Email the Legislators! We Need Budget for the Climate.

Our legislature's Joint Ways and Means Committee has wrapped up their public hearings and will be making recommendations soon regarding Oregon's budget. It's time to let them know, OREGON CAN'T WAIT, CLIMATE CAN'T WAIT. 

No matter who we are or where we live, Oregonians deserve homes and buildings that are healthy, affordable, and safe against the effects of extreme weather. Talking about extreme weather, temperatures are 20 degrees hotter than normal, and we have an excessive heat advisory in the middle of May!

We're urging lawmakers to take action so new construction is built smart from the start to be healthy and resilient, while cutting energy waste and lowering bills. We're also working to make it easier and more affordable to update current homes and buildings to protect us from climate harms and transition to clean, efficient electricity.

Below are the members of Joint Ways and Means Committee. If your state this committee, THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! If they don’t recommend our climate bills move forward, it will not happen! (Click the senator & rep’s name below and it will take you to their number📞 and email ✉️)

Co-Chairs: Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, Rep. Tawna Sanchez 

Co-Vice Chairs: Sen. Fred Girod, Rep. David Gomberg, Rep. Greg Smith

Member:

• Sen. Dick Anderson,

• Sen. Wlnsvey Campos,

• Sen. Michael Dembrow,

• Sen. Lynn Findley,

• Sen. Lew Frederick,

• Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin,

• Sen. Bill Hansell,

• Sen. Tim Knopp,

• Sen. Janeen Sollman,

• Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson,

• Rep. Jami Cate,

• Rep. Paul Evans,

• Rep. Paul Holvey,

• Rep. Rick Lewis,

• Rep. Susan McLain,

• Rep. Khanh Pham,

• Rep. E. Werner Reschke,

• Rep. Andrea Valderrama

If you really only have one min! Send this letter to your state senator and rep, but we have been advised that it’s most effective if the rep and senators hear from their constituents.

In case you miss it: Funding from Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

As many of you know, the last (April) Climate Reality Power-Up Training focused on implementing the historic climate incentives included in the IRA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). One of our new members put together a resource guide “Where to find info about IRA and BIL” so we can all take advantage of the federal dollars and be a part of the implementation. As a part of the IRA climate incentives, the U.S. Department of Energy recently rolled out a tool to help us understand Federal Tax Credits for Plug-in Electric and Fuel Cell EVs, and which make(s) and how much is qualified for tax credits. Take advantage of these $$ and share widely!

That's it for this Monday reminder. I hope to see you tomorrow!💚 

- Li-Ya Mar (she/her), 
Communication & Social Media Lead