DNC Environmental Council Kicks Off Week Of Action Urging Congress To End Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Council To Send Letter To Congress, Hold Event with Congressmen Khanna and Levin, Participate In DC Rally and Join with Coalition Partners for Numerous Actions Throughout Week
The DNC Council on the Environment and Climate Crisis is kicking off a week of action today to urge Congress to end fossil fuel subsidies. The Council will send a letter to Congress today urging them to act, hold a livestream with Congressmen Ro Khanna and Andy Levin on Sunday, join a rally in Washington on Tuesday and participate with numerous coalition events happening throughout the week.
The letter, which is being sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, urges them to bring legislation to a vote that will end direct and indirect federal fossil fuel subsidies.
The letter says, in part:
“As you know, American taxpayers today pay $15 billion per year in direct federal subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. At the same time that these companies are raking in millions of taxpayer dollars, the 20 largest fossil fuel companies account for more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions in the modern era.
“We can not truly build back better until we end these subsidies to polluters. While our country is facing the triple threat of a health, economic and climate crisis, corporate handouts to the fossil fuel industry are not only wrong, they are dangerous.
“With less than ten years left to save the planet from further and escalating devastating impacts from climate change, now is not the time to be timid or take half measures. This moment demands bold action. This bill is a vital step in that direction. It is for this reason, that we hope you will bring it to the floor soon.”
See the full letter here.
The College Democrats of America Environmental Caucus, Young Democrats of America Environmental Caucus, California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus, Colorado Democratic Party Energy & Environment Initiative, Democrats Abroad Germany Climate Caucus, Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida, Democratic Party of Oregon Environmental Caucus, Environment and Climate Caucus, Washington State Democrats, Greening Georgia - Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Georgia, Minnesota DFL Environmental Caucus, South Carolina Democratic Party Environmental Caucus, Utah Democratic Environmental Caucus, Young Democrats of South Carolina Environmental Caucus, Virginia Young Democrats Environmental Caucus, Alachua County Democratic Environmental Caucus (Florida), Salt Lake County Democratic Environmental Caucus (Utah), College Democrats of America, Young Democrats of America, Virginia Young Democrats, Anishinaabek Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party, Fairfax Young Democrats (Virginia), Faith Caucus of Virginia Young Democrats, Virginia Young Democrats Housing and Urban Affairs Caucus, and California Democratic Party Rural Caucus and the Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus joined the DNC Council in sending the letter.
On Sunday, the Council will host a livestream with Congressmen Ro Khanna and Andy Levin, College Democrats of America Environmental Caucus Chair Paul Presendieu, Council Chair Michelle Deatrick and others to be announced to lay out the urgency of this moment and the need for Congress to take immediate action. The livestream will be a chance for activists across the country to engage on the issue and help build momentum for congressional action.
And on Tuesday, Council Chair Michelle Deatrick will participate in a rally in Washington hosted by Our Revolution. You can find more information about the rally here.
The Council will also participate in numerous other events that coalition partners will be hosting over the next week to raise awareness on this critical issue.