economy and ensuring it remains the strongest in the world and runs on clean energy. This is how we win the future, and LCV Action Fund is all-in to help her continue moving America forward.
In stark contrast, Donald Trump’s extreme Project 2025 agenda would jeopardize the 330,000+ new clean energy jobs created since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, open up treasured lands and coasts to drilling, and allow polluters to poison our air and water, putting our communities and future generations at risk to pad Big Oil’s record-breaking profits.”
DEMOCRATS SEND LETTER URGING COMPLETION OF LEAD AND COPPER RULE IMPROVEMENTS: Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester, Barbara Lee, Debbie Dingell, and Rashida Tlaib and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Cory Booker led a letter with 76 of their colleagues to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging them to finalize review of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements submitted by EPA last month. If this rule is not finalized by EPA by October 16th, 2024, the Trump Lead and Copper rule will go into effect, meaning water systems will need to temporarily comply with the older, weaker rule for an indefinite period of time. This will lead to confusion and will put public health at risk, especially for low-income communities and communities of color.
OUR TAKE: LCV Government Affairs Representative for Healthy Communities Lizzy Duncan said, “Everyone deserves access to clean, safe drinking water no matter their race, income or zip code. Thank you to Reps. Blunt Rochester, Barbara Lee, Debbie Dingell, Rashida Tlaib and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Cory Booker for their continued leadership and prioritization of public health. We stand with these members in calling for the Biden-Harris administration to swiftly finalize a strong Lead and Copper Rule that adopts a whole of government approach to protect our communities, especially communities of color and communities with low-wealth, from dangerous lead pollution.”
BOEM TO OFFER MORE TIME FOR ENGAGEMENT BEFORE OREGON OFFSHORE WIND LEASE: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced today that it will postpone the Oregon offshore wind area auction to allow more time for public engagement.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Government Affairs Advocate David Shadburn said, “Responsible siting of offshore wind means federal, state, and local leaders must work in partnership with communities to achieve equitable results that provide tangible benefits while tackling the climate crisis with clean energy. The Oregon Offshore Wind Roadmap process will ensure all voices are heard and Oregonians can create a lasting consensus. We look forward to seeing this intentional process continue so Oregon can pursue responsibly-sited offshore wind, diversify its clean renewable energy, and create good-paying jobs across the state.”
OLCV TAKE: Oregon League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Lindsey Scholten said, “Today’s announcement underscores that offshore wind’s promise of transformational local investments, stabilizing energy prices, cutting pollution, and creating family-sustaining, local jobs, is best realized when done in consultation with local communities. Oregon Tribes, frontline communities, developers, organized labor, the fishing industries, and coastal communities must all be heard through the Oregon Offshore Wind Roadmap process to ensure everyone’s concerns are addressed and we all share in the benefits that offshore wind energy can deliver for our state.”
LCVAF ANNOUNCES NEW CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS: LCV Action Fund named its latest round of endorsements for U.S. Congress. The endorsements include Gloria Johnson for the Senate in Tennessee, in addition to incumbents Representatives Ed Case (HI-01), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and House candidates Amish Shah (AZ-01), Whitney Fox (FL-13), Lucia Baez-Geller (FL-27), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Carl Marlinga (MI-10), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Julie Johnson (TX-32), and Rebecca Cooke (WI-03).
LCVAF TAKE: LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “As the hottest summer on record ends and we head into the final stretch before Election Day, LCV Action Fund is thrilled to continue to support climate champions up and down the ballot who will fight for communities, our planet, and our future. The stakes for our freedoms, our climate, and our democracy are higher than ever, and we need to elect these candidates to Congress to help protect the health of our communities, clean water and clean air, and free and fair elections for future generations.”
LCVVF RELEASES NEW HOUSE CAMPAIGN ADS: LCV Victory Fund announced the launch of a new wave of House ads in CA-45, OH-09, VA-02, MI-08, and NY-04 including broadcast and digital ads, as well as a mail program in PA-07. These ads are a part of the $14 million House campaign that launched last week and will support 16 House races across the country. This latest wave includes ads focusing on two members of this year’s Dirty Dozen, Representatives Anthony D’Esposito and Michelle Steel.
