Inslee Calls On Congress To Pass Climate Legislation

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has joined nine other governors in sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, demanding that congress commit to key climate legislation through the bipartisan infrastructure deal and in the reconciliation bill.

In their letter, the governors argue that climate change poses a threat to all Americans, and must be addressed with the urgency it demands. Their statement reads, in part:

"Climate change is intensifying the wildfires that burn in the West, hurricanes that threaten the East, and extreme heat that endangers people and animals throughout the country. Now is the time for bold climate action. The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report details what we already know – the window for preventing irreversible climate consequences is closing and we need to act quickly and comprehensively."

In particular, the governors argue in favor of several ideas proposed in President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Agenda, including:

• The Carbon Free Grid: a clean electricity performance program and new tax credits for clean energy generation.
• Transportation Electrification: tax credits for building zero-emission vehicles and incentives for buyers to purchase zero-emission vehicles.
• Methane Emissions Reduction: funding to plug orphan wells and adopting a new methane pollution fee.
• Climate-Smart Agriculture: further investments in climate-proof agricultural and forest management programs.
• Climate Resilience: investments in climate-proof infrastructure and a new Civilian Climate Corps.
• Clean Building Incentives: rebates for home electrification and weatherization.
• Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator: creating an accelerator to speed private investment into distrusted energy resources.

Climate forecasts show that poorer communities are likely to bear the brunt of the damage caused by climate change. As a result, the governors also ask that congress prioritize projects that benefit those in need.

"We also respectfully request that any infrastructure package ensure 40 percent of the benefits of climate and clean infrastructure investments are directed to disadvantaged communities and invests in rural communities and communities impacted by the market-based transition to clean energy."

Joining Inslee in signing the letter are Governors Gavin Newsom of California, Ned Lamont of Connecticut, David Ige of Hawaii, Janet Mills of Maine, Steve Sisolak of Nevada, Kathy Hochul of New York, Kate Brown of Oregon, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania and Dan McKree of Rhode Island, who argue that now is the time for America to show it is ready to lead and solve the climate crisis by cutting emissions by 50 percent or more.

"President Biden proposed the Build Back Better Agenda to rebuild America in a just and equitable way and ensure America’s economy flourishes in the 21st century. It is vital for Congress to adopt both the bipartisan infrastructure deal and a bold and comprehensive reconciliation bill to achieve the goals of the Build Back Better Agenda."

>> Read the full letter.