Weekly Briefing: Bipartisan Climate Work Reignites In House Caucus

July 26, 2023

Exciting news! The Climate Solutions Caucus has reignited its efforts in the House, now led by co-chairs Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02) and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06). The group recently reached bipartisan parity again — it has equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats committed to exploring bipartisan climate solutions together.

American politics still desperately needs more bipartisan climate efforts. The Climate Solutions Caucus helps meet that need, bridging the gap between the parties on this issue and building more common ground. 

CCL is very proud of our role in helping the Climate Solutions Caucus form in 2016 and grow significantly in the following years. Going forward, we’re hoping to see the caucus achieve even more than its previous iterations. Let’s push for more ambition and action than ever!

Check out CCL’s full statement on the caucus relaunch, and consider sharing it on social media or with your chapter so others can hear the encouraging news.

In other news this week:

• Catch up on the caucus: If you're newer to CCL and want more background about the Climate Solutions Caucus, browse this section of CCL’s blog. We’ve posted in the past about caucus growth, shared stories of how CCL volunteers encouraged their members to join, and covered caucus activities like briefings and bi-paw-tisan parties.

• New permitting page: Clean energy permitting reform was one of our lobby day asks for Congress this June, and there are lots of proposals under consideration. Check out this new web page to see what’s been passed, what’s been introduced, and where you can learn more.

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Email Congress about the PROVE IT Act. Let's pave the way for the U.S. to have a carbon border adjustment! The bipartisan PROVE IT Act has been introduced in the Senate and still needs to be introduced in the House. So far CCLers have generated 12,269 messages to members of Congress in support of this legislation. Have you sent yours? 

If you have more time: Host a summer fundraiser. Use our new Fundraiser Toolkit to promote your Facebook fundraiser, House Party or Activity-a-thon. Helping to raise funds for CCL/CCE ensures that you have the resources, organizational tools and support you need to advocate for climate solutions. 

Featured chapter: CCL Huntsville

CCL’s chapter in Huntsville, Alabama, is a growing, energized group led by Debbie Chang (pictured above, right). Chapter member Mark LaRoux (pictured above, second from right) is a great example of CCL Huntsville’s growth and energy. Debbie recruited Mark to join CCL Huntsville this spring, and he attended CCL’s June conference and lobby day last month.

“I was nervous as heck, first ever lobby effort,” Mark says. “Fortunately, I was surrounded by a cast of characters, my fellow CCLers, that were both experienced and extraordinary in so many ways. We had this!”

In one of his lobby meetings, Mark noticed several model jets sitting on the bureau in the congressional office. “I asked if they’d mind if I sent them a jet that was built in their congressional district, and they sounded thrilled,” Mark says. “I’m sure the representative’s staffers hear promises of things all the time, but I was raised to always back your word, so if you say you’re going to do something, you find a way to do it.” 

And sure enough, Mark followed through and sent the model jet to the office. “After I returned home, I purchased the appropriate model jet and made sure the livery (paint job) was done correctly as it was my former employer before I retired,” Mark says. “Oh, did I mention the representative is an aviation buff?”

Keep up the great relationship building, CCL Huntsville!

Have you logged your recent activities in the Action Tracker? Tell us what you and your chapter have been up to lately.

Want your chapter to be featured? Share your info and photos with us. 

Upcoming trainings

7/27: Extended Q&A with Dr. Adam Simon - Dr. Adam Simon, the guest speaker on CCL’s May call, shared a compelling presentation about the massive amounts of metals that go into the production of electric vehicles, batteries, induction stoves, wind turbines and solar panels. If you have more questions on this topic, attend this extended Q&A to dive deeper. Join us!

8/3: PROVE IT Act & Carbon Border Adjustments - Join CCL's Research Team to learn what Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs) are, the importance of accurate carbon content calculations, and what the PROVE IT Act does to help the U.S. get a firmer understanding of our domestic industry's lower carbon content advantage. Join us!

Need training on the basics? Catch our next session of Core Volunteer Training, made for newer volunteers:

8/1: Lobbying Basics: Planning and Practicing Your Meeting - In this online training, CCL staff will walk you through what an actual meeting with your member of Congress looks like and how to prepare for it. Join us!

To see other topics and past trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.