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Let's build a better future.
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The Senate has passed a bill that Sen. Schumer described as “unemployment insurance on steroids.” This is a sigh of relief for the millions of Americans who have been holding their breath, desperately trying to figure out how to pay bills and support their families during this unprecedented crisis.
Our country’s first priority must be caring for those who are ill and vulnerable, offering recovery to the people suffering the dire economic consequences, and ensuring our healthcare professionals have the resources needed to do their jobs on the front lines.
But that's not where our work ends. We need to make sure Congressional action does no harm — that it isn't addressing one crisis by contributing to another.
Congress should include requirements in bailout measures that ensure companies receiving taxpayer dollars don’t put our future at risk.
Since Sunday afternoon, EDF supporters have been speaking out. You flooded Congress with tens of thousands of emails fighting to have them recognize that we’re facing two crises: the immediate and urgent need to respond to COVID-19, and the looming threat of climate change. We need to be smart about both.
Here’s a breakdown of how your demands matched up with the final bill:
We wanted airlines to cut their climate pollution as part of their $50 billion bailout — and while we didn’t get it this time, we got closer than ever before to putting a limit on climate pollution from this huge source of emissions. We’re disappointed, but getting so close bodes well for the climate fights ahead. |
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The Trump administration requested a $3 billion bailout for the oil & gas industry. We demanded that before they get any taxpayer dollars, the clean energy industry get equal funding. Clean energy didn’t get funding — but neither did oil & gas. |
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And we told Congress to ensure that this relief package in absolutely no way rolls back any existing environmental safeguards. On this point, we saw a clear victory — nothing in this final bill takes aim at our most crucial public health protections.
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Make no mistake: Marshaling new resources to protect Americans’ health, safety, and bank accounts must be priority one. But the taxpayers who are currently struggling financially have the right to expect that companies getting bailed out aren’t contributing to another public health crisis down the line.
Take action today, and tell Congress: Ensure future relief packages do no harm. As the focus expands from immediate aid to economic stimulus, make sure our investments build a better future.
Thank you for standing with us,
Heather Shelby
Action Network Manager |
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