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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Sunrise Movement
Contact:

Ellen Sciales, press@sunrisemovement.org

Progressive Organizations Announce Green New Deal Champions Pledge

WASHINGTON

Today, nearly 50 organizations released the Green New Deal Champions Pledge, aimed at pushing candidates to champion the climate policy we need when in office, and to hold current members accountable to a standard of support for the Green New Deal.

It's been three years since Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey introduced the Green New Deal Resolution, which outlined a new vision for our country and our movement: one where we avert the worst of the climate crisis, create millions of good paying union jobs, and invest in communities on the front line of the climate crisis.

Since then, multiple pieces of substantial climate legislation, guided by communities at the frontlines of the climate crisis, have been introduced that build towards the Green New Deal. We know we need to win federal climate legislation to tackle this crisis, but we can't wait until we have the right majorities in Congress to get to work. We need to do everything we can right now, to pressure our elected officials to support the bills that will put us on the path to a Green New Deal -- that's how we'll set ourselves up to win legislation when the moment comes. The text of the pledge can be found here.

The Green New Deal continues to be popular with voters across the country. Recent polling from Data for Progress shows that Green New Deal bills have overwhelming support, while young people, a key voting block for Democrats, continue to support climate legislation and action by massive margins. The Green New Deal Pledge is expected to have the same effect as the popular No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, which has changed the nature of campaigning since its establishment by toxifying money from fossil fuel lobbyists, PACs, and executives.

Progressive movement groups, sitting elected officials, and congressional candidates issued the following statements on the pledge:

"I'm proud to sign this pledge. Our generation will be facing the repercussions of the climate policy decisions we make in the years to come. We deserve representatives who are accountable to their constituents, not fossil fuel companies." Nida Allam, NC-04 Congressional Candidate

"Texas working families are seeing the climate crisis first-hand -- whether it's winter storms, flooding, or tornadoes in our backyards. We need to tackle this crisis. We can create good union jobs and preserve our planet for future generations. The Green New Deal does both." Greg Casar, TX-35 Congressional Candidate

"I'm proud to sign the Green New Deal pledge. Our communities here in Chicago are in crisis -- climate change is an existential threat, racial and economic injustices are raging. We need bold solutions like the Green New Deal that will combat climate change, environmental racism, and the injustices that persist in Chicago. And we need a new generation of leaders who will fight for the Green New Deal with the urgency that this moment demands." Kina Collins, IL-07 Congressional Candidate

"New York's 3rd District is a coastal community that has been ravaged by extreme weather events, pollution and that is quickly running out of drinkable water. We cannot afford more delays or half-measures. We need bold climate action now that matches the scale and urgency of this crisis. It is critical that we realize a Green New Deal." Melanie D'Arrigo, NY-03 Congressional Candidate

"Here in North New Jersey, we know what it means to be on the front lines of climate catastrophe. We've seen the devastation from Hurricanes Sandy and Ida. We've watched as generation after generation of our kids suffer from asthma, lead poisoning, and other environmental harm. We know what it means to have to fight developers for every tiny inch of green space. But we also know what it means to have a good union job. We know what happens when we invest in local schools and art institutions. We've gotten a taste of the good that can come from putting people ahead of profits. We know that a just transition to a green economy is not just a dream, but a necessity, and when I'm in Congress, I'm going to join the fight to bring this crucial Green New Deal framework to fruition." Imani Oakley, NJ-10 Congressional Candidate

"My community is hurting. The climate crisis has claimed lives and livelihoods. A rigged economy has left us with wages that are stagnant, businesses closing, and new job opportunities few and far between. The Green New Deal takes on the defining challenges of our time and transforms them into the pathway to a brighter future. For the air I breathe, for the people I love, and for the place I call home, I'm taking the Green New Deal pledge and look forward to supporting this legislation in Congress." Erica Smith, NC-01 Congressional Candidate

