Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- This afternoon, the House passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution, a crucial step toward delivering bold investments at the scale of the crises our communities face. Sierra Club emphasizes that any vote on the bipartisan infrastructure proposal must be preceded by passage of the reconciliation bill.
As Congressional committees begin to detail the investments in the budget reconciliation bill, the Sierra Club urges increased funding for climate action, environmental justice, and other items that are critically underfunded or missing from the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
The Sierra Club’s top priorities for the budget reconciliation bill are detailed here.
In response, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Kirin Kennedy released the following statement:
“This budget reconciliation bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver transformational investments in climate action and infrastructure that will enable us to effectively tackle the climate crisis, create millions of family-sustaining jobs, and fight economic, racial, environmental, and gender injustice. This is our window to finally pass policies to reach 100% 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% of lead pipes.
“The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by the Senate earlier this month falls far short of providing the investments desperately needed in communities across the country. So let’s be clear: The bipartisan bill must be complemented by the full level of reconciliation investments authorized by the Congress in its joint $3.5 trillion budget resolution.
“Sierra Club emphasizes that any vote on the bipartisan proposal must be preceded by passage of the reconciliation bill. As flooding in the Southeast and wildfires in the West destroy lives, homes, and businesses, and as warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change make clear, it’s essential that Congress seize this historic chance to make truly significant investments in our future.”
###
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.