Table of Contents: Senate mulls carbon pricing Take action this week CCLers march in local parade Upcoming trainings This week on the blog

Last week, CCL volunteers across the country were busy doing what they do best: lobbying Congress. CCLers met with congressional offices as the U.S. House passed its version of the Build Back Better Act, major legislation that includes a $555 billion investment in climate solutions. As attention turns to the Senate, CCL’s lobbying efforts are focused on getting carbon pricing included in the final version of the bill.

“There couldn’t be a better time for a grassroots lobbying push,” said Ben Pendergrass, CCL Senior Director for Government Affairs. “A price on carbon is still in play, and it’s important that Senate offices are hearing support from constituents.”

Volunteers are making the case that a price on carbon is needed in the budget reconciliation bill in order to reach the U.S. goal of cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030. A total of 335 meetings have been scheduled.

“I am in awe of our liaisons' care and attention to the relationships they have with members of Congress and their staff,” said Amy Bennett, CCL Director of Liaisons and Congressional Lobby Days. “We knew going in, things have been extremely busy on the Hill, so we might not be able to get all the requested meetings. In many ways we needed to be understanding of the dynamics at play. Yet we still had many meetings where members and staff were very interested in climate conversations about pricing carbon or our secondary asks.”

Many chapters posted photos on Twitter to show their appreciation for members of Congress and staff for meeting with them, as the Houston volunteers (shown above) did with Rep. Sylvia Garcia. You can check out some of those lobbying photos in CCL’s Twitter thread.

In other news this week:

• CCL responds to Build Back Better: Last Friday, the House passed its version of the Build Back Better Act, legislation that contains historic levels of climate investment. As expected, the House bill contains no provision to price carbon, which is still under consideration in the Senate. CCL Strategy Director Tony Sirna offers an update in this CCL Community post. CCL also posted a statement on passage of the House bill, which calls on the Senate to include carbon pricing in its version. You can retweet, like and reply to our tweet about the statement.
• CCL op-eds in West Virginia: In an op-ed published in Sen. Joe Manchin’s state, CCL Appalachia Regional Coordinator Jon Clark argued that a price on carbon would actually save coal miner jobs because it makes carbon capture and sequestration economically viable. Sen. Manchin has promoted the technology as a way that utilities could continue coal use and reduce emissions. Read Jon’s op-ed. Another op-ed was published this week by Jim Probst, the CCL West Virginia State Coordinator, calling on Manchin to live up to his promises. Read Jim’s op-ed here.
• Fellowships at CCE: Citizens’ Climate Education is offering Diversity and Inclusion fellowships for 2022. The position requires 10 hours of work per week, and the application deadline is Nov. 30. More details and how to apply here.
• The countdown to Giving Tuesday continues: Giving Tuesday is right around the corner, on Tuesday, Nov. 30. CCL aims to raise $300,000 on this day alone and $1.5 million by the year’s end. Your contribution will ensure that we can continue deploying effective grassroots advocacy tools that have helped us successfully advance climate legislation year after year. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, or give today (and your gift will still count toward our goal)!