Senator Cantwell:
It seems ironic, to say the least, that you opposed the nomination of David Bernhardt while simultaneously co-sponsoring S1460. You say that you are concerned “about his record on behalf of these corporations at the expense of the environment”.
I am concerned about your commitment to the environment. Scientists tell us that we have little time to combat global warming and that the vast majority of reserves need to stay in the ground.
Many of the groups who oppose Mr. Bernhardt have also signed the letter (over 350 organizations) to the Senate rejecting S1460.
Not only is it imperative to transition to clean energy, it also makes economic sense. Fossil fuels are on the decline, and the US is forfeiting its leadership role in the green future. In the past decade, Germany has invested in clean energy and created 400,000 jobs. Their economy is the strongest in Europe.
China is now the world’s largest solar producer, has cut coal consumption, and is investing $360 billion in renewable power by 2020, creating 13 million more jobs, with the goal of 5 million electric vehicles on the road. Volvo, now a Chinese-owned car company, will abandon the internal combustion engine by 2019.
S1460 will perpetuate our dependence on fossil fuel while other countries plan for the future. US taxpayers subsidize the fossil fuel industry to the tune of tens of billions of dollars a year. It would be much more productive if you and Senator Murkowski worked together on a bill to advance our green industries than to sponsor a bill which puts young people’s futures in jeopardy.
I am a senior citizen and won’t experience the worst consequences of the disastrous effects of global warming, but young people will see rising temperatures and water levels, frequent and severe weather, worsening air pollution, food shortages, and vast numbers of climate refugees. They should be your top priority, not the fossil fuel industry.
I am asking you to withdraw your sponsorship and support from S1460 and to ask Senator Murkowski to reconsider her position as well. (I see that she voted to approve Berhardt.) I’m also certain that Donald Trump supports S1460.
As a life-long Democrat, it is disheartening to see my party cooperate with a party determined to destroy all the agencies and policies that were put in place to help the average citizen. Democrats need to coalesce around a bold agenda to put the American citizen first and to recapture the seats lost over the last 7 years.
If you live in the state of Washington, please call Senator Cantwell at 202 224-3441 to oppose this bill.
To read the letter referenced in paragraph 3, here’s a link:
www.foodandwaterwatch.org/...