LETTER
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
Room H-305, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Room S-221, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
August 4, 2021
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer,
With our country facing multiple, severe, interrelated crises — climate change, racial injustice, mass unemployment, and a public health emergency — we urgently need bold government action commensurate with the scale of the challenges we face.
100 grassroots organizations from 28 states are writing in support of key funding priorities championed by many of your colleagues. We advocate for investments at the scale required for a renewable energy economy, expanded clean public transportation, modernizing public housing and schools, and bolstering the care economy, with strong labor, equity, and environmental standards. Specifically, we support the following requests for community investments in any infrastructure plan passed by Congress this year:
Funding for replacement of all lead pipes in the country and increased investment in updating and upgrading water infrastructure, prioritizing elimination of this public health hazard from low-income communities and communities of color that are disproportionately exposed to toxic water. This priority is championed by Representative Paul Tonko and supported by 104 Members of Congress.
Funding for the INVEST in America Act which would mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, the biggest source of emissions in the country. The absence of clean and accessible transportation leaves many Black and Brown communities dealing with toxic air and has cut off neighborhoods of color and low-income communities from economic opportunities. This priority is championed by House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio and supported by 30 T&I Committee members.
Funding parity between Highways and Public Transit in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) and in the reconciliation package. This priority is championed by Representatives Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. and Jesús G. “Chuy” García and supported by 60 Members of Congress.
Funding to electrify the transportation sector including an $85 billion investment in zero emissions electric vehicles infrastructure. This priority is championed by Representatives Debbie Dingell and Yvette Clarke.
Funding for high-speed and high-performance rail to tackle the climate crisis, reduce inequities in access to reliable transportation, and modernize our country. This priority is championed by Representatives Seth Moulton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jim Costa and Senator Ed Markey and supported by 80 Members of Congress.
The above priorities are ones that we, grassroots leaders and activists, our members, the communities we strive to protect, and your constituents, are concerned will be eliminated in the infrastructure legislation. These issues, from access to clean and safe drinking water to reliable and sustainable transportation, impact our daily lives; directing full investment into these priorities will not only increase the living standard of millions but will also make the infrastructure package a historic climate change action, the first of its kind in our country.
As leaders of the Democratic party, we hope that you will support your colleagues by fighting for funding for essential services and rallying the party to ensure the greatest level of community investment as possible to tackle climate change, unemployment, and injustices.
Respectfully,
198 methods; National, USA
GreenFaith; National, USA
Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action; National, USA
CODEPINK ; National, USA
RapidShift Network; National, USA
CatholicNetwork US; National, USA
Businesses for a Livable Climate; National, USA
Our Climate; National, USA
Sunrise Movement, USA
Small Business Alliance; National, USA
People’s Action; National, USA
U.S. High Speed Rail Association; National, USA
Hometown Action; Alabama, USA
Sierra Club - Grand Canyon Chapter; Arizona, USA
Kids Climate Action Network; Arizona, USA
Arizonans for Community Choice; Arizona, USA
Defend Our Future; Arizona, USA
Arizona Working Families Party; Arizona, USA
Protect Our Water Arizona; Arizona, USA
Yuma Audubon Society; Arizona, USA
Earth Justice Ministry at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix; Arizona, USA
California Green New Deal Coalition; California, USA
RootsAction.org; California, USA
350 Bay Area Action; California, USA
350 Bay Area Action's Federal Climate Action Team; California, USA
CA Businesses for a Livable Climate; California, USA
Colorado Working Families Party; Colorado, USA
Sierra Club, Colorado Chapter; Colorado, USA
Colorado Green New Deal Table; Colorado, USA
9to5 Colorado; Colorado, USA
Call to Action Colorado; Colorado, USA
Unite North Metro Denver; Colorado, USA
Wall of Women; Colorado, USA
North Range Concerned Citizens; Colorado, USA
Spirit of the Sun; Colorado, USA
The Green House Connection Center; Colorado, USA
Montbello Neighborhood Improvement Association; Colorado, USA
CO Businesses for a Livable Climate; Colorado, USA
Broward for Progress; Florida, USA
Florida Student Power Network ; Florida, USA
Sierra Club, Florida Chapter, Loxahatchee Group; Florida, USA
Central Florida Jobs with Justice; Florida, USA
Florida Rising; Florida, USA
Georgia Conservation Voters; Georgia, USA
ACES 4 Youth; Illinois, USA
Sierra Club Illinois Chapter; Illinois, USA
The People’s Lobby; Illinois, USA
Grassroots Collaborative; Illinois, USA
IL Green New Deal Coalition; Illinois, USA
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter; Iowa, USA
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement; Iowa, USA
Sierra Club, Maine Chapter; Maine, USA
We Are CASA; Maryland, USA
Greenbelt Climate Action Network; Maryland, USA
Sierra Club, Massachusetts Chapter; Massachusetts, USA
350 Mass; Massachusetts, USA
Sunrise Worcester; Massachusetts, USA
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter; Michigan, USA
Flint Rising; Michigan, USA
Water You Fighting For; Michigan, USA
Michigan United; Michigan, USA
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light; Michigan, USA
Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice; Michigan, USA
Michigan Climate Action Network; Michigan, USA
TakeAction Minnesota; Minnesota, USA
100% Campaign; Minnesota, USA
Sierra Club North Star Chapter; Minnesota, USA
Eco-Socialist Committee of the Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America; Montana, USA
Rep. Danny Tenenbaum, House District 95; Montana, USA
People's Food Sovereignty Program; Flathead Reservation, Montana, USA
Sierra Club Montana Chapter; Montana, USA
Park County Environmental Council; Montana, USA
350 Montana; Montana, USA
Montana Women Vote; Montana, USA
Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter; Nevada, USA
Sierra Club, New Hampshire ; New Hampshire, USA
Rights & Democracy New Hampshire; New Hampshire, USA
Nuevo Mexico Prospera; New Mexico , USA
New Mexico Working Families Party; New Mexico, USA
Long Island Progressive Coalition; New York, USA
New York Working Families Party; New York, USA
NY Renews; New York, USA
Association of Young Americans; New York, USA
Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter; New York, USA
NC Climate Justice Collective; North Carolina, USA
Ready for 100 Ohio; Ohio, USA
Simply Living; Ohio, USA
Sierra Club, Ohio Chapter; Ohio, USA
Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth; Oregon, OR
We Are CASA; Pennsylvania, USA
Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter; Pennsylvania, USA
Lone Star Chapter, Sierra Club; Texas, USA
We Are CASA; Virginia, USA
Air Alliance Houston; Texas, USA
Port Arthur Community Action Network; Texas, USA
MOVE Texas Action Fund; Texas, USA
Sierra Club Utah Chapter ; Utah, USA
Rights & Democracy Vermont; Vermont, USA
Green New Deal Virginia ; Virginia , USA
Sierra Club - Wisconsin Chapter; Wisconsin, USA
Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter; Wyoming, USA
