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Dear John,
Sixty members of the US House of Delegates just took a strong stance against the fossil fuel industry. Last week, Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland and dozens of his colleagues from across the country sent a letter to House leadership to oppose all efforts to grant fossil fuel companies any immunity from litigation during the coronavirus pandemic. Please thank these Congressmembers for demanding that any Covid-19 relief legislation exclude legal immunity for fossil fuel companies. As part of the Covid-19 relief, some members of Congress are working on language to protect designated entities such as grocery stores and hospitals from certain lawsuits related to the pandemic. These moves are controversial and unresolved, but one thing is certain: Rep. Raskin along with 60 members of Congress refuse to support giving any such immunity to the fossil fuel industry -- now or in the future.
As the government grapples with the greatest health crisis of our time, polluting industries responsible for another global crisis -- climate change -- cannot be let off the hook. Shielding polluters is not where our focus should be. For fifty years, energy companies hid their knowledge of the devastation fossil fuels would inflict on the climate -- all while amassing billions of dollars of wealth. Today, communities already struggling from the fallout from climate catastrophes are faced with even greater financial insecurity. These communities need to be able to seek financial compensation. By blocking fossil fuel companies from taking advantage of immunity provisions in the Covid-19 relief packages, these Congressmembers is ensuring that polluters pay for their harms now and in the future. This is not the first time Rep. Raskin has taken on the fossil fuel industry. On October 23, 2019, he chaired a hearing with Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), to expose Exxon’s multi-million dollar campaign to discredit climate science. The Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund supports the assertive actions taken by Rep. Raskin and others who consistently stand up to fossil fuel giants and their allies in Congress. Every attempt by legislators to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the climate crisis is essential in our fight for a livable future. As we struggle as a nation to cope with crises of historic proportions, Congress must remain focused on helping the people they swore to protect. Sincerely,
Want to support our work? Click here to make a one-time or monthly donation. Did you receive this email from a friend? Click to sign up for updates. View this email in your web browser CCAN Action Fund is the grassroots arm of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. The mission of the CCAN Action Fund is to effect change in public policy at local, state and national levels to directly address the threat of global warming. Through voter education, lobbying and participation in the electoral process, we seek to move our country into a leadership position on the most urgent global issue of our time — the climate crisis. Update your contact information | Update your email subscriptions You can also unsubscribe at any time.
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