"I am immensely proud to be an original Green New Deal Champion with an amazing list of colleagues and friends. It is easy to say that climate change is an existential crisis, but words aren't enough -- we need real legislation that delivers rapid, comprehensive, transformative change. While organizers continue to strengthen and define the Green New Deal from the bottom, this project holds those in power accountable to the demands of activists and cements robust economic and racial justice standards in the Green New Deal. We have a long way to go, but I encourage every Congressperson to join me in taking this next step. Together, we will win a Green New Deal this decade." Representative Andy Levin, MI-09

"The Green New Deal is about jobs, justice, and dismantling systemic racism that's poisoning the lungs and futures of Black and Brown people in St. Louis and all across the country. We need to act now, and that means making sure politicians understand the urgency of this crisis. I'm proud to be part of an effort to hold people in positions of power accountable to the solutions we know are needed to address environmental racism, confront the fossil fuel industry, and realize true climate justice." Representative Cori Bush, MO-01

"Since I introduced the Green New Deal with Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, the climate crisis has only become more severe. We have to act now to deliver justice for communities on the frontlines of this crisis and create millions of green-collar jobs to save our economy and save our planet. I'm proud to stand with my colleagues in the House and Senate, and with an entire generation committed to climate justice, in the fight for a Green New Deal." Senator Ed Markey, Massachusetts

"The threat posed by the climate crisis is growing by the day and we need to come together to take aggressive action to create a more sustainable economy and promote environmental justice. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal resolution and I will keep fighting to pass my BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act to deliver robust federal investment to help fight the growing climate crisis, spur innovation, and boost demand for American-made clean energy products." Senator Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts

"The science is clear, climate change is at the root of many of our societal problems. From increasing catastrophic weather events to racial injustice and everything in-between, our most vulnerable communities continue to be harmed. That is why I support a Green New Deal, a growing package of bills which will ensure that our next generation can live healthy lives, access strong union jobs, increase climate resiliency, and ensure that all communities have the resources necessary to thrive. It is time to put climate justice at the forefront of our policy decisions, and I am proud to be a part of that fight." Representative Jan Schakowsky, IL-09

"There is no denying that the climate crisis is at our doorsteps and continues to disproportionately devastate young, Black, brown, and immigrant communities both in the U.S. and around the world. From undocumented farmworkers facing increasingly deadly wildfires in places like California to millions of climate refugees displaced by extreme flooding, droughts, and other disasters, it's clear that there is no climate justice without immigrant justice and racial justice. The Green New Deal Resolution, alone, is not enough to combat the worsening climate catastrophe. In order to ensure ALL communities are protected, elected officials must also deliver on other bold, progressive legislation that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people without growing detention and enforcement, like the Dream and Promise Act, and helps pave the way for a more just future for Black and brown immigrant communities bearing the brunt of climate change." Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Senior Advocacy Manager of United We Dream

"The Green New Deal means robust public investment to transition off of fossil fuels translating into unprecedented investment in the well-being of everyday working people -- our jobs, our utility bills, our health, and our future. The GND Pledge allows us to show candidates and the world what support for a Green New Deal really means, and allows us to talk about how the GND will deliver for working people. The Working Families Party is proud to support it." Maurice Mitchell, National Director of Working Families Party

"As fossil fuel corporations destroy our communities and profit off of working families at the gas pump, our government has yet to pass climate legislation that meets the moment of crisis. And yet, support for the Green New Deal has never been greater. That's why we're launching Green New Deal Champions because we need members of Congress and elected officials to fight as hard as they can for the Green New Deal. We must pass the climate bills that make the GND a reality -- the GND Resolution is our North Star and the GND bills help us get there." Varshini Prakash, Executive Director of Sunrise Movement

"The Green New Deal Champions effort provides an exciting opportunity to advance a transformative agenda to end the fossil era, help working people, and catalyze a just energy transition. Rejecting fossil fuel money and committing to these key bills to phase out fossil fuels and build an equitable clean energy future are now clear requirements for politicians claiming the mantle of 'climate leadership.' With dozens of critical primary and general elections this year, we'll see which candidates and elected officials are truly willing to stand up to Big Oil and Gas's lies and fight for our communities." Collin Rees, Political Director at Oil Change U.S.

