Thursday, April 10
9:30AM - 4:30PM EDT
920 Pennsylvania Ave
WASHINGTON, DC 20003
United States
Get directions
Congress is threatening to cut important climate funding for communities across the U.S. to pay for expanded tax cuts for the wealthy and increased immigration enforcement.
Come to the halls of power and raise your voice! Our advocacy over the past two months with other faith-based organizations has been making an impact, but more collective action is needed.
One program at risk is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Forest Service (FS) Urban and Community Forestry grants. These USDA grants help communities plant much-needed trees, increasing tree equity, mitigating extreme heat and creating new jobs.
Other funding in jeopardy are the clean energy tax credits. Federal tax credits for energy efficiency in homes have been around since 2005, saving households money on energy bills and reducing energy use. In recent years, two bipartisan bills allocated tax credits on solar panels, wind energy and electric vehicles.
Clean energy tax credits are creating tens of thousands of jobs, meeting rapidly growing energy needs, reducing the strain on the energy grid, and saving households and non-profits money. By 2024, more than 2,500 houses of worship had solar panels. By 2030, these tax credits, along with other Inflation Reduction Act programs, could help reduce overall emissions by 30-43% below 2005 levels.
Congress needs to hear from you about how much this and other climate issues matter to you! Join us on April 10!!
No prior experience or expertise is needed. A training in advocacy and the specific issues will be provided. MCC and ACC will set up all meetings with Congressional offices. A virtual option for the advocacy training and a future meeting locally with your representative is possible.
Note: We are especially looking for advocates from Republican districts.
Details:
Date: April 10
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Schedule: A mini-advocacy training in the morning followed by Congressional meetings
Location: MCC office in Washington, D.C.; Congressional offices on Capitol Hill
Cost: You will cover your own transportation costs (and lodging if needed). MCC and ACC will cover lunch. Donations to ACC are encouraged! Please consider asking your church to sponsor you for this important advocacy event.
Register by March 28.
“…the work of our time is to reweave the fabric of our democracy even as the broken systems seem overwhelming, even as the work we each can do feels so small. It’s time for an intentional practice of climate citizenship.” —Kate Knuth, “Becoming a Climate Citizen,” from All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson.
Photo above: Clean energy advocates debrief Congressional meetings on a recent MCC lobby day. MCC photo/Nathan Toews