HEROES ACT: LAST CHANCE TO ACT ON CLIMATE CRISIS
Jump to today’s actions:
Background
Climate change hurts everyone, but especially people living in low-income neighborhoods. Even small increases in exposure to air pollution increases the chances of dying from COVID by 8-10%. The fires may well exacerbate the problem.
The six Massachusetts communities hit hardest by the virus all have extremely dirty air.
Native Americans comprise 11% of one congressional district, but 47% of confirmed cases. Uranium mining and methane leakages from oil/gas drilling near Native American communities had already increased respiratory illnesses rates; then COVID hit.
HEROES Act would add:
$50 million to address why COVID hits BIPOC communities harder.
$1.5 billion for the Low-Income Heating and Assistance Program.
$1.5 billion to help low-income households pay for drinking water and wastewater services.
$15.75 billion emergency relief for mass transit when ridership is down, and $15 billion to keep staffing intact to manage and run these complex systems.
The HEROES Act is the last train leaving the station for environmental action before the election. We need to let our MoCs know that we care about protecting humans, the environment, and our infrastructure from COVID.
1. Call the Senate.
Script for Sen. Merkley
Script for Sen. Wyden
2. Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Script for Greg Walden (OR-02)
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
3. Get 2020 Ready.
Oregonians are joining with activists across the country to power a LANDSLIDE democratic victory in November 2020, from the White House to the Senate to the State Houses. Here’s how you can get involved:
Elections Power Hour weekly strategy call. Mondays at 5pm
Call Arizona voters. Thursdays, training at 5pm, calling begins at 5:30
Write letters to voters with Swing Left and Vote Forward. Saturdays 12-2pm
Write postcards to Voters of Color with Reclaim Our Vote. Sundays 3-5pm
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/09/11/western-wildfires-climate-change/
https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/natural-resources-committee-democrats-explore-intersection-of-environmental-justice-and-the-coronavirus
https://www.thirdway.org/blog/heroes-relief-extends-to-some-major-energy-environmental-needs
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/09/10/senate-coronavirus-economic-relief-bill/
