House Democrats unite to send firm climate signal to Biden
Democrats across the ideological spectrum want strong climate change action as part of any legislative action this year.
Nearly 60 percent of the House Democratic caucus is urging President Joe Biden to ensure massive climate change and other environmental investments make it into whatever final form of infrastructure legislation emerges this year.
More than 120 members, led by Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) and spanning the ideological spectrum from Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) to centrist Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), are reiterating their support for measures like a clean energy standard, significant electric vehicle investments and 10-year clean energy tax credits as part of the eventual agreement. It’s a signal that Democrats across the ideological spectrum want strong climate change action as part of any legislative action this year.
“We are eager to help advance through Congress a strong American Jobs Plan that employs our communities and matches the scale of the challenge climate science tells us we face,” the Democrats wrote in a letter obtained first by POLITICO. “Ultimately, we urge you and our colleagues to act with the goal of ensuring the final legislative package gets across the finish line in the coming months while maintaining our key jobs and climate goals.”
The details: The lawmakers also voiced support for provisions removing all lead drinking water lines, clean manufacturing incentives, ensuring 40 percent of benefits are directed to communities that have borne the brunt of pollution and investing in natural solutions, like restoration of public lands, to help address climate change.
Among the signatories are a number of prominent committee chairs including Natural Resources Chair Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Transportation Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Budget Chair John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) and Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).
The context: In an interview, Levin pronounced himself agnostic about which specific legislative vehicle was used to pass the investments but said the letter indicated strong consensus within the conference that they must make it across the finish line this year.
“What this letter does is speak loud and clear: These are the objectives that we seek,” he said. “It demonstrates that we understand as the House Democratic caucus that we have to take the types of bold action necessary to actually deal with the climate crisis in a manner that is commensurate with the science.”
It comes as House progressives underscored this week they would not vote for an infrastructure package without sufficient provisions to address climate change. Democratic leadership can only afford to lose four votes on any particular bill to ensure passage.
More asks: The letter comes on the heels of one from a dozen Senate Democrats urging the Biden administration to provide $200 billion in natural infrastructure restoration and resilience as part of the infrastructure process, including $10 billion toward a Civilian Climate Corps.
"We must also prioritize the historic investments President Biden proposed in natural infrastructure restoration, resilience, and reclamation that will create millions of desperately needed good jobs all across the country, while making our communities safer and healthier," reads the letter, spearheaded by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and released this week.