"In order for the federal government to do big things, rural communities and their local leaders must be involved. That is what we have learned from our work advocating for the American Rescue Plan. The Green New Deal and its advocates recognize the wealth of contributions and thought partnership that come from America's diverse rural communities; rural communities are not only the places where carbon is absorbed, these are the frontline communities facing both the most intense climate disasters and also some of the most innovative economic transitions. The Green New Deal principles, in partnership with rural communities across the country, can help us all mitigate the worst of our possible futures." RuralOrganizing.org

The list of current Green New Deal Champions, Green New Deal Pledge Signers, and endorsing organizations are below:

Members of Congress Who Are Current Green New Deal Champions:

Congressional Candidates Who Have Signed the Green New Deal Pledge:

  • David Peterson (CA-03)
  • Bianca Von Krieg (CA-11)
  • Derek Marshall (CA-23)
  • Angelica Duenas (CA-29)
  • Shervin Aazami (CA-32)
  • David Kim (CA-34)
  • Daniel Lee (CA-37)
  • Peter Mathews (CA-42)
  • Michael Ortega (CA-46)
  • Adam Schindler (CA-50)
  • Kylie Taitano (CA-50)
  • Neal Walia (CO-01)
  • Rebekah Jones (FL-01)
  • Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10)
  • Cindy Banyai (FL-19)
  • Vincent Fort (GA-13)
  • Kirby Birgans (IL-01)
  • Jahmal Cole (IL-01)
  • Iymen Chehade (IL-03)
  • Delia Ramirez (IL-03)
  • Kina Collins (IL-07)
  • Junaid Ahmed (IL-08)
  • Attica Scott (KY-03)
  • Mckayla Wilkes (MD-05)
  • Shri Thanedar (MI-13)
  • Ernest Joseph Oppegaard-Peltier III (MN-07)
  • Erica Smith (NC-01)
  • Nida Allam (NC-04)
  • Ashley Ward (NC-04)
  • David Ocampo Grajales (NJ-08)
  • Imani Oakley (NJ-10)
  • Melanie D'Arrigo (NY-03)
  • Rana Abdelhamid (NY-12)
  • Vanessa Fajans-Turner (NY-22)
  • Nina Turner (OH-11)
  • Sami Al-Abdrabbuh (OR-04)
  • Doyle Canning (OR-04)
  • Alexandra Hunt (PA-03)
  • Summer Lee (PA-12)
  • David Segal (RI-02)
  • Jessica Cisneros (TX-28)
  • Greg Casar (TX-35)
  • Ally Dalsimer (VA-11)
  • Kesha Ram Hinsdale (VT-AL)
  • Jason Call (WA-02)
  • Stephanie Gallardo (WA-09)

Political Partners:

  • 350 Action
  • Alliance for Youth Action
  • American Federation of Teachers
  • Association of Flight Attendants - Communications Workers of America
  • Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
  • Caring Across Generations
  • Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund
  • Center for Popular Democracy
  • Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund
  • Climate Hawks Vote
  • Climate Justice Alliance
  • Common Defense
  • Dogwood Alliance
  • Food & Water Action
  • Friends of the Earth Action
  • Future Coalition
  • Gen-Z for Change
  • Grassroots Global Justice Alliance
  • Green New Deal Network
  • GreenFaith
  • GreenLatinos
  • Greenpeace USA
  • Indigenous Environmental Network
  • Indivisible
  • Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
  • Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition
  • Labor Network for Sustainability
  • March For Our Lives
  • Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition Action!
  • Mothers Out Front
  • National Domestic Workers Alliance
  • Native Organizers Alliance
  • NDN Collective
  • NY Renews
  • Oil Change U.S.
  • Our Climate
  • Our Revolution
  • People's Action
  • Progressive Democrats of America
  • Public Citizen
  • RuralOrganizing.org
  • Social Security Works
  • Sunrise Movement
  • United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE)
  • United We Dream Action
  • WE ACT for Environmental Justice
  • Working Families Party
  • Zero Hour

Sunrise Movement is a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.

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