Weekly Briefing: Our joint letter to Senate leadership

September 10, 2025

Did you know America’s forests currently offset 12% of our annual climate pollution? That means healthy forests are a key part of the climate puzzle. But with wildfires getting worse, we need to take action.

This month, we’re taking additional steps to support a bipartisan bill that can help: the Fix Our Forests Act. This bill, which CCL has supported since its initial introduction, will help reduce wildfire risk and restore forest health while preserving important environmental standards.

CCL has joined 21 other organizations — including American Forests, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, and the Federation of American Scientists — to send a letter to Senate leadership urging the bill’s passage.

“Congress has the opportunity to take bipartisan action now, proactively, before the next fire inevitably costs lives, livelihoods, and ways of life,” the letter states.

See the letter and the full list of supporting organizations here, and help us spread the word on social media about the bill’s growing support.

Spread the Word

In other news this week

• Virtual bipartisan permitting event: The organization No Labels is hosting “A Bipartisan Meeting on Permitting Reform” on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. ET. This online session will feature Democrats and Republicans from both chambers of Congress, and the event is open to any member of the public who would like to attend and show support for constructive dialogue on this important issue.
  
• Boosting climate communication in the Bay Area: CCL’s Meteorologist Outreach Action Team members Rob Kahn and Richard Larsen shared their story of connecting with local meteorologist Kari Hall and how that relationship has blossomed — and led to more climate communication — over the years.

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Write to Senators about the Fix Our Forests Act. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will be the next set of lawmakers to consider the Fix Our Forests Act. We're encouraging volunteers to write to their Senators on that committee now. We've already generated 620 messages since the action launched yesterday. Check out our easy action tool to see if your Senator sits on the committee, and if so, send them a message.

If you have more time: Attend CCL's September meeting - Each month, CCL hosts a virtual meeting for our chapters and volunteers nationwide. Our meeting for September takes place this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, hosted by Elli Sparks, CCL's Senior Director of Field Operations. We'll be joined by climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain to discuss wildfires and climate change. See you there!

Featured chapter: CCL Fayetteville - See their feature here!

Upcoming trainings

9/18: Carbon Pricing Around the World - The U.S. remains the only developed economy without a national carbon price — but carbon pricing has worked successfully across the world, and those lessons apply to the evolving U.S. conversation. Tune in with Dr. Danny Richter for a global tour of carbon pricing and a look at where U.S. policy may be headed next. Join us!

9/25: Bringing Policy Support from Trusted Messengers to Congress - This training explains how to identify and engage community leaders who are especially influential on their members of Congress. These leaders are called trusted messengers. This training also explains how to work with a trusted messenger to customize CCL’s editable template policy support letter and the best way to deliver the completed and signed letter to Congress. Join us!