Weekly Briefing: Shutdown stretches on, with virtual Lobby Week just around the corner

October 29, 2025

CCL's biggest event of the season is just 16 days away! This Nov. 14-15, CCLers from across the country will meet virtually to do what we do best: learn, connect, and lobby for climate policy. If you haven't already registered, now is a great time to secure your spot.

This annual conferences goes hand-in-hand with our virtual lobby week, which takes place the week of Nov. 17-21. Despite the ongoing government shutdown and the House of Representatives being in recess, congressional staff are still on the Hill and working hard. Our staff and volunteer liaisons have begun scheduling virtual meetings and have dozens on the books already.

To make sure you feel confident and ready for your meetings, plan to join our first Lobby Training tomorrow night at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. CCL VP of Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler and Congressional Liaison Manager Mindy Ahler will walk through the primary asks we will be bringing to Congress this November, including what climate-related policies we're supporting, why they matter, and how to communicate them effectively.

Whether it’s your first or 50th time lobbying, this training will help make sure you’re fully prepared and ready to make an impact. Learn more and RSVP for tomorrow's training. (And while you're at it, be sure to mark your calendar for our second session, Fall 2025 Lobby Training #2, on Monday, Nov. 3!)

RSVP for Lobby Training #1

In other news this week:

• Bipartisan permitting reform letter: A bipartisan group of 13 governors from across the United States sent a letter to congressional leadership about the importance of permitting reform. "This isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue. Every American needs to heat their home and power their vehicle,” said Gov. Stitt of Oklahoma.
• A new opportunity: CCL Action Team Director Drew Eyerly has accepted a new role as Land & Liberty Coalition's Field Manager in Georgia. While we will miss Drew dearly, we are grateful for the work he's put into building up CCL volunteers and can't wait to see where this next chapter will take him. You can send Drew parting thoughts and thanks ahead of his last day (Nov. 3) on his Kudoboard.
• Don’t forget to share your input: CCL’s staff has been hard at work on our strategic planning process in recent months. Your perspective as a CCL volunteer is a crucial part of bringing our strategy to life in 2026 and beyond. Thank you to the hundreds of you who have shared your input in this brief survey! If you haven’t yet, share your thoughts with us by this Friday, Oct. 31.

Take Action this Week

If you have a little time: Watch and share this video from Sen. Curtis and Sen. Hickenlooper. The Senators came together to film an update about the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA)! Sen. Hickenlooper, a Democrat, and Sen. Curtis, a Republican, agree: We need to protect our forests and communities from the growing wildfire crisis. You can watch and share the video on X or Bluesky. Be sure to leave a reply thanking them for their work, then tag your own Senator asking them to support FOFA when it's ready for action on the Senate floor.

If you have more time: Send an updated FOFA message to your Senator. Now that the Fix Our Forests Act has officially passed the Senate Agriculture Committee, it's a good time to send an updated message to your Senator if you haven't already. Take some extra time to personalize your note based on your experiences. Have wildfires and smoke impacted you, someone you love, or an area you care deeply about? Remember, sharing our personal stories makes our grassroots advocacy that much more powerful.

Tip: If you have already contacted your Senator recently, encourage a friend or family member to send their own message! When new people reach out to congressional offices, it helps our message break through even more.

Featured chapter: CCL Monterey

Last month, CCL’s Monterey chapter in California organized a community event for "Sun Day" — a nationwide day of action celebrating and educating people about the power of clean energy.

“We had 12 different groups join us on Monterey’s Window on the Bay park, including solar contractors, heat pump installers, environmental groups, advocacy groups and a church,” said chapter co-leader David Prina. “We had a good turn out with kids activities, music, a choral performance and face painter.”

A local TV station, KSBW, attended and interviewed David and chapter member Sandy Hoag, who was quoted in the broadcast speaking about the steadily decreasing prices for solar energy. David said on air, “Sun Day is a day of support for a healthier, more affordable future where solar and renewables are a big part of the grid.”

“We’re glad we did it!” David said. “We had a great time organizing this in a very short two months, and we felt like the community here in Monterey showed up in support.”

For more Sun Day stories, check out our roundup of chapter events from September.

Upcoming trainings

10/30: Fall 2025 Lobby Training #1: Primary & Secondary Asks - Join CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler and Congressional Liaison Program Manager Mindy Ahler to strategize for the upcoming fall lobby meetings, get more information on the meeting asks, and ask your questions. Join us!

11/3: Fall 2025 Lobby Training #2: Legislative Plan Q&A - We'll review more details and the context for CCL's Fall Legislative Plan as well as guidance for lobby teams as they plan their online meetings. We'll also have time to get your questions answered by CCL's Government Affairs team. Join us!

11/6: Fall 2025 Conference & Lobby Day Q&A - Are you curious about what to expect about CCL's Fall 2025 Conference and Lobby Days or have a question about any final details? Join Alison Kubicsko, National Events Director, and Mindy Ahler, CCL Congressional Liaison Manager, for a final walk-through of the who, what, and where for the event. Join us!

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