Tell Congress to Take Bold Action for Climate, Jobs, and Justice

The urgency of the climate crisis has again been brought home by horrific record heat waves, historic drought, and early-season wildfires. While the need for action has never been clearer, there is only a narrow path for getting adequate legislation enacted that will provide a realistic chance of stabilizing global warming in time to avert catastrophic changes. This is a critical time, and UUs need to urge their Representatives and Senators to stand up for real and just action on climate. 

President Biden proposed sweeping climate measures in the American Jobs Plan this Spring, but the July 2021 bipartisan infrastructure compromise negotiated in the Senate contains only a small fraction of those necessary proposals. Most disappointingly, it almost entirely excludes the environmental justice priorities (such as devoting 40% of climate investments to disadvantaged communities) that were in the American Jobs Plan.  

If the bipartisan compromise is passed, President Biden and the Democratic leadership have promised to use the rules of reconciliation to pass additional legislation that would include key climate and environmental justice priorities. If the bipartisan compromise is not passed, they will have to find an alternate path such as a series of bills or a larger reconciliation package.

At this time, the reconciliation proposal has drawn no support from Republicans. The Democratic leadership of the Senate has identified a top-line figure of $3.5 trillion for the reconciliation package (which also includes important investments and reforms relating to child care, immigration, Medicare expansion, and corporate taxes). But details and legislative language remain to be worked out, and it is vital that your Senators and Representatives hear from you now.

As people of faith, we should particularly stress the importance of making sure that communities of color and front-line communities get the 40% of climate investments promised in the American Jobs Plan since they are the ones that have suffered the most from existing pollution and who will be most adversely affected by rising temperatures. 

It is also important to urge the adoption of an ambitious Clean Energy Standard. Many experts agree that a Clean Energy Standard, which would require that growing percentages of electric power sales over time come from renewable sources, is the most effective way to reach President Biden’s goal of 100% clean energy production by 2035. Early reports indicate that a Clean Energy Standard will likely be included in a reconciliation package although details such as which types of energy quality as “clean” must be worked out.

UUSJ has previously advocated for tax incentives for renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, the establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps that will provide jobs for young people, and provisions to assist fossil fuel workers transition to good-paying jobs in a clean energy economy.  All of these elements are likely to be included in a reconciliation package. This may be a once-in-a-decade opportunity to advance some of our most important priorities. Your voice is needed!   

Sources for additional information:

• 6 Crucial Climate Items the Senate Left Out of its Infrastructure Deal at Vox
• As the Infrastructure Bill Moves Foward Is a Climate Bill Next> at SierraClub.org
• Senate Democrats Unveil Details of $3.5 trillion budget deal at Axios.com
• 6 key climate investments that must be in budget reconciliation from EvergreenAction.org
• Democratic Senator expects clean energy standard to be part of reconciliation from The Hill