Weekly Briefing: CCL-Backed Bill Sails Through Senate
June 30, 2021
In an overwhelming show of bipartisan support for climate legislation, the Growing Climate Solutions Act (S. 1251) sailed through the Senate last week by a vote of 92-8. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), the bill would assist farmers and foresters to access carbon credit markets and get paid for sequestering carbon on their land.
A companion bill, sponsored by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02), awaits action in the House.
Since the bill was introduced in the previous Congress, Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers have played a key role in enlisting bipartisan support for the bill, which CCL views as legislation that would complement carbon pricing by addressing emissions from agriculture. In lobby meetings last fall and this spring, volunteers brought up the Growing Climate Solutions Act as a “supporting ask” with their senators. Late last month, when it appeared the bill would be heading to the floor, volunteers sent 4,397 messages to senators asking them to vote in favor of the legislation.
“We are happy CCL was able to play a role in advancing this positive and pragmatic legislation, and we’re proud that it has passed with such overwhelming bipartisan support,” Danny Richter, CCL Vice President of Government Affairs, said in a press release. “CCL staff and supporters are especially grateful to Senators Braun and Stabenow for their leadership on this issue.”
If they voted for the GCSA, write and thank your senators with our online action tool.
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In other news this week: 
Cosponsors keep coming: Five more House members joined the ranks of cosponsors for the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act — Rep. Marie Newman (IL-03), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Rep. Adam Schiff (CA-28), Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-10) and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-35). There are now 75 cosponsors on this carbon pricing bill introduced by Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-22).
ICYMI, other carbon pricing bills: If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our recent blog about other carbon pricing bills that have been introduced in the 117th Congress. You’ll see that there’s more than one way to price carbon, and this overview offers a glimpse of features that may eventually find their way into legislation.
Republican op-ed mentioned in Times: Earlier this month, CCL volunteers in Utah got endorsements for carbon fee and dividend from 25 Republican state officials who expressed their support in an op-ed published in the Deseret News. The op-ed was mentioned last week in a New York Times story about Republican engagement on climate change.
Jobs available with CCL: Citizens’ Climate Education is currently hiring for three full time positions: Development Coordinator, Content Marketing Manager, and Government Affairs Coordinator. We are also hiring for two six-month-long contract positions: Indiana Conservative Climate Field Organizer, Utah Conservative Climate Field Organizer.
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Take action this week 
If you have a little time: Send an email to thank your Republican member of Congress if they joined the recently-launched Conservative Climate Caucus. Check out this Grist story about the caucus in which CCL’s Danny Richter and Ben Pendergrass are quoted. Don’t know if your representative joined? Our online action tool knows and makes it easy to send your email.
If you have more time: Write a letter to the editor using our online action tool and mention your members of Congress. A number of climate-related stories are in the news now, like the record-shattering heat wave in the Pacific Northwest. For ideas on what to write about, download our Letter to the Editor Topics, which is regularly updated. When you get published, share your letter on social media and tag your members of Congress.
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Featured Lever This Week 
Grassroots: Climate & equity interns in North Tahoe
In a step to facilitate more outreach in the Hispanic community, the North Tahoe chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby has brought on three interns to assess climate awareness in the LatinX community and design outreach events on climate change and climate solutions. The chapter is partnering on the project with La Fuerza Latina, a college admissions and mentoring program. The three students participating in the 10-week internship are (above from left) Estefania Morales, Daniella Paniagua-Ruis and Karina Solis Martinez.
The internships were announced in an article in the Sierra Sun. "I am excited to learn new things through this internship and also be able to pass it on to my community,” said Daniella. Deirdre Henderson, co-leader of the North Tahoe chapter, said, “We seek out, support and elevate people whose voices may not have been fully heard. So we are pleased and grateful to partner with La Fuerza Latina on these internships.”
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Upcoming trainings 
7/1: The Power of Republican State Legislator Support for Carbon Pricing: Getting support for carbon pricing from Republican lawmakers at the state level can influence GOP members of Congress. Learn how CCLers are picking up endorsements in Utah, Oregon and Delaware. Join us.
7/8: How to Use CCL’s Branded Resources in Your Outreach - Want to make quality graphics for your CCL outreach and social media posts? This session will walk through the resources available in the CCL brand. Join us!
Need training on the basics? Catch our next session of Core Volunteer Training, made for newer volunteers:
7/6: Engaging with CCL Community - If you’re new to CCL, this session will help you to navigate CCL’s websites to find the tools, resources and trainings you need to take effective action. Learn more and RSVP.
To see other topics and past trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.
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This week on the CCL blog: 
Catholic climate conference: With 30 percent of Congress identifying as Catholic, CCL Appalachia Regional Coordinator Jon Clark saw that Catholics could be influential as climate advocates. Last month, CCL’s virtual Catholic conference, “Call to Action to Care for Our Common Home,” drew more than 300 participants with that objective in mind. Read more.
Citizens’ Climate Radio: Conversations about climate change can easily escalate to heated arguments. On this month’s episode of Citizens’ Climate Radio, author Amanda Ripley explains how to avoid falling into the “us vs. them” trap by truly hearing what an opponent is saying. Read more.
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