Dear John ,

Yesterday we watched a new morning dawn in America. As the Inauguration ushered in that new morning with pomp and tradition, I breathed a deep sigh of relief.

As Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman said in her elegant recitation, “Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished.”

I’m taking this moment to celebrate the historic election to the vice presidency of Kamala Harris, the first woman, the first Black person, and the first person of Asian descent to hold the office. Soon after she and President Biden took their oaths yesterday, Vice President Harris swore in Senators Ossoff and Warnock from Georgia, giving pro-environment decision makers control of the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.

We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the interrelated crises of climate change, racial and economic injustice, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

You may have seen that President Biden didn’t waste any time, signing executive actions to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, rescind the construction permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and temporarily halt oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
But our work together is far from finished.

This is a pivotal moment for our nation The impacts of climate change and environmental degradation — wildfires, floods, superstorms, to name only a few — are devastating communities across the country at an increasing rate, and scientists warn that we have less than 10 years to avert catastrophe.

These impacts are especially harmful to Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color who suffer the most from our country's failures to address climate change and toxic pollution. Furthermore, economic and racial inequality has been exacerbated by the pandemic, and studies show that air pollution is compounding the health effects and mortality from COVID-19.

Yes, we’re beginning anew with a stronger mandate for progress on issues that you care about: clean water, clean air, our shared lands, and a democracy that works for all people. Yet, here at home, the state legislature is dominated by out of touch, divisive, and unproductive leaders who have fanned the flames of violent partisanship, destructive environmental policy, and have continually tried to silence voices that must be amplified.
In this moment, our work – your work – is more important than ever. With your help and your energy and your actions, a healthy, beautiful Wisconsin for all to enjoy is possible. Take time today to soak in the sunshine, and then let’s get back to work.

Thank you for being a conservation voter,
Kerry Schumann
Executive Director
Wisconsin Conservation Voters

P.S. We have an exciting and challenging year ahead of us - and the only way we can protect Wisconsin's water, take on climate change, support fair maps, and fight gerrymandering is if we have you standing with us. Will you help us start 2021 with the momentum we need to win for conservation and democracy with a gift of $21, $50, or $100, or $210 today? [[link removed]]
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Wisconsin Conservation Voters
133 S. Butler Street Suite 320
Madison, WI 53703
United States
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