Carolyn Morrisroe, carolyn.morrisroe@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Last night, Congress moved closer to fully realizing President Biden’s historic climate agenda, as the House held a procedural vote to advance the Build Back Better Act and five moderate Democrat holdouts committed to voting for the bill, without cutting any of its investments, no later than the week of Nov. 15.
The House also voted to approve the bipartisan infrastructure deal. While the bipartisan deal provides $550 billion in new federal funding, it falls short of the bold investments needed to address the interlocking crises of climate change, economic insecurity, and environmental injustice. It’s vital that Congress pass the companion Build Back Better Act, which makes critical investments in cleaner air and water, higher wages, greater equity, healthier communities, clean energy, and climate action.
Both bills are necessary in order to meet President Biden’s goal of cutting climate pollution in half by 2030 while meaningfully addressing racial, economic, gender, and environmental injustice.
In Response, Sierra Club Living Economy Program Director Ben Beachy Released the Following Statement:
“Thanks to all of the members of Congress who held the line and stood up for the Build Back Better Act, we have a path forward to finally deliver on President Biden’s agenda of unprecedented investments in climate action, clean energy jobs, and environmental justice. Last night’s agreement moves us closer to the bold investments of Build Back Better that people in communities across the country overwhelmingly support and urgently need. We have no more time to waste — let’s seal this historic deal.
“The five representatives who committed to vote in the coming days for the Build Back Better Act with all investments intact — Ed Case of Hawaii, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Stephanie Murphy of Florida, Kathleen Rice of New York and Kurt Schrader of Oregon — must swiftly honor their promise, get on the right side of history, and support the bill’s transformational investments in climate action. Environmental advocates, voters, and communities nationwide will be watching.”
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.