Weekly Briefing: Call your Rep before the House votes to cut clean energy tax credits

May 21, 2025

Republicans in Congress are pushing hard to advance their budget reconciliation bill through the relevant committees and bring it to the House floor for a vote. The House vote could happen as early as today.

As we shared last week, the current version of the bill makes drastic changes to America’s clean energy tax credits that will be bad for climate and clean energy. So we don’t want to see this advance. It’s likely to — but we need to make clear where we stand.

This morning, CCL’s Government Affairs team sent a letter to all House offices urging representatives to vote no on the bill. The letter began, “On behalf of Citizens’ Climate Lobby and our supporters across the country, I urge you to vote NO on H.R. 1 when it comes to the House floor for a vote. The legislation would repeal or severely weaken critical clean energy tax credits that are not only essential to accelerating America’s transition to clean energy—they are already delivering powerful returns for our economy, workforce, and global competitiveness.”

The letter ended, “We urge you to reject this reversal and stand up for policies that deliver real results for American workers, families, and communities. Maintaining a predictable and supportive tax environment for clean energy will keep driving job creation, lowering energy costs, and growing our economy. Please vote NO on H.R. 1 and protect the clean energy tax credits that are already transforming our energy future.” It was signed by CCL’s VP of Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler.

Now it’s your turn to add your voice to the chorus. Call your representative — whether they’re a Democrat or a Republican — and urge them to vote no. Let’s flood the phone lines with as many calls as possible until the House votes on this bill.

In other news this week

Generate media in support of clean energy tax credits: After the House votes, the legislation will head to the Senate. We’re preparing to get loud in local media over the next weeks and months to encourage Senators to protect the clean energy tax credits in their version of the bill. Join CCL Communications & Media Manager Charlotte Ward for a special media workshop next week. On Thursday, May 29, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, tune in to get a quick training from Charlotte, ask your questions, and get started on your op-ed or LTE. RSVP here.

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Spread the word on social media. Help your friends and followers take action to defend America’s clean energy tax credits. Head to CCL’s Spread the Word page and share one of our recent posts about what’s going on in Congress and how to send a message to their Republican representatives.

If you have more time: Plan to join us for CCL’s Summer Conference and Lobby Day in D.C. Our defense work on clean energy tax credits is far from over. After the House votes, the Senate still needs to craft and pass its version of the legislation, and the two chambers ultimately have to pass the same version. That means there could still be many months in the process — and many chances for our voices to make a difference. Plan to join us in D.C. this July when we'll be on Capitol Hill, lobbying Congress for better climate and clean energy outcomes. Get more details at cclusa.org/summer and plan to join us!

Featured media: LTE in Dayton Daily News

We’ve set a national goal of 300 media hits by mid-June, and we’re asking volunteers to focus their media efforts on supporting the clean energy tax credits. Here’s a great example of a letter to the editor (LTE) written by CCL volunteer Leah Ceperley from CCL’s Dayton, Ohio, chapter.

Leah noticed an article in the paper about recent “ wild weather, heavy rains, and flooding” in Ohio. She pointed out that this is not normal, and in fact, is because “pollution-caused climate change alters rainfall patterns, leading to both heavier rainfall events and flooding and to more drought and dry conditions.”

Then, Leah turned her letter toward her Member of Congress, saying, “I urge Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) to take action. Two-thirds of Americans are worried about climate change. Our elected officials hold the keys to finding solutions.”

And she narrowed in on the clean energy tax credits, saying, “It’s the wrong time to cut Clean Energy Tax Credits from the congressional budget.” She mentioned two businesses in the region that have announced more than 2,000 new jobs and $555 million in investments due to the tax credits.

Leah submitted this letter to the Dayton Daily News and it was published on April 17. Great work, Leah! This is exactly the type of persuasive message we want to see CCLers placing in local media nationwide.

Want to write your own letter? Check out our guidance in the CCL Community Media Relations forum.

Get Ideas for Your LTE

Training topics

5/22: Understanding the Foreign Pollution Fee Act - The Foreign Pollution Fee Act, reintroduced by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) last month, aims to impose a fee on certain imported products based on their level of greenhouse gas emissions. With tariffs in the news so often these days, this is an important piece of legislation to understand — and tomorrow night's training will break it down for you. Join us!

WATCH: Fix Our Forests - Senate version - Earlier this month, CCL Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli and VP of Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler walked volunteers through the Senate's version of the Fix Our Forests Act. A version of this bill already passed the House earlier this year and could advance in the Senate as early as this summer. Watch the recording so you're up to speed on the bill and ready to take action when a grassroots push is needed.