Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With a potential vote looming on the bipartisan infrastructure bill in the U.S. House of Representatives today, the Sierra Club urges members of Congress to vote “no” in order to ultimately get to “yes” on climate. More information about the bipartisan legislation and the Build Back Better Act, including Sierra Club analysis and priorities, are detailed below.
In Response, Sierra Club President Ramon Cruz Released the Following Statement:
"On its own, the bipartisan infrastructure deal is inadequate to tackle the climate crisis at the speed and scale necessary. It must be accompanied by the transformational investments in the Build Back Better Act.
“That’s why we are urging all House Democrats to vote ‘no’ for now on the bipartisan legislation in order to get to ‘yes’ on climate action.
“To deliver on President Biden’s agenda and lead the world forward on climate action, Congress must pass the Build Back Better Act before the bipartisan bill moves forward."
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More information about the bipartisan legislation and the Build Back Better Act:
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE BIPARTISAN BILL:
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On its own, the bipartisan bill contains numerous flaws, as well as actively harmful provisions, and does not meaningfully tackle the climate crisis, which is the number one need of any infrastructure legislation.
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While the bill invests in some important programs, it fails to meet this crucial moment. The package provides inadequate funding for climate action, clean air and water, the creation of good jobs, and racial, economic, and environmental justice.
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Some provisions in the bipartisan deal would actively cause harm by supporting fossil fuels, harming frontline and Tribal communities, endangering the health of forests and public lands, and undermining hard-fought protections for clean air and water and environmental justice.
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Sierra Club’s full analysis of the bipartisan deal can be found here.
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Click here for a spreadsheet with a line-by-line comparison of the Build Back Better Act, the bipartisan deal, President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, and the investment levels backed by economic modeling and movement organizations.
WHY IT IS URGENT TO PASS THE BUILD BACK BETTER RECONCILIATION BILL:
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Right now we have an opportunity to finally pass the generational climate action bill we desperately need, whereas passage of a flawed bipartisan infrastructure bill by itself would not substantially advance climate action.
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The only way to tackle the country’s interconnected crises — climate change, racial injustice, economic insecurity, and public health — at the scale required is for the bipartisan deal and reconciliation package to move in tandem.
The Sierra Club’s priorities for the Build Back Better Act reconciliation bill, including advancing major clean energy tax incentives, a Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP), a fee on methane polluters, funding for electric vehicles, protesting the Arctic Refuge, environmental justice block grants, and a Civilian Climate Corps, are outlined here.
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.