Climate Action Campaign Greets 118th Congress With ‘Be Vocal’ Plea

WASHINGTON — The Climate Action Campaign, a coalition of national environment and climate action groups, met new members of Congress on their way to work to call for more congressional climate action at the opening of the 118th Congress.

Greeting new and returning members outside of the House Office Buildings, CAC introduced its 2023 “Climate Needs You” campaign with advocates and volunteers handing out welcome packets outlining suggested priorities for climate action that would implement strong pollution standards across federal agencies as well as meet President Biden’s commitment to cut climate pollution by 50%-52% by 2030.

Members, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Reps. Andy Kim, D-N.J., Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., stopped to take pictures and learn more from the advocates.

“The climate and environmental justice programs created in the last Congress will need defense, as they are in the crosshairs of some newly empowered congressional leaders, who may seek to stymie, redirect or eliminate them,” a letter from CAC in members’ packets said.

“The administration will need congressional support and encouragement to complete federal regulations to further reduce climate pollution and to fully implement the [Inflation Reduction Act]. … Congressional action is needed to ensure agencies have the funding and staffing they need to tackle the climate crisis,” it continued.

“Many key federal agencies are underfunded and lack the resources to effectively regulate climate emissions and enforce laws already on the books.”

Among the specific actions CAC asked members to take in the 118th Congress include supporting national regulatory standards to reduce climate pollution, championing new legislation to address the climate crisis, supporting climate and justice priorities through the appropriations process, and defending the climate and environmental justice programs in the Inflation Reduction Act from any attempts to claw back or redirect funding.

CAC also asked representatives to “be vocal about your support for climate, clean energy and environmental justice” by joining the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.

Kate can be reached at [email protected]