CLIMATE MOVEMENT TO CONGRESS: “A VOTE AGAINST THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT WILL BE A VOTE AGAINST CLIMATE ACTION, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2021
Contact: Jason Phelps, jason@climatepower.us
WASHINGTON, DC — On the heels of yesterday’s election, speculation is high as to when Congress will fully move forward to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan and the Build Back Better Framework with Representative Pramila Jayapal stating today that the House will get it done this week. Today, 27 leading climate and environmental justice groups sent a letter to President Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and every Democrat in the House & Senate telling Democrats to immediately pass both the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The groups urged the Congressional majority to stick with the commitment to pass both bills this week, and finish the job so America can truly meet the Climate Test by putting us on a path to cut pollution in half by 2030.
The letter sent today to Democrats read in part: “Congress needs to get this done and failure is not an option. We cannot miss this moment. Put simply: A vote against the Build Back Better Act will be a vote against climate action, environmental justice, and the future of our nation…we are calling on Congress to move immediately to pass both packages.”
The Build Back Better Act would position the United States to take on the threat of climate change, create millions of clean energy jobs, reduce costs for families, and ensure communities on the frontline of climate change aren’t left behind as the nation builds the next generation of energy.
Over the past year – as communities in every corner across the country suffered from climate driven extreme weather, power outages, and outrageous energy costs – public demand for climate action has grown into a leading issue. The vast majority of Americans want Congress to act on climate change, and start benefiting from that action in the way of jobs, lower energy costs, less pollution, and a more stable climate for generations to come. The Build Back Better Act is a direct response to those demands and will serve as a critical foundation for more action on a local, state, and federal level during this most decisive decade for our planet.
The full text of the letter follows:
November 3, 2021
Dear President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer and members of the 117th Congress:
As many of you join world leaders in Glasgow for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), at home, we are at a pivotal, history-making moment for climate action and the future of our nation. We can either meet this “code red moment for humanity” or miss our last, best chance to tackle the climate crisis and to build a more equitable and just economy with millions of good-paying union jobs. The decision is in your hands as you consider the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
As environmental, climate justice and progressive leaders, we often write to you to support or oppose critical policies to protect our communities, our families, our natural resources and our planet, but today, we are writing to you because this moment is different. This is it. This is our climate moment. This is YOUR climate moment.
If enacted, the Build Back Better Act will be the most significant climate and environmental justice action in history. It will meet the Climate Test by putting us on a path to cutting emissions in half by 2030 while creating millions of good-paying jobs, making historic investments in environmental justice, saving families at least $500 a year on their energy bills, and putting our clean energy economy into hyperdrive.
Congress needs to get this done and failure is not an option. We cannot miss this moment.
Put simply: A vote against the Build Back Better Act will be a vote against climate action, environmental justice, and the future of our nation.
It is clear the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are linked together. While concerns remain with some provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, we are calling on Congress to move immediately to pass both packages. That is what is necessary to meet this moment to protect families today and build a clean energy future and healthy communities for generations to come.
Now is the time to get these packages to the floor and vote to tackle the climate crisis, address environmental injustice, support working families, and build an equitable clean energy economy. Let’s get it done.
Sincerely,
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
Black Millennials for Flint
Center for American Progress
Clean Wisconsin
Climate Action Campaign
Climate Power
Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Defend Our Future
Earthjustice
Environment America
Environmental Defense Fund
GreenLatinos
Green The Church
Interfaith Power & Light
League of Conservation Voters
National Hispanic Medical Association
National Parks Conservation Association
National Wildlife Federation
Natural Resources Defense Council
Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance
Sierra Club
The CLEO Institute
The Climate Reality Project
The Wilderness Society
Union of Concerned Scientists
WE ACT for Environmental Justice