Ocasio-Cortez, Markey, Stansbury Urge Biden Administration to Deliver on Key Climate Priorities
Washington, D.C. - In a show of continued commitment to addressing the climate crisis, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to President Biden urging the administration to continue delivering on its key climate priorities.
In the letter, the lawmakers also urge the administration to continue its efforts to swiftly disburse key Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for climate and clean energy programs and champion efforts to protect communities from dangerous and unnecessary fossil fuel projects.
Members highlighted the importance of the release of necessary guidance for climate and clean energy tax credits and other programs that provide continuity and certainty for stakeholders and details how members will continue to fight to protect working-class Americans from climate change, pollution, and high energy costs through collaboration in the coming years.
The lawmakers wrote, “At a time of great uncertainty and threats to so many integral parts of American life and liberties, we are united in our determination to protect working-class Americans from climate change, pollution, and high energy costs. If faced with obstruction, denial, or delay from those who should lead us into a safe and livable future, we will collaborate between chambers of Congress, with state and local leaders, with labor unions, with innovators in the private sector, and with international partners.
“And after fighting for and winning so many historic climate solutions, we will continue to celebrate and protect the many ways in which climate action already makes our communities better places to live, work, and grow up—from building greener, safer streets to lowering energy bills,” they continued.
Since its passage, the IRA has created over 330,000 new jobs and $370 billion in climate and clean energy investments. It has also delivered tangible savings for Americans, including $8.4 billion in taxpayer benefits from two key programs. Working class families have benefited from these protections over the past two years, emphasizing the importance of protecting the affected communities and advancing environmental justice.
The letter was also signed by: Adams, Alma; Balint, Becca; Barragán, Nanette; Bonamici, Suzanne; Bowman, Jamaal; Bush, Cori; Coleman, Bonnie Watson; Dean, Madeleine; Foushee, Valerie; Frost, Maxwell; Garcia, Jesús G. “Chuy”; Garcia, Robert; Grijalva, Raúl M.; Green, Al; Huffman, Jared; Jackson, Jonathan; Jayapal, Pramila; Johnson, Hank; Jacobs, Sara; Kamlager-Dove, Sydney; Levin, Mike; Lee, Barbara; Lee, Erica Lee; Lee, Summer; McGovern, Jim; Meng, Grace; Merkley, Jeff; Mullin, Kevin; Nadler, Jerrold; Omar, Ilhan; Pressley, Ayanna; Ramirez, Delia; Raskin, Jamie; Ro Khanna; Schakowsky, Jan; Smith, Adam; Takano, Mark; Tlaib, Rashida; Underwood, Lauren; Vargas, Juan; Velázquez, Nydia; Watson Coleman, Bonnie; Wilson, Frederica; Wyden, Ron
A copy of the letter is available here.
###