Latino Leaders and Members of Congress Mark Earth Day Celebrating Latina Leadership and Calling for Affordable Energy

Rising cost of living highlights the urgency of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and advancing toward clean, affordable energy.

WASHINGTON — Climate Power En Acción, joined by GreenLatinos, Latino Victory, Sachamama, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus convened Members of Congress, partners, and community leaders for an Earth Day reception celebrating Latinas in leadership uplifting climate efforts while advancing a shared call to protect affordable energy solutions and strengthen economic opportunity for Latino families.

The gathering highlighted the growing influence of Latinas in Congress and across the climate movement, who are connecting the protection of our air and water to lower costs, create jobs, and strengthen resilience in communities disproportionately impacted by rising energy prices and climate rollbacks. Climate change and pollution are key drivers behind rising utility bills and gas prices, worsening air quality, declining health and well-being, and growing economic uncertainty in a shifting energy landscape. For Latino communities, these impacts are especially acute, as families face higher energy burdens, greater pressure from extreme weather and fewer resources to absorb rising costs. 

“This moment demands authentic leadership rooted in the needs of our people, not the interests of big corporations,” said Antonieta Cádiz, Executive Director of Climate Power En Acción. “Latino families are paying the price of broken promises and erratic decisions from this administration and Republican majority, which eliminated billions of dollars in investments aimed at reducing our dependence on oil. Now, we are all paying the costs of those choices, with gas becoming more expensive and electricity prices continuing to rise, all while families are already facing rising utility bills, worsening air quality, and growing economic uncertainty. We need leaders who understand that Americans are hurting and who will fight to ease the economic burdens they face. We cannot afford to move backward.”

“Latina leaders understand that climate action must start with the realities our families are facing every day,” said Congresswoman Grijalva. “From rising utility bills to extreme heat, Latino communities are being squeezed from every direction. That’s why we’re fighting for clean energy solutions that lower costs, create jobs, and deliver real relief—because our communities deserve more than just getting by.”

“At a time when we should be doubling down and accelerating our work on clean energy, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection, Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration are rolling back regulations and gutting funding. We are moving in the wrong direction,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “As one of the co-leads of the Green New Deal for Public Housing of 2024, I am clear that the only way forward is a Green New Deal. We must commit to a transformative investment in infrastructure and a clean-energy economy that increases energy efficiency, lowers costs for families, and creates good-paying job opportunities.”

“My colleagues and I are fighting for environmental justice communities like the San Fernando Valley because many of us call these communities home,” said Congresswoman Luz Rivas. “Past decisions about where to locate landfills, polluting industries, and highways have had negative impacts on our constituents’ access to clean air and safe drinking water. These decisions have left our family, our neighbors, and our community sicker. As Republicans work to dismantle the landmark environmental protections that keep our air and water safe, we will stand up to polluters to protect the health and wellbeing of environmental justice communities for generations to come.”

Recent policy decisions and fossil fuel–first energy approaches by the Trump administration and Republicans have contributed to rising household energy costs, stalled clean energy investment, and growing economic strain on working families. Since the rollback of key clean energy investments, hundreds of projects have been delayed or canceled nationwide, impacting jobs, increasing costs, and slowing the expansion of affordable energy capacity.

“While this administration rolls back clean air protections and raises household energy costs, our communities are already breathing some of the most polluted air in the country and paying more than they can afford. That is not energy independence. That is a trap. The path forward is clean, affordable energy that lowers costs, creates good jobs, and protects the health of every family in our communities,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. 

At the same time, household electricity prices have risen as much as 13% nationally and natural gas prices by 12%, with Latino households disproportionately affected due to higher energy burdens.

“While Latino families face higher energy costs, we’re watching critical clean energy investments stall. That’s unacceptable. The path forward is clear: lower costs, protect jobs, and make sure Latino communities are at the center of this economy, not on the sidelines” said Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat.

Clean energy remains one of the fastest and most cost-effective solutions to meet rising energy demand, stabilize prices, and strengthen grid reliability. Yet continued attacks on clean energy investment threaten both affordability and long-term energy security.

“Latino families are on the frontlines of both the climate crisis and the economic squeeze- paying more for energy, breathing dirtier air, and absorbing the worst of extreme weather with the fewest resources to assist their recovery. The leadership of the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus isn’t just inspiring, it’s essential. They are fighting for policies that lower costs, create good jobs, and build real resilience in our communities. On Earth Day and every day, we stand united: protecting clean water, clean air, and clean affordable energy is an act of survival and economic justice for our gente,” said Mark Magaña, founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos. 

“Times are dire for all Americans, and specifically millions of Latinos who are feeling the strain of the affordability crisis, rising gas prices and utility costs, and who see our communities under attack,” said Katharine Pichardo, Latino Victory Project president & CEO. “We need leaders in Congress who will push back against the administration’s extremist policies and who will propose bold solutions to lower energy costs, reduce pollution in our neighborhoods, and create more energy jobs. Latina members of Congress are in the trenches fighting to protect the Latino community from the negative impacts of climate change— and we need more leaders like them on the front lines, who will fight for our rights to clean air, water and a planet we can preserve for future generations.”

“This Earth Day, we celebrate the Latino leadership already transforming our economies and our communities,” said Carlos Zegarra, Executive Director of Sachamama. “What we build together now will shape the future we all share, and it calls us to confront and heal a relationship with our planet that has been out of balance for too long – by advancing solutions rooted in affordability, clean energy, and shared prosperity, we lower costs for families, expand economic opportunities, and accelerate a transition that invests in our communities and restores our planet.”

Together, Climate Power En Acción, GreenLatinos, Latino Victory, Sachamama, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus members reaffirmed their commitment to advancing policies that protect public health, strengthen economic stability, and ensure Latino communities can thrive in a clean energy future.

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