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Vice President of Paid Communications and Elections Megan Jacobs said, “These races are crucial to gaining pro-environment leadership in the House. As MAGA House Republicans have continued to threaten the climate progress made by the Biden-Harris administration and attempted to implement the radical Project 2025 policies, now more than ever, we need to ensure that climate champions and pro-environment candidates are in Congress that will stand up to Big Polluters, fight for access to clean air and water, and support the development of a clean energy economy.”
ICYMI: LCV VICTORY FUND WEEKLY UPDATE: LCV Victory Fund released a memo with information on the 2024 Dirty Dozen in the states and updates from our field and paid media programs. For more details, read the full memo.
DIRTY DOZEN IN THE STATES: LCV Victory Fund’s state affiliates announced the 2024 Dirty Dozen in the States. Modeled after LCV Victory Fund’s federal Dirty Dozen, the Dirty Dozen in the States highlights 12 candidates who consistently side against the environment and are a danger to our democracy. See the full list with details about each candidate.
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Campaigns Director Eva Estrada said, “Over the next four years, state and local leaders will make crucial decisions for our clean energy, climate, and our environment. Today, thanks to state leadership, 40% of the country lives in a place dedicated to 100% clean energy. State and local leaders will be vital to continue implementing the Biden-Harris Administration’s clean energy plan that has already resulted in billions more for climate action, lower costs, and hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs. Voters need to elect leaders from the governor’s mansion to county boards who are ready to be environmental champions instead of this Dirty Dozen, who want to take us backward.”
TAKE 2: LCV Victory Fund Regional Campaigns Director Nate Fowler said, “We know free and fair elections don’t happen without dedicated state and local leaders who understand what’s at stake. We cannot have a healthy environment without a healthy democracy and candidates like those on this year’s Dirty Dozen want to drag us backwards. But LCV Victory Fund, our state partners, and millions of voters across the country won’t let them.”
CHISPA AZ PARTICIPATES IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TALK AT CLIMATE WEEK: Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarria was a featured speaker at a talk on environmental and social justice at Climate Week in New York City entitled, “The Future Is Now: Climate, Environmental Justice, and Democracy at the Crossroads.”
CHISPA AZ TAKE: Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarria said, “A lot is at stake. Arizona is dealing with one hundred degree weather, people are struggling to pay rent or pay for their groceries. So there’s a lot at stake, but there are also real possibilities. In Arizona, I think we’ve shown the nation and ourselves that we can do hard things and we can move forward.”
UNIVISION HIGHLIGHTS CHISPA NV’S FIGHT AGAINST UTILITY RATE HIKES: Chispa Nevada was recently featured by Univision, where Program Director Audrey Peral spoke out about the unjust utility rate increases affecting our communities, and other community members expressed their fear and anxiety about how they’ll manage to pay their bills.
CHISPA NV TAKE: Chispa Nevada Program Director Audrey Peral said, “Our communities are suffering. Utilities are essential for our daily lives, and it’s tough when prices just keep rising.”
ON THE BLOG: Learn how LCV’s state affiliates are working to protect our democracy and our environment in a new article on the The Power Source Blog!
ON OUR SOCIALS: As Hurricane Helene makes landfall in the southeast, we are using our socials to remind voters of the role that climate change is playing in exacerbating extreme weather and that MAGA Republicans Project 2025 would eliminate some of the nation’s most dependable resources for tracking extreme weather. And with the election less than 40 days away (😯), we are re-upping the call for a national election holiday.
OCTOBER 7 – 11: National Voter Education Week.
OCTOBER 14: Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
OCTOBER 15: Last day of Latinx Heritage Month.
OCTOBER 18: 52nd Anniversary of the Clean Water Act.
NOVEMBER 5: Election Day.
©2024 League of Conservation Voters