Inside the Greenhouse is a monthly newsletter about FCNL’s environmental work, ways to engage members of Congress, and stories of your work around the country. In addition to FCNL’s staff lobbyists, this year our Advocacy Corps — 20 young people nationwide — are working with us for congressional action on climate change.
Appropriations Season Kicks off in Congress
Fully Fund Environmental Programs in 2019
It’s that time of year again! Congress is starting their appropriations process, when they will decide how to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2019. Early in February, the president released his suggested budget, which included drastic cuts to clean energy and environment programs at the EPA and other federal agencies. Now it is Congress’s turn to respond. This month we are asking our readers to contact their members of Congress to ask them to protect these valuable clean energy and environment programs.
Representatives Faso and Lowenthal at the Quaker Welcome Center
On May 16th, 2018, Representatives John Faso (NY-19) and Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) came to FCNL’s Quaker Welcome Center for a bipartisan conversation on climate change. Reps. Faso and Lowenthal are both members of the Climate Solutions Caucus, and are the second pair of caucus members to participate in such an event. The May 16th dialogue was co-hosted by FCNL and the National Audubon Society and moderated by Audubon’s President and CEO, David Yarnold.
The discussion focused on how Congress can find bipartisan solutions to climate change and how we can build infrastructure that is resilient in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events. The latter of these questions is of particular interest to Reps. Faso and Lowenthal, as they both sit on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
See the video of the full event and read more.
PREPARE Act Passes the House
The legislative process is often long and arduous, so when a legislative victory is reached, it is all the more rewarding. FCNL has been lobbying for the passage of the PREPARE Act since 2015, where it was the focus of the young adult Spring Lobby Weekend. The PREPARE Act or the “Promoting Resilience and Efficiency in Preparing for Attacks and Responding to Emergencies Act” (H.R. 2922) helps federal agencies coordinate with state and local stakeholders to better respond to natural disasters caused by extreme weather.
While This bill will not solve the climate crisis, it will help address some of the effects, and more importantly, it will get members of Congress thinking about how climate change-fueled extreme weather affect people’s lives. In 2014 the PREPARE Act had 17 cosponsors in the House. In 2015 that number grew to 29. In April, 2018, the PREPARE Act passed the House within the FAA Reauthorization bill (H.R. 4). The bill still needs to pass the Senate, something we are hopeful will happen this Congress.
Read more about my personal experience lobbying for the PREPARE Act over four years
Climate Solutions Caucus
The Climate Solutions Caucus gained five new members in May: Representatives Erik Paulsen (MN-03) –who replaced Rep. Meehan-, Tom MacArthur (NJ-03), Eliot Engel (NY-16), Peter Roskam (IL-6), and Ron Kind (WI-3).
There are currently 78 members of the Climate Solutions Caucus
The Climate Solutions Caucus is the first bipartisan body of its kind. It educates representatives on economically-viable options to reduce climate risk and explores bipartisan policy options that address the impacts, causes, and challenges of our changing climate. See who’s involved.
News and Updates
Scott Pruitt and the Trump administration look to roll back vehicle efficiency standards or “CAFE standards.” California pushes back. EPA and automakers head for showdown on Obama-era mileage rules
Alaska is crafting a plan to address climate change. Officials discuss a tax on companies that emit carbon dioxide. ‘Impossible to Ignore’: Why Alaska Is Crafting a Plan to Fight Climate Change
April 2018 was the 400th consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average. April 2018 was 3rd warmest on record for the globe
According to Representative Mo Brooks, The Earth is not warming. The White Cliffs of Dover are tumbling into the sea and causing sea levels to rise. Republican lawmaker: Rocks tumbling into ocean causing sea level rise
Jim Bridenstine, the newly confirmed NASA director reverses his views on climate change, acknowledging that “we human beings are contributing to it in a major way.” NASA’s Jim Bridenstine Agrees Humans are Responsible for Climate Change
Advocacy Corps Spotlight:
At a town hall event in Satna Rosa, Texas, FCNL Advocacy Corps organizer, Jordan Navarro met with Texas Senate Candidate, Beto O’Rourke. O’Rourke is currently a Representative for Texas’s 16th congressional district. Jordan had the opportunity to ask Representative O’Rourke about his stance on climate change, and whether the senator would support international agreements to help prevent its effects. O’Rourke noted the importance of acting on climate change, as well as the importance of international efforts to address the issue. The congressman went on to praise the efforts of Representative Curbelo and the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House, which has worked to de-politicize the issue of climate change, while finding practical solutions. O’Rourke said he would continue to support action on climate if elected to the Senate.
