Activists worked faxes and phones for improvements

Date: Friday June 26, 2009
Contact: Alex Posorske (301) 270-4550 x230 or alex@1sky.org

Takoma Park, MD -- 1Sky, a collaborative national campaign for strong federal action to tackle global climate change, is relieved by the House of Representative’s passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454). 1Sky’s campaign director Gillian Caldwell said:

“Thousands of activists across the country made a difference improving the bill and in securing this vote to set the stage for a clean energy economy. We fought hard for and were pleased by the strengthening amendments that Chairman Waxman secured, which authorizes but does not confirm, more than $30 billion in additional funds and loans to ensure increased efficiency, investments in renewable energy, and research and development in regions with undiscovered renewable energy potential.

“People from all walks of life worked to strengthen this clean energy bill. 1Sky activists sent more than 18,000 faxes to Members of Congress in 390 districts to convince them to strengthen and support the clean energy bill. And 1Sky enthusiasts logged 1,600 phone calls to their Members of Congress to make sure they heard from constituents who care about a clean energy future. Over 900 1Sky members in 49 states and the District of Columbia signed up to visit their Congressional district offices on June 19 and urge them to strengthen and support the energy bill. And 570 climate activists sent letters-to-the-editor urging support of bold climate change legislation.

“The bill’s authors, Representatives Waxman and Markey, worked tirelessly for years to deliver this bill in an effort to slow climate change and to help transition America to a clean energy economy against heavy odds and the forces of Big Oil and Dirty Coal. They have my respect and admiration for their dogged efforts to keep the bill as strong as possible.

“The cooperation and teamwork that went on in the effort to draft, strengthen and pass the House bill is like none we have seen before in the climate movement. And it sets the stage for us work together to strengthen the bill as it progresses towards the President’s desk. We recognize the enormous challenge of improving this bill in the Senate and will stay vigilant in assessing its ability to deliver desperately needed transformation for our economy and the future of our planet.”

1Sky is a collaborative national campaign for strong federal action to tackle global climate change and invest in building the clean energy economy of the future. As one of the largest national campaigns in the country, 1Sky combines the force of 540 allied organizations, 190,000 committed climate advocates, 3,500 volunteer Climate Precinct Captains covering more than 394 congressional districts in 50 states, and a team of 37 including 25 organizers in 19 states working to mobilize constituent support.

For more information on 1Sky contact Alex Posorske at (301) 270-4550 x230 or Alex@1sky.org