CLIMATE POWER CALLS SENATE PASSAGE OF INFLATION REDUCTION ACT A HISTORIC WIN, CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE HOUSE PASSAGE

Lori Lodes, Executive Director of Climate Power, issued the following statement after the US Senate Democrats passed historic climate legislation:

“Today’s Senate passage of the Inflation Reduction Act is a testament to never giving up: To young people who demanded immediate action from their elected officials. To people across the country who voted in record numbers for climate champions to act on that urgency. And to the determination of President Biden and Congressional Democrats who kept fighting for bold climate action and lower costs for the American people. The Senate delivered on climate, and now it’s time for the House to do the same.  

“The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic win. It ramps up the production of clean energy, like wind and solar, to help Americans save hundreds a month in energy bills — getting clean energy into even more neighborhoods, businesses, and households. It will make communities more resilient to extreme weather events that have battered every corner of the country. This legislation makes sweeping investments in American manufacturing, creating countless more jobs to build the next generation of clean power plants, cars, and buildings. And for the first time ever, significant investments are made to reduce pollution and improve public health in communities hardest hit by environmental injustices.

“The Inflation Reduction Act is historic in so many ways, and the impact it will have on people’s lives is immeasurable. But it’s also imperfect, and includes major concessions to the oil and gas industry that will fall on our nation’s most disadvantaged communities, who are more often than not people of color. We will not let them be forgotten, and we will keep fighting for justice. We know it’s not enough, we know there’s more work to be done.

“We have waited so long for this moment, and today’s passage is historic. Let’s finish the job.”