Reps. Williams, Bowman, and Casten Lead 89 Members Urging President Biden to Restart Climate Negotiations in Reconciliation Process

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) alongside Congressmen Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Sean Casten (IL-06) led a letter signed by more than 80 House Democrats urging President Joe Biden to restart bicameral reconciliation negotiations recognizing climate provisions as a key starting point where common ground can be pursued. Click here to read the letter. 

The letter is signed by six Committee Chairs, all Democratic members of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, All 8 Members of Leadership of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, 26 Members of New Democrats Coalition, and 52 Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC). Supporting Organizations include Climate Action Campaign, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Environment America, Evergreen Action, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Sunrise, and U.S. PIRG.

Congresswoman Williams said: 

“When I think about the growing impacts of climate change, it makes me think of all the opportunities my six-year-old son, Carter, won’t have. We have to act fast to tackle the climate crisis while we still can. To Build a Better America, Congress and the President must pursue reconciliation negotiations with climate action as a foundation. We can’t afford to have our children and grandchildren foot the bill for something we can address now.” 

Congressman Bowman said: 

“We cannot wait another day to protect our children and communities from disasters like Hurricane Ida, which devastated my district. We cannot wait another day to safeguard the future of humanity. As the latest IPCC report has reminded us, climate change will rapidly outpace our ability to adapt if we fail to shift away from oil and gas as soon as possible. And in the midst of escalating wars caused by fossil fueled authoritarianism, it is clearer than ever that we need historic investments in clean energy now. I am honored to join my colleagues from across the caucus in urging the President to get us back to the table. Let’s get this done.”

Congressman Casten said: 

“With a clean energy leader in the White House, science-affirming majorities in Congress, and a mandate from the American people to deliver on climate, we have a window for action and a moral obligation not to let it pass us by. Every day we fail to reach an agreement on the baseline climate investments passed by the House is a day American families and businesses pay the price at the pumps and oil-rich autocrats profit. Restarting negotiations with climate action is the clearest if not the only path forward to deliver tangible results to the American people. We’re living through a code-red moment for the planet – this can’t wait any longer.”

CONTACT: PressGA05@mail.house.gov

Congresswoman Nikema Williams proudly serves Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District. Congresswoman Williams serves on the exclusive Financial Services Committee where she is Vice Chair of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Select Committee for the Modernization of Congress. She is Freshman Class President and Co-Chairs the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus. Congresswoman Williams builds on the Fifth District’s legacy as the cradle of the civil rights movement as a champion of voting rights, closing the racial wealth gap, and ensuring the promise of America for all–regardless of their ZIP code or bank account.

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