John,

This week, fires still burned in California while the rest of the country was plunged into extremely cold temperatures. These disasters are intensified and fueled by climate change, and they’ll keep coming unless we take on the biggest contributor to climate change: the fossil fuel industry.

Unfortunately, Trump’s first actions in Congress included capitulating to fossil fuel executives and trying to expand fossil fuel extraction. This is the opposite of what we need, and it’s time to get louder in the fight for our planet and for our communities’ safety.

In the last congressional session, I joined Senator Ed Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley to re-introduce the Fossil Free Finance Act, which would require the Federal Reserve to make major banks stop financing fossil fuel projects and deforestation.

Financial institutions under the Federal Reserve’s supervision provide trillions of dollars in direct fossil fuel financing, and the Federal Reserve has the responsibility and power to address the financial risks posed by climate change—at the scale this crisis demands.

Will you sign on today to demand Congress and the Federal Reserve act to address the root causes of the climate crisis, including by requiring big banks to stop funding fossil fuels?

Together we will continue fighting for environmental justice.

In solidarity,

Rashida

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rashida Tlaib
Date: Thu, Jan 23, 2025
Subject: Weather extremes are connected by climate change
To: [email protected]

John,

Fires in Los Angeles are still burning, while most of the rest of the country is experiencing frigid temperatures, including record-breaking snowstorms in the deep South. My city of Detroit is used to the cold, but temperatures got so extreme that hundreds of schools closed and pipes burst, leading to water main breaks all over the city that flooded and then froze streets.

All of these weather extremes are connected: They’re all intensified and caused by climate change. And the largest contributor to climate change is the fossil fuel industry. Instead of addressing this crisis that’s dangerous for all of our communities, Trump’s first actions in the White House included steps to make it worse.

Now more than ever, we need bold policies to help address the root causes of climate change and help our communities better prepare for the climate-fueled disasters to come. For example, in the last congressional session, I joined Representative Ayanna Pressley to re-introduce the Fossil Free Finance Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, in coordination with Senator Ed Markey in the Senate. This legislation would require major banks to stop financing fossil fuel projects and deforestation.

Will you sign on today to demand Congress act to address the climate crisis, including by requiring major financial institutions to stop funding fossil fuels?

On his first day in the White House Trump took steps to: withdraw from the Paris climate accords and other pacts that have aimed to reduce emissions, declare a mostly-symbolic “energy emergency” to try to push for even more fossil fuel extraction (while threatening to block renewable energy), and undo protections for Alaska’s wilderness to encourage more fossil fuel production.

Our communities don’t have time to wait. With Trump cozying up to fossil fuel executives, it’s time to ramp up our demands rather than back down.

It’s time for policies like the Fossil Free Finance Act, which directs the Federal Reserve to act on its responsibility to protect financial stability and finally address the financial risks posed by climate change—at the scale this crisis demands. Financial institutions under the Federal Reserve’s supervision provide trillions of dollars in direct fossil fuel financing, so targeting these big players is a critical way to make change happen quickly.

Please add your name to demand bold climate action from the U.S. government, including pushing the Federal Reserve to make big banks stop financing fossil fuels and deforestation.

Thank you for continuing to push for the changes our communities need and deserve.

I will continue being your voice in Congress, where I will resist the Trump administration’s attacks on our environment, our immigrant neighbors, trans and queer people, programs like Social Security and Medicare, and our rights. I was again appointed to serve on the House Financial Services Committee, where I will keep fighting corporate greed and demanding a government that puts people over profits.

In solidarity,

Rashida