post by Christine LeMieux, Global Warming and Energy Programs Coordinator

While media headlines as of late are dominated by the latest healthcare happenings on the Hill, progress on climate and energy legislation continues. Both issues are related to critical questions about how we will take care of our public health and our economy in the coming decades. Over the past month, 6 Senate committees have held hearings and action is expected after Congress returns from recess in September. 

Congressional recess is where you come in. It is impossible to overstatehow important it is for your Senator to hear from you, your family, neighbors, friends and community at large. The simplest action you can take right now is to send an e-mail to your Senator urging them to be a leader on climate and energy legislation this fall.  

Members of Congress are being barraged by those who want to slow progress on this issue.As we learned last week, some of this communication is even being falsified by lobbying firms so as to appear to be from constituents.

If you want to do more, there are many ways to engage in the process – writing a letter to the Editor of your hometown newspaper, scheduling a meeting with your Senator in person while they are back in your state or attend a town hall or other event where you know they will be in attendance in the next month. These are just a few of the next steps you can take to be involved in this ongoing process – it will take you plus me plus everyone we know along with Congress to
achieve the progressive climate and energy legislation this year that our country so desperately needs.