The U.S. Congress is pivotal to national and global efforts to meet the challenge of climate disruption. However, for Congress to be part of the solution, leadership is needed from members of both political parties.
FCNL believes that our moral obligation to address climate change and protect vulnerable communities transcends partisanship. Concerned grassroots – along with conservation, conservation, business, national security, environmental, and religious leaders – are working to foster a bipartisan and cooperative spirit in Congress to address climate change. By changing the dialogue on climate change, we are paving the way for meaningful legislative solutions to gain bipartisan support and become law.
We continue to foster this spirit by mobilizing constituents to meet with their members of Congress, write letters to the editor, and engage in respectful relationship-building.
Support the Republican Climate Resolution
We work to support and grow the number of members co-sponsoring the Republican Climate Resolution, which was reintroduced in the 115^th Congress on March 15^th by 17 House Republicans, led by Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), and Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-6). The resolution affirms that climate change is real, human-caused, and needs to be addressed by Congress. It also demonstrates that there is political will from both political parties to act.
This resolution was first written and introduced in the 114^th Congress by former Rep. Chris Gibson (NY-19), who agreed to draft the resolution after meeting with an interfaith delegation organized and trained by FCNL.
Support the Climate Solutions Caucus
We also work to strengthen and increase the number of members in the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus. Created in February 2016 by Rep. Curbelo and Democrat Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-21), this group meets regularly – at the member and staff level – to learn, discuss, and identify solutions to climate change from a variety of perspectives. The caucus has been nicknamed the “Noah’s Ark” caucus because members have to join “two by two” with a member from the other political party.
In a time when many offices from both parties are exhausted and instinctively put-off by the vitriol and partisan politics of the climate debate, we seek to foster a new approach, through bipartisan, confidential, and multi-sectoral conversations about climate solutions. We believe, guided by Quaker tradition and leadings, that this is the most effective, efficient, and peaceable strategy for realizing the world we seek.
