Tell your Senators: No Climate No Deal: The Civilian Climate Corps Is Essential
Call BOTH of your Senators.
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Call Script
Hi, my name is _____ and I live in ZIP code _____ and I’m a member of Indivisible SF.
I’m glad the popular Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) is included in the American Jobs Plan, but it should be stronger (as outlined in S.1244, the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act) and I want you to advocate for including a strong CCC in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework.
Background
President Biden campaigned on taking decisive action to address our national climate emergency, including the establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps, based on Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps. He included it in his Executive Order 14008, on January 27, 2021, (*1), and has included it in The American Jobs Plan.
We were shocked when the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework omitted the CCC entirely. (*3)
“This $10 billion investment will put a new, diverse generation of Americans to work conserving our public lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, and advancing environmental justice through a new Civilian Climate Corps, all while placing good-paying union jobs within reach for more Americans.” (President Biden, *1)
Ten billion dollars for the CCC sounds good but economists and policy makers agree that it is insufficient to address our current crisis. They point out that Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corp employed around 300,000 young Americans per year when our population was around 40% less than it is now. President Biden’s CCC budget of $10 billion over 10 years would only cover 10-20,000 jobs per year. (*3)
Senator Markey’s Plan, S.1244, the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, addresses our climate emergency more responsibly by employing an equitable and diverse group of 1.5 million Americans in the next 5 years to complete clean energy, climate resilience, environmental remediation, conservation, and sustainable infrastructure projects, while providing education, training, and career pathways in good jobs, and especially good union jobs. (*3)
References
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11654 Congressional Reporting Service report on Executive Order 14008, PDF
The Civilian Climate Corps (CCC), Explained, Sunrise Movement
S.1244 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act
Building the Civilian Climate Corps, Evergreen Action
https://www.evergreenaction.com/blog/5-ways-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal-falls-short-on-climate Compares Manchin deal to original AJP in 5 areas