After months of advocacy from Montanans and organizations across the state, some are expressing initial relief to hear about the release of the framework for the federal budget reconciliation bill, also known as the Build Back Better Act. Montanans in Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell, and Billings took part in actions at Senator Tester’s offices earlier this fall, calling for him to advocate for the full $3.5 trillion set of investments initially proposed and the inclusion of meaningful investments in a stable climate, health, resilience, and equity for Montana communities.
The framework released by the White House yesterday is smaller than the initially proposed draft. Sierra Club released a statement lauding the bill’s inclusion of over 100 specific climate investments and historic environmental justice provisions while also recognizing we still need further action to address the needs that did not make it into this bill.
Montanans from around the state offered these reactions:
Jackie Pepin, of Billings: “This would be the most significant piece of climate legislation in our history, and the first to take a serious swing at the climate crisis in the five decades since scientists have known greenhouse gas emissions are destabilizing the climate. While the draft framework still does not meet the full scale of the crisis at this late stage in the game, we can’t wait a moment more to take a step forward.”
Summer Nelson, Director of the Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club: “While the need remains greater, this framework is a significant start on a path out of the climate crisis. For the first time, there is recognition on the federal level that addressing the climate crisis must happen in tandem with efforts to enhance the resilience of our communities and make our society more equitable. We need Montana’s full Congressional delegation to see this bill through and support critical investments in a stable climate and measures to bolster Montana’s communities as we live through a pandemic, economic crisis, worsening inequality and a growing climate crisis. Too many Montanans are struggling to make ends meet, pay for childcare and healthcare, and adapt to the fires and drought —we need the investment the Build Back Better Act would provide, and more, to improve Montana lives.”
Destini Vaile, an organizer with Montana Women Vote: “From housing struggles to crop shortages that increase the cost of food, climate change most directly affects those living on a low income. The people we work with don’t always have the resources to protect themselves from dangerous heat waves, flooding, and wildfire smoke that continue to increase in frequency due to rising global temperatures.”
Kathryn Eklund, of Livingston: “I refuse to accept climate change as the new normal, and by passing strong climate priorities, we will be able to get in front of climate change...We will finally have the money we need to stop passively watching it descend upon us.”