Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – Earlier this week, the chief economist of the AFL-CIO and former chair of the economics department at Howard University, assistant secretary for the Department of Labor, and advisor for Congress and the Federal Reserve, William Spriggs passed away.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“Bill was a giant in the civil rights movement, in economics, and in the Obama administration. Simply put, there was no better mind than his when it came to creating economic policies that would lift all boats.
“The beginning of my tenure at the NAACP coincided with the start of the Great Recession. When I was preparing for my first meeting with President Obama, I had time to make only one call for advice; I chose to call Bill. Bill’s suggestions and ideas for how to ensure the recovery would create a more equitable economy blew me away with their power and simplicity.
“Bill advised me in every leadership role I have held since I was 26 years old. As the Sierra Club pushes forward to ensure the Inflation Reduction Act is transformative for every community, I will do my best to channel his wisdom.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.