Reviewing Primary and Secondary Asks
This training reviews the updated context for CCL's Summer 2025 Primary and Secondary Asks as well as guidance for lobby teams as they plan their meetings. This is a recommended training for any CCL volunteer planning on being a part of their group's lobby meeting.
Background
Here’s a closer look at what we’re lobbying Congress for this time. Watch the rundown from our Government Affairs team via the "Watch" tab, or read on for a recap.
Summer 2025 Primary Asks
As this training page is updated, you can follow along with this training's slides at cclusa.org/july-10-training
Our Primary Asks (Leave Behind) sheets are available here.
Summer 2025 Secondary Asks
For Summer 2025, you may choose a Secondary Ask for your lobby meetings:
How We Choose Secondary Asks
We look for bills that are:
- Bipartisan, achievable in the near term, complementary to/or related to policy priorities
- Other considerations this time, greater focus - we learn & adapt; when we had many secondary asks, our impact was diluted; this is why we’ve narrowed it down to just 2
- Persistence - get these across finish line
Bills supporting bipartisan climate action
CCL often identifies bipartisan bills that have been introduced that could be useful secondary asks. Our primary objective in promoting these bills is to encourage bipartisanship on climate solutions policymaking in Congress. The bills all have cosponsors of both parties, all are complementary to a strong carbon price, and all address policy issues that a carbon price does not. Descriptions of each bill are on the secondary asks page where you can click on the .pdf file or blue hyperlinks for more information.
As we build momentum for bipartisan action on climate and develop relationships of trust with our members of Congress, we suggest keeping to topics of common ground. Rather than bring up the vinegar, talk about the honey. We have learned through motivational interviewing techniques that preparing others for change involves helping them see change as something they create and meets their needs.
This list is not exhaustive; if there is a bill your group would like to use as a secondary ask that is not on this list, please connect with your Network Director, Our Liaison Team (liaison.coordinator@citizensclimate.org) or CCL’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Jennifer Tyler (jennifer.tyler@citizensclimate.org). Use your best judgment when deciding whether you want to make one or more of these bills a secondary ask.
The value of secondary asks
After making the primary ask and subsequent discussion, it may make sense to make a secondary ask. Getting legislation passed is a complicated, coalition-building process in which lots of smaller steps must happen before we get a law. Many members of Congress may be willing to support other bills that fit into the broader picture of addressing the climate crisis and are complementary to a carbon price, and these could be stepping stones toward support for bringing the U.S. in line with the rest of the developed world.
You should always be clear that what you want is our primary ask. After making the primary ask and subsequent discussion, it may make sense to make a secondary ask. Getting legislation passed is a complicated, coalition-building process in which lots of smaller steps must happen before we get a law.
A record of success
In December 2020, the U.S. House and Senate passed a massive omnibus package. The package includes the major provisions from three of CCL’s “secondary ask” bills from December Lobby Day: the BEST Act, the USE IT Act, and the Climate-Ready Fisheries Act. In July of 2021, the Senate passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act by a vote of 92-8 in a remarkable display of bipartisan support for climate action and was included in the Omnibus Package that passed in December 2022. In September 2021, Congress agreed upon a bipartisan infrastructure package that includes provisions from CCL’s “supporting ask” bills used in June 2021, the Storing CO2 And Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act and the Hope for Homes Act supporting ask was wrapped into Inflation Reduction Act that was enacted in August 2022. The inclusion of these measures in both the larger omnibus packages shows that CCL’s volunteer lobbying has an impact. This is a powerful reminder of why CCL supports other bipartisan climate bills - because we can make a difference.
- (0:00) Intro & Agenda
- (2:06) Where Things Stand
- (8:34) Primary Ask: Support the Clean Energy Transition
- (39:53 ) Secondary Ask
- Q&A Discussion is a separate video here: https://vimeo.com/1100493436
- Jennifer Tyler
- Dana Nuccitelli
- View or download the Presentation Slides: cclusa.org/july-10-training
- (0:00) Intro & Agenda
- (1:07) Review Of Congress Currently
- (3:34) Primary Ask: The Energy Permitting Reform Act
- (15:31 ) Secondary Ask
- (18:32) Why IRA Repeal Attempt is Likely
- (19:24) How The Repeal Could Happen
- (24:27) The Co-Primary Ask for Republicans
- (28:11) Why This Ask Now and Conclusion
- Q&A Discussion is a separate video here: https://vimeo.com/1032393965
- Ben Pendergrass
- Danny Richter
To prepare yourself, research the full suite of resources for planning a meeting with a member of Congress.