Friend — shortly after Inauguration, President Biden halted the oil and gas leasing process for public lands to allow time for a full review of the system.

It set off ripples in the oil and gas industry — fossil fuels extracted from our public lands account for more than one-fifth of America's carbon pollution.

Yesterday was the last day for the Interior Department to take public comment on what happens next. From here, they're set to decide a new process for how leases are distributed, and it could move quickly.

We need to be campaigning like hell right now.

We've put out a call for help. Earlier this month, we set a goal to raise $20,000, and we're still $14,492 short.

Can you pitch in? This is our last shot at stopping the oil and gas industry from exploiting public lands across the country. Donate $5 today »

This is our last chance to stop the fossil fuel industry from exploiting our broken leasing system. For too long, they've been allowed to select public lands they want to drill, purchase leases at ridiculously low rates, and then sail through the permitting process.

We have a shot here — a real one. With Secretary Haaland heading the Interior Department we could finally see serious reforms.

But the truth is, the oil and gas industry won't go down without a fight. Immediately after Biden's announcement halting the leases, they dumped resources into pressure campaigns targeting lawmakers in swing states.

We're worried their efforts are working. Lawmakers are repeating Big Oil's talking points on the record. Ads are spreading oil industry mistruths on social media. Astro-turf organizations are making it look like people want more drilling in their states.

Going toe-to-toe with Big Oil is what we do here at LCV. We've won campaigns against them year after year — even when we're wildly outspent. But we rely on grassroots donations to pull it off, and right now we're coming up short.

Please, pitch in today. Help hit our $20,000 goal. Even $5 is enough to make a difference »

We're almost there, and I know we can count on you to push us over the finish line. Thanks for all you do today and every day.

Onward,

Adam, Brooke, Casey, ChiQuita, Jim, Mike, Brent, and Vinnie
LCV Rapid Response Team