June, 08 2021, 09:14am EDT
We Cannot Accept Infrastructure Without Climate at the Core
Amid discourse on the role of climate in the infrastructure package and Biden's final meetings with Senator Capito, Varshini Prakash, Executive Director for Sunrise Movement, released the following statement:
"Biden will either pass a historic infrastructure package with climate at its core, or he will have to look us in the eyes and tell us why he failed to do everything possible to stop the climate crisis while he had the power to do so. Anything less than a robust jobs and climate package is a death sentence for our generation.
WASHINGTON
Amid discourse on the role of climate in the infrastructure package and Biden's final meetings with Senator Capito, Varshini Prakash, Executive Director for Sunrise Movement, released the following statement:
"Biden will either pass a historic infrastructure package with climate at its core, or he will have to look us in the eyes and tell us why he failed to do everything possible to stop the climate crisis while he had the power to do so. Anything less than a robust jobs and climate package is a death sentence for our generation.
"On Friday, Sunrise came to DC and blockaded the White House to demand Biden stop compromising with the GOP. That night, he rejected their offer. But Biden is still on the cusp of selling out our generation to the Republican Party. Whether it's Capito or Romney, it should come as no surprise that the GOP wants to strip climate from the infrastructure package because he is literally working with a party of climate deniers. We can't wait for them to come around to the science on this and we will continue to fight until he delivers on the climate mandate he promised us.
"This moment demands an infrastructure package that will stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. And the truth is Biden's proposed infrastructure package is already a compromise to that end. Our demands must be met. We will continue to put our bodies on the line. We will bring thousands of people to his doorstep. And whether Biden heeds our demands and meets with us in the White House or sees us on the streets of Pennsylvania Avenue, we will hold him accountable."
This comes as NOAA reports global carbon dioxide emissions have reached a devastating and irreversible record high, and just days after Sunrise Movement staged the first escalated action on Biden at the White House since he entered the presidency. Sunrise is currently planning a much larger protest on June 28th in DC.
The demands delivered to Biden on Friday include:
No Compromise, No Excuses. Democrats must take their power seriously and stop negotiating with a GOP who is not serious about climate action or delivering jobs for the American people.
Meet with the people who elected you. We demand that Biden sets up a meeting with Varshini Prakash and other youth organizers to hear our demands on infrastructure and climate action. Negotiate with us, not the GOP.
Pass the boldest jobs and climate package with a fully funded Civilian Climate Corps. Coming out of a global pandemic where we are facing massive unemployment and the constant threat of the climate crisis, we need an infrastructure package that includes a CCC that would put over 1.5 million Americans to work in good paying jobs while combating climate change and building a sustainable future for our generation.
Sunrise Movement is a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.
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