Press Release
June 2, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Suzanne Spencer, 510-550-8172, [email protected]
Sacramento, CA – A group of California state lawmakers are calling for federal action and funding to address the climate crisis. In a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation Zoe Lofgren, the group outlined the state’s climate investment priorities and called for federal aid to address these needs.
“The signs of the climate crisis are all around us,” said Assemblymember David Chiu, who represents San Francisco. “We can counter this crisis by investing in clean energy technologies like wind energy, making our communities more resilient, and planning and preparing for sea level rise. To make these necessary changes, we need support and funding from Congress.”
Californians continue to endure the impacts of the climate crisis: drought, wildfires, extreme heat, rolling blackouts, and toxic air quality. And with the 2030 climate deadline fast approaching, it is imperative that the Congress act decisively to pass bold and comprehensive climate legislation.
“Transportation related emissions are our state’s largest contributor to climate change,” said Assemblymember Laura Friedman, who chairs the Assembly Transportation Committee and represents Burbank and the surrounding area. “We need a comprehensive investment from the federal government so that we can spur the transition to zero emissions cars and trucks, provide quality active transportation and transit options to get Californians out of their cars, and create good-paying jobs along the way.”
This call for climate funding priorities comes as the Biden Administration continues to push for the American Jobs Plan. This proposal includes significant investments to address the climate crisis, modernize America’s infrastructure, and create millions of good-paying union jobs. Republican Members of Congress are pushing, however, for a significantly smaller version of the American Jobs Plan. This could lead to a watered down infrastructure package that doesn’t tackle the climate crisis.
“There’s no time to waste with just nine years left to prevent the worst of the climate crisis,” said Mary Creasman, CEO of the California Environmental Voters. “We need bold action by our leaders in Washington. We need significant investments in clean energy and transportation, and dedicated resources to the communities that are being hardest hit by climate change.”
The following are among the key climate funding priorities (the full list is available here):
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Investments in clean energy, including funding for large scale clean energy projects and build-out of transmission lines to connect clean power to places that need it most, support for offshore wind projects, and support for additional energy technologies.
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Investments in clean transportation and green jobs, including funding to expand access to public transportation, accelerate the transition to zero-emission cars and trucks, provide workforce training, and support a pilot multi-state, long distance trucking route with zero-emission charging and fueling infrastructure.
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Investments in equitable, thriving, climate-resilient communities, including a requirement to invest at least 50% of available funds to benefit people in low-income and disadvantaged communities, funding for wildfire resiliency projects and restoration of wildlife corridors, and support and planning for sea level rise.
The legislators that signed the letter include the following: David Chiu, Assembly District 17; Connie Leyva, Senate District 20; Lena Gonzalez, Senate District 33; Dave Min, Senate District 37; Scott Weiner, Senate District 11; Robert Rivas, Assembly District 30; Dave Cortese, Senate District 15; Steve Bennett, Assembly District 37; Monique Limón, Senate District 19; Lisa Calderon, Assembly District 57; Laura Friedman, Assembly District 43; Ben Allen, Senate District 26; Ash Kalra, Assembly District 27; Josh Becker, Senate District 13; and John Laird, Senate District 17. The effort to develop these policy priorities was supported by the California Environmental Voters.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
