ICYMI: CHAIR CASTOR, CONGRESSIONAL CHAMPIONS RETURN FROM COP26, SAY BUILD BACK BETTER IS THE ‘HALLMARK’ OF MEETING AMERICA’S PLEDGE TO THE WORLD

Special Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Castor and Reps. Neguse and Casten said the mood at COP26 was hopeful about the prospect of addressing the “blinking code red moment” on climate, and that passing the Build Back Better Act is vital to U.S. leadership on that promise.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 12th, 2021

Contact: Erik Mebust, erik@climatepower.us

WASHINGTON, DC — On the heels of their visit to COP26, Chair Castor and Reps. Neguse and Casten joined The League of Conservation Voters and Climate Power at a press conference to share their takeaways from the conference and emphasize the importance of acting on climate by passing the Build Back Better Act. They said for America to fully reclaim its leadership in the global community, the U.S. must follow through on its climate commitments, quickly pass the Build Back Better Act, and meet President Biden’s goal of cutting emissions in half by 2030.

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the first step in a very important two-step,” said Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chairwoman Kathy Castor. “But this next step of passing the Build Back Better Act is absolutely vital. It is the hallmark of us being able to deliver on President Biden’s pledge to cut pollution by 50% by 2030, and it really sets us up for success getting to net zero as soon as possible and no later than 2050.”

John Podesta, co-founder of Climate Power said “make no mistake: the big investments to reduce emissions are in the Build Back Better Act. The stakes couldn’t be higher for our planet—we have the opportunity to get this right. We need to deliver the promise of a habitable world. Our voters are demanding it and our future depends on it.”

“The international community recognizes that the climate emergency is here. The sense of urgency I felt in the rooms we were in was palpable.” said Rep. Joe Neguse. “That blinking code red moment really is here, there is no next time. We ultimately are going to define our nation’s history and the entirety of humanity’s future in the coming months and years as we tackle this existential threat. The time to do something is now, and the solution is a clear one: passing the Build Back Better Act. When we pass that bill we will have secured a transformational investment in our country’s history and one I believe will ultimately meet the moment.”

 “I would say that the world is in awe of the economic clout of the United States, they’re in awe of the leadership shown by private markets in the United States, and they are somewhat skeptical about our politics,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “The way that we come back to that table, the way we say not only is the United States focused on what’s scientifically necessary, but we actually deserve to be in a position of leadership is by passing the Build Back Better Act. Then we will be able to look ourselves in the eye and say the United States has now made the single biggest commitment to tackling climate change in our history. It will be a serious sign that we’re back and we’re ready to lead.”

Tiernan Sittenfeld, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at LCV said “now it’s time for Congress to finish the job and pass Build Back Better to meet the climate test. We can and we must seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity for climate, jobs, and justice.”