Don't give up on the federal government

Ready to give up on the federal government?

Here’s why you shouldn’t give up on advocating for federal climate policies and why it matters that we keep electing climate champions.

When the kind of landmark legislation we’re hoping for seems impossibly out of reach, it can feel frustrating to the point of giving up.

The truth is, we only get significant bills signed into law about once every session of Congress. Huge, monumental laws (like the Affordable Care Act) pass even less often than that. 

Even when it seems like Congress is hopelessly stalled in passing impactful new climate legislation, the climate champions in the House and Senate are consistently showing up to play defense. Why?

It might not seem like it, but members of Congress are actually voting all the time. 

“…the climate champions in the House and Senate are consistently showing up to play defense.”

Throughout the year, they pass smaller standalone bills, vote to confirm the president’s political appointees, and reauthorize existing legislative packages.

Reauthorization is especially important because it’s a common mechanism for “sneaking” in extra provisions that probably couldn’t pass if they were their own bill. Some examples are:

  • the yearly budget resolutions and appropriations bills

  • the National Defense Authorization Act

  • the farm bill

  • and the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act

Members of Congress renegotiate the terms of these recurring bills and are free to add myriad amendments of questionable relevance to the legislation’s core purpose. 

Having pro-climate-action majorities present in the chambers means climate obstructionists cannot add environmentally harmful provisions to these business-as-usual legislative packages. Having pro-climate-action majorities present in the chambers means climate obstructionists cannot confirm anti-climate judges and political appointees, and they can’t use the appropriations bills to strip our existing critical climate policies of their funding. And in cases where the filibuster doesn’t apply, a pro-climate-action majority means the opposition can’t block progress. 

“…pro-climate-action majorities present in the chambers means climate obstructionists cannot add environmentally harmful provisions to these business-as-usual legislative packages.

We have tangible evidence of this under-the-radar legislating at work. Check out the League of Conservation Voters’ 2021 Scorecard to see a comprehensive list of environmental votes that were taken that year and how every member of Congress voted. 

By contacting our reps weekly, we’re keeping climate action top of mind for members of Congress, and that makes a difference in their micro-decisions, while also laying a foundation of the constituent support they need for big climate legislation.

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Climate Changemakers provides everything you need to effectively advocate for federal policy and organize for federal candidates in the United States. Start now.

© 2022 Climate Changemakers

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