Carolyn Morrisroe, carolyn.morrisroe@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- This week, thousands of grassroots activists across the country are joining the Sierra Club’s Week of Action to demand Congress pass a big and bold budget reconciliation bill and crucial democracy reforms. While organizers celebrate the wins on climate, care, jobs, and justice achieved through the budget resolutions passed in the House and Senate, they are calling for Congress to fight for a healthy, equitable future for all by fully funding the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill and passing critical democracy reforms like the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
From Aug. 28 through Sept. 3, everyday people concerned about the massive interlocking crises confronting our communities are coming together for the Sierra Club’s August Recess Week of Action. After months of ongoing advocacy for a Summer of Collective Action, the movement is flexing its collective muscle by organizing lobby meetings, rallies, and action parties around the country to make sure Congress hears their message loud and clear.
See this map for a list of actions planned for the Week of Action, which feature more than 50 events nationwide, including Congressional lobby visits and action parties — neighbors gathering together to hold rallies or write or call their members of Congress. Some highlights include a hike and postcard-writing party in Michigan, a Community Speakout for Transit Justice in Ohio, and Be The Change: Act for Climate in Nevada.
The Sierra Club’s top priorities for the budget reconciliation bill, which include efforts to reach 100 percent clean energy through tax incentives and a clean energy payment program, implement major new electric vehicle and transit investments, create a Civilian Climate Corps, eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, and fully replace 100 percent of lead pipes, are detailed here.
Sierra Club President Ramon Cruz Released the Following Statement:
“Before us, we have a historic opportunity to invest at the scale of the crises we face: climate change, economic insecurity, and structural injustice. We as a country must seize this moment to undertake truly transformative change that will lead to a more stable climate, millions of family-sustaining jobs, a care economy that leaves no one behind, investments focused on frontline and historically marginalized communities, and strengthening our democracy.
“The intensifying climate-fueled disasters — wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, heat waves — that communities across the country are experiencing show that we can no longer wait to transition to a 100 percent clean economy and invest fully in climate action. We join the thousands of voices from across the country this week demanding Congress must act to build back bolder for climate, jobs, and justice, and restore the unmet promises of our democracy. Congress must pass a bold budget reconciliation bill and both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For The People Act now